Student Life

Nebraska Wesleyan University's area of Student Life fosters students' learning and personal development through engaging and purposeful community involvement and leadership in co-curricular and residential experiences. Our community works with partners across campus to encourage reflection, holistic well-being and relationships that are both challenging and supportive.

Student Life offers a broad range of educational, social, and recreational programs, services, and facilities for Nebraska Wesleyan students. The Student Life staff, under the direction of the Dean of Students, provides programs, services and opportunities in the areas of Residential Education, Student Health Services, Center for Student Involvement, Greek Life, Career Center, and Counseling Services. More detailed information about student life at Nebraska Wesleyan is available at the Student Life website.

Campus Environment

The academic program constitute the heart of Nebraska Wesleyan’s residential liberal arts community. We seek to create a campus environment in which students are actively engaged in the life of the University; take responsibility for their own learning; and integrate their classroom experiences with those in the larger campus community. Campus life enhances intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth; collaborative learning; leadership; and service. Student connections with faculty and with each other, a cornerstone of NWU’s culture, extend beyond the classroom and throughout the campus. Members of this vibrant learning community accept the uniqueness of each individual and embrace dialogue and the free exchange of ideas in order to achieve understanding and respect for others. At Nebraska Wesleyan, students learn to join their intellectual and social lives to create a college experience that is challenging, enjoyable, and productive.

Residential Education

As a residential campus, it is the Residency Policy that traditional undergraduate students reside in approved on-campus living units for three years or six semesters. All first-year students must live in University-administered residential facilities. Students in their third through sixth semesters who are members of sororities or fraternities may reside in Greek houses meeting criteria for approved residential facilities.

Students may request an exception to this policy if they live with parents/guardians (as defined by Section 30-220917 of the Nebraska Probate Code) within 30 miles of the NWU campus; have reached their 21st birthday prior to the start of the fall semester; live with a spouse; are enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours per semester as a part-time student; or have received a special exception from the Housing Exemption Committee.

If a student’s living arrangements are in violation of the residency policy, the student will be in violation of the Code of Student Conduct and will be subject to disciplinary action. Violation of this policy does not excuse financial obligation to the University.

Information about residential facilities, room and board plans, and contract details are available at Residential Education.

Sorority and Fraternity Living

Nebraska Wesleyan University supports Greek life on campus. NWU’s Greek system consists of three fraternities and four sororities, to which approximately one third of the students belong. Nebraska Wesleyan sororities and fraternities, in good standing and meeting the minimum standards for approved University housing, may serve to fulfill the requirements of the University’s Residency Policy for initiated members in their third through sixth semesters at NWU.

Career Center

Career development is a process that begins long before graduation. From navigating major selection and job offers, to tapping into NWU’s powerful alumni network, students are supported through every stage. Students can engage with the Career Center by scheduling one-on-one appointments with a career coach, utilizing our informational resources, inquiring about employer connections, and participating in career related programming. Ultimately the Career Center seeks to empower students to be active participants in their ongoing career development.

Visit the Career Center website for informational resources as well as postings of current jobs and internships on JobZone.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services provides full weekday services to traditional students through the Director and Assistant Director, both Registered Nurses. In addition, other available services include a health care provider, allergy injections, lab work, mono/strep testing, off campus referrals, sexual responsibilities/birth control, stress management, alcohol/drug awareness, and over-the-counter samples. Some services have a small fee assessed to defray special costs. Treatment and records at Student Health Services are strictly confidential.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services provides personal counseling by licensed mental health practitioners. Counseling sessions often address concerns in the areas of personal development, mental health, cultural issues, life planning, stress management, and the achievement of educational goals. NWU offers short-term mental health counseling and session limits apply. Sessions one through three are free of charge. All subsequent sessions in the same academic year cost $10 per session. Counseling Services also offers a confidential online mental health screening tool. This screening tool and other information about Counseling Services may be found on the Counseling Services website.

Religious Life

Nebraska Wesleyan is proud of its heritage and affiliation with the Nebraska Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. The University embraces students, faculty, and staff of all denominations and beliefs. The University Minister and Associate Minister serve as the campus pastors and are available for personal counseling, religious and vocational counseling, and spiritual guidance.

Each week the University Ministries Office sponsors an ecumenical worship service to which all members of the Nebraska Wesleyan community are invited.

