Student Handbook

Full-time, residential students at Zollikon are given access to Zollikon’s discipleship program. While
this program is not mandatory, this program is highly encouraged. If students choose not to
participate in Zollikon’s discipleship program, they must submit a formal request to Director of
Student Life, Anya Miller, as well as participate in a meeting with Director of Student Life, Anya
Miller, and the Director of Operations, Cordell Weaver, explaining why they should be exempt from
the program. 

Regardless of a student’s participation in Zollikon’s discipleship program, students are expected to
show dedication to prayer and Scripture reading and are expected to be accountable with
likeminded believers. Such accountability could include a mentor, a church accountability group, or
accountability from their home congregation.

The college affirms the sacredness of the marriage bed, as instituted by God, and therefore
renounces sexual activity outside of the marriage relationship between one man and one woman. 

The college recognizes that, in today’s society, temptation to participate in such actions is ever
increasing, making it difficult for men and women to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
and making them susceptible to addictions that are difficult to escape. Therefore, such situations in
which a student is found to be engaging in such sexual activities are to be met with both grace and
truth.  The college is dedicated to providing tools, resources, and support to help students live a life
of chastity and freedom. 

The following are a list of guidelines for students in general:

1. If a student commits a sexually immoral act, they are expected to be accountable either to their
   mentor or to their discipleship group, making their specific actions explicit and exhibiting a true
   desire for transformation and change. Please note, however, that the student life will not police
   this area. We want to foster an environment of trust and personal responsibility. Therefore, it is
   the student’s responsibility to seek help and accountability from their mentors and discipleship
   groups.

2. If a student demonstrates a pattern of repeated sexually delinquent behaviors, Zollikon Institute
   expects students to make use of the resources for sexual integrity provided by Zollikon Institute.

Zollikon Institute values Christian community, spiritual maturity, and personal integrity. The following
expectations exist to help students maintain focus on spiritual growth, learning, and building a
respectful, supportive community.

1. 1. New Relationships:

      • Students are encouraged not to begin new dating relationships during their first year of
        enrollment.

      • Minors must obtain the approval of their parents or legal guardians before beginning a
        dating relationship.

   2. Existing Relationships: Students who are in a dating or courtship relationship must disclose this
      to the Director of Student Life before the start of the term. Such couples will work with staff to
      agree upon accountability guidelines appropriate to Zollikon’s values.

   3. Expectations for Behavior:

      • Romantic relationships should be characterized by Christian discretion and accountability.

      • Physical displays of affection (hand-holding, hugging, etc.) should be avoided while on
        Institute premises or during Institute events.

      • Exclusive pairing that separates couples from the larger community is discouraged; group
        socialization is encouraged.

   4. Spiritual Emphasis: We encourage dating couples to reach out to a married couple to walk alongside them in their dating journey.

   5. Enforcement: Violations of this policy may result in counseling, formal warnings, or, in serious cases, dismissal from the program

   6. Resources for Dating Couples:

      • The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller

      • The Sacred Search by Gary L. Thomas

      • Boundaries in Dating by Dr. Henry Cloud

Students shall be in their respective dorms by 11:00 PM Sunday through Thursday. 

Students shall be in their respective dorms by 12:00 AM Friday and Saturday. 

If a student will not make it back to their dorm past curfew, they are to text the Director of
Student Life about their circumstance and text one of their dormmates with their estimated time
of arrival. 

Students shall observe quiet hours between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM.

The safety of our students is of great importance to Zollikon Institute. To protect students, the
following door lockdown procedures and rules are in place: 

1. Michael Miller will lock all doors on the main floor of the main building at 8:00 p.m. After that
   time, the only door that will be accessible to students will be the keypad door. Students can
   use their code to enter the main building and should lock the door behind them when
   entering or exiting the building. If students choose to use the patio doors after 8:00 p.m., they
   are to lock the patio door after they are finished.

2. Resident Assistants are responsible to lock all doors in their respective dorms before they go
   to bed each evening. If you find the door locked, unlock the door using the passcode and lock
   the door upon entering the dorm room.

If a student is the last person to exit a room, they must turn off all the lights in that room.

Students may use the refrigerators in their respective dorms. Students are required to label food
that they would like for their personal use if they have purchased it from their own funds. Any
food that is not labelled will be assumed to be common use. Items in the common area
refrigerator are off limits unless such food is leftover from a communal meal.

Students must sign up to use the washer and/or dryer using the appropriate spreadsheet. 

Men will use the washer and dryer located on the main floor of the main house. 

Women will use the washer and dryer located in the basement of the main house. 

Students will be given a monthly signup sheet for cleaning responsibilities. Each student is
expected to sign-up for one dorm responsibility and to complete their responsibility weekly for
the month. Students will shuffle their responsibilities on the first of each month.

Students are expected to keep dorm areas neat and clean.

If students are to be absent for a communal meal time, they are to notify the Director of Student
Life and House Parents 24 hours in advance, if possible.  

A communal meal will be provided each evening except on Sundays.

Each dorm shall be responsible for preparing one communal meal per week on either Friday or
Saturday evening. Each dorm will be given a budget for these meals.

Students are responsible for providing their own breakfast, but student life will provide a few non-
perishable items that students may use for their breakfasts.

Students are responsible for providing their own lunches, but student life will provide a few non- perishable items that students may use for their lunches.

• Candles must be in jars and shall not be left unattended

• No other open flame is allowed in the dorms.

• Students shall not operate the fireplace.

• Escape routes are posted at dorm entrance and main floor entrance.

• Students are free to personalize their space as long as changes are not permanent.

• Students should refrain from placing obscene and/or offensive images in the dorm space. 

• Female students shall not enter the men’s dorm at any time.

• Male students shall not enter the women’s dorm at any time.

• Male staff may from time to time enter the female dormitory to perform Zollikon tasks, such as
  dorm maintenance,  but he will either do so at a time in which female students are not in
  classes or else knock and announce himself loudly before entering the dorm. 

• Female staff may from time to time enter the male dormitory to perform Zollikon tasks, but will
  either announce it on the Zollikon Dorm Dwellers chat, knock and make her presence known, or
  do so at a time when male students are not present. 

• Students are encouraged to create spaces of fun and upbuilding interactions amongst
  themselves. As part of this process, students will be randomly paired up with another student
  and assigned a weekend for which to plan a student life activity. These activities will be planned
  approximately every two weeks. If a student is unable to plan and attend an event for their
  scheduled week, they are encouraged to switch with another student. If a student is unable to
  find a replacement, they are to contact the Director of Student Life, Anya Miller. 

• Activities planned should not run contrary to the institution’s values.

Rules for common areas (outside of classrooms)

• All students are expected to follow the dress codes of the church congregations which they
  regularly attend, or are members.

• All shirts should be sleeved.

• Men are permitted to wear shorts as long as they reach just above the knee.

• Women are permitted to wear skorts as long as they reach just above the knee.

• All pants shall be loose fitting.

Rules for in guys’/girls’ dorm spaces

• Undergarments should be covered at all times.

Zollikon Institute will select a Resident Assistants for each dorm. Resident Assistants will be
responsible for the following tasks: 

• Locking all of the doors in their respective dorms before they go to bed

• Reporting blatant violations of dorm policy (Example: Consistently breaking curfew) and dorm
  maintenance issues

• Addressing major dorm conflict by presenting the problem to the Director of Student Life or the
  Director of Operations (This is assuming that the Matthew 18 process has already been used
  and that the individuals involved have already gone to one another.)

• Occasionally assisting the Director of Operations and the Director of Student Life with tasks that
  seem appropriate for the position

Resident Assistants will receive compensation for their service.