The University intends to provide an active, diversified religious life program designed to meet the total range of students’ spiritual development needs. Activities and organizations, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the United Methodist Student Organization, provide students with opportunities for fellowship, community service, and celebration. Spiritual resource persons are available to students. The Mattingly and Swan lectures annually present speakers who focus on religion, ethics, and values.

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion provides support and programs to help recruit, retain, and graduate divers students and to foster an inclusive climate and culture. The Office also seeks to help prepare all students to live, work, and serve in a diverse society.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion facilitates regular programming addressing issues of cultural diversity. Programming includes speakers, workshops, films, discussion, etc., designed to engage the campus community in dialogue about relevant diversity issues. These programs are open to the entire campus community and often are open to the broader community of stakeholders, including alumni and local diversity advocates.  

Athletics

Athletics are part of a balanced campus life experience for traditional students, involving talented men and women from all academic pursuits. Nebraska Wesleyan’s intercollegiate sports include:

• Men: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Indoor and Outdoor Track, and Wrestling
• Women: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Indoor and Outdoor Track, and Volleyball

NWU intercollegiate teams are affiliated with the NCAA III (National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division III) and are members of the IIAC (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

Intramurals, Recreation, and Fitness

Nebraska Wesleyan supports students’ physical and recreational growth through programs and services provided by the Recreation and Athletic facilities staff. The intramural program provides eligible students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to participate in a variety of formal and informal activities, including team and individual competition. The Weary Center includes: Snyder Areana, Knight Fieldhouse, the Gardner Strength Complex (including a circuit training room and free weight room), a cardiovascular room, along with a private aerobics room, two racquetball courts, and six-lane swimming pool, all of which are available for student, faculty, and staff use.

Community Service

Nebraska Wesleyan has a strong commitment to support and serve the University Place neighborhood, the Lincoln community, and the broader national and global communities. Students at Nebraska Wesleyan have many opportunities to be part of this commitment:

• Lend a Hand to Lincoln. A day during New Student Orientation on which more than 400 students, faculty, and staff complete community service projects throughout the city.
• Global Service Learning (GSL) team. Students can apply for membership in GSL, a student-led organization that annually completes local, national and international service.
• Service Trips. Led by GSL, trips occur during winter term, spring, and fall breaks to locations such as Chicago, Kansas City, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.
• Volunteer Projects. Projects through student organizations, residence halls, Greek houses, and athletic teams.
• Service Learning Experiences. Built into classes, combining real-life experience at non-profit agencies with structured reflection and academic course content.
• Service Opportunities. Opportunities from an online database that students may pursue on their own.
• Community Work Study. Select positions off campus at non-profit agencies for FAFSA-qualifying students.

See Service Learning for more details.  

Campus Policies

Code of Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct is included in the Student Handbook/Planner and on the website. It includes a statement of philosophy and authority for student discipline, a series of definitions that relate to conduct and discipline, a list of types of misconduct that are subject to disciplinary sanctions, a description of student conduct procedures, and a list of sanctions that may be applied for misconduct.  Direct questions about the Code of Student Conduct to the Dean of Students.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

Because of the serious problems related to the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances, and because this practice can lead to a loss of effectiveness in human life and does not contribute to the teaching-learning process, the Nebraska Wesleyan community reaffirms its position of serious concern about and opposition to the use of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances in this college environment. The Nebraska Wesleyan community urges that all of its members exercise mature judgment and social responsibility when making decisions regarding the use of alcoholic beverages and other drugs. This University community further denounces and prohibits the sale, possession, distribution or use of illegal drugs by students, faculty or staff. The University urges the members of this academic community to become actively engaged in drug and alcohol education, prevention and treatment programs where appropriate.

While the Board of Governors recognizes the rights of students to be protected from intrusive drug testing, the Board acknowledges that substance abuse or illegal drug usage may hinder a student’s performance (academic, athletic or other), health, or safety. Additionally, the Board recognizes that such abuse or use may adversely affect the interests of the University community. As such, it is the determination by the Board of Governors that Nebraska Wesleyan is authorized to implement appropriate procedures to protect the interests of the students and the University community. Such procedures may include the implementation of a screening process or the request for an evaluation from a qualified professional to determine the seriousness of the problem. In the implementation of these procedures, Nebraska Wesleyan is committed to protect the due process and privacy rights of students.

Violations of law and/or violations of the Code of Student Conduct shall be adjudicated by the proper student conduct bodies.

Athletic Department Drug Policy

The use of anabolic steroids, cocaine, amphetamines, or any other controlled substance, as defined by federal or state law, by any member of any intercollegiate athletic team of Nebraska Wesleyan is strictly prohibited. The only exceptions are physician-prescribed medications for the individual student athlete.

Unauthorized use of such drugs constitutes an abuse of the privilege of practicing and participating in intercollegiate competition. Such unauthorized use may result in dismissal from the intercollegiate athletic teams and may lead to further sanctions.

Access for Students with Disabilities

Federal law requires that Nebraska Wesleyan make reasonable accommodations to ensure that persons with disabilities will have equal access to all educational programs, activities, and services. Therefore, Nebraska Wesleyan University, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended (ADAAA), recognizes the University’s obligation to make reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities.

A “reasonable accommodation” is defined as any change in an environment or in the way things are customarily done that 1) enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal opportunities; and 2) does not fundamentally alter the nature of the activity, service, or program. A “disabled” person is defined as one who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially affects one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.

To facilitate plans for any reasonable accommodations, students with disabilities must identify and document their needs following their admission to NWU. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the University of his/her disability, to document the disability, and to request accommodation.

Students should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities for further information.

Personal Harassment

Nebraska Wesleyan University is committed to freedom of speech and expression as published in the Code of Student Conduct. As a liberal arts university and an academic community, we affirm the rights of our members to freedom of expression. We also affirm the right of members of our community to an academic and campus living environment in which acts of violence and harassment are not tolerated.

Harassment is generally defined as an act or communication causing emotional stress specifically addressed to individuals or groups and intended to harass, intimidate, or humiliate an individual or group because of race, religion, creed, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

Individuals wishing to report incidents or with questions of personal harassment may contact Maria Harder, Director of Human Resources (402.465.2117 or mharder@nebrwesleyan.edu) or Candice Howell, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Persistence (402.465.2401 or chowell@nebrwesleyan.edu).

Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response

Nebraska Wesleyan University is committed to proactively creating and maintaining a welcoming, safe, healthy educational environment for all students, staff, and faculty.  For anyone who has, or knows someone who has, experienced sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, harassment, discrimination, or stalking, Nebraska Wesleyan provides these responses:

• Safety: NWU’s first concern is the person’s safety. If in immediate danger call 911 and/or Campus Security at 402.432.9238.
• Connect: Support is available via campus and off-campus resources:
  • NWU Campus Victim Advocate: Lindsay Spaulding at 402.465.2533 or Lindsay@voicesofhope.org.
  • Voices of Hope 24-hour Crisis Hotline: 402.475.7273/Omaha WCA: 402.345.7273
• Report: Report incidents to NWU Title IX Coordinators:
  • Maria Harder, Director of Title IX Services and Title IX Coordinator for Faculty and Staff, 402.465.2117, mharder@nebrwesleyan.edu
  • Natasha Sutliff, Title IX Coordinator for Lincoln students, 402.432.6925, nsutliff@nebrwesleyan.edu
  • Amy Harrison, Title IX Coordinator for Omaha students, 402.465.1552 or aharriso@nebrwesleyan.edu

Parental Notification

Nebraska Wesleyan University is aware that students have rights and expectations in terms of their privacy, as explained under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA, however, permits NWU officials to disclose, without student consent, educational records which may include personally identifiable information, in order to protect the health or safety of students or other individuals. At such times, records and information may be released to appropriate parties such as law enforcement officials, public health officials, and trained medical personnel.  In addition, the Department of Education interprets FERPA to permit institutions to disclose information from education records to parents/guardians if a health or safety emergency involves their student FERPA (34 CFR 99.31).

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the University may notify parents/guardians in the following circumstances:

• Serious concern for the health and safety of a student
• Serious or repeated offenses related to alcohol or drug use
• Serious risk of losing financial aid
• Removal from residential and/or Greek housing
• Missing persons concerns
• Certain student conduct violations when warranted under policies in the Code of Student Conduct

This sharing of information is also permissible among University employees where there is a “need to know,” such as sharing updates between departments with whom the student interacts.

The University grants to the Vice President of Student Life or a designee the authority to determine when, and by what means, to contact parents/guardians when students are claimed as a financial dependent on the tax forms of a parent/guardian. This policy applies to traditional undergraduate students.