Chapel (UMHB 1002)
A complete education includes experiences that seek to develop the mind, body, and spirit. Chapel attendance is an integral part of the educational process and one of the distinctive features of attending a Christian university. All full-time, degree-seeking students are required to receive credit for chapel attendance. Regular chapel programs are held each Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in the W. W. Walton Chapel. Information on the programs presented is available on the Spiritual Life website. All students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend chapel services.
Chapel Attendance Requirements
Satisfactory chapel attendance requirements are as follows:
Incoming Freshmen must earn “Credit” for Chapel (UMHB 1002) during four semesters at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Transfer Students:
- Students who transfer from other Baptist institutions can apply to the Dean of Students for a review of chapel credits previously earned in order to assess equivalency and, if approved, award credit on their UMHB transcript. Chapel credit is awarded based on the number of semesters for which they earned credit on their transcript at the former institution. Credit is not given for the number of chapels they were required to attend each week, but rather awarded only for the number of semesters they attended chapel.
- Freshmen (entering UMHB with less than 30 semester credit hours)
- Those who enter UMHB without any chapel credit from previous institutions approved by the Dean of Students must earn credit for four semesters of Chapel (UMHB 1002) at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Those who receive credit for chapel attendance at other institutions must earn a total of four total chapel credits—the sum of those recognized from other institutions and those earned at UMHB.
- Sophomores (entering UMHB with 30 to 59 semester hour credits)
- Those who enter UMHB without any chapel credit from previous institutions approved by the Dean of Students must earn credit for three semesters of Chapel (UMHB 1002) at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Those who receive credit for chapel attendance at other institutions must earn a total of four total chapel credits—the sum of those recognized from other institutions and those earned at UMHB.
- Juniors (entering UMHB with 60 to 89 semester credit hours)
- Those who enter UMHB without any chapel credit from previous institutions approved by the Dean of Students must earn credit for two semesters of Chapel (UMHB 1002) at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Those who receive credit for chapel attendance at other institutions must earn a total of four total chapel credits—the sum of those recognized from other institutions and those earned at UMHB.
- Seniors (entering UMHB with 90 or more semester hour credits)
- Those who enter UMHB without any chapel credit from previous institutions approved by the Dean of Students must earn credit for one semester of Chapel (UMHB 1002) at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
- Those who receive credit for chapel attendance at other institutions must earn a total of four total chapel credits—the sum of those recognized from other institutions and those earned at UMHB.
In-person attendance is mandatory to earn attendance credit for those registered for the 10:00 a.m. service (UMHB 1002-01) and the 11:00 a.m. service (UMHB 1002-02).
Live attendees must bring their CruCard to chapel services to earn attendance credit as CruCards are scanned to document participation.
There are no course grades in Chapel, only Credit or Non-Credit.
The minimum number of attendance credits required for students to earn “Credit” on their transcript is listed in the course syllabus, and any changes are communicated via course announcements.
Excused absence requests should be directed to the Dean of Students. Approved requests do not generate chapel attendance credit for the missed chapel service(s). Instead, the Dean of Students offers a makeup opportunity for each excused absence, so the student can earn attendance credit for the respective service(s)
Students who have class conflicts, clinicals, practicums, or internships that prevent them from attending live chapel services on Wednesdays at both 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. should apply for Alternative Chapel through the Student Development Office located in the Student Life suite on the second floor of Bawcom Student Union. If approved by the Dean of Students, applicants will be assigned to a section of the course (UMHB 1002-03) that allows them to complete all chapel requirements online—asynchronously—for the semester in question.
Students are responsible for making sure they fulfill all attendance requirements. If a student feels that an error has been made, he/she has until the end of the second week of the following semester to reach out to Student Development in person or at 254-295-4590 to question the accuracy of the records. If attendance records indicate that a student did not complete the minimum number of required services or did not make up the absences with the Dean of Students, then that student will receive Non-Credit on their transcript for Chapel on their transcript at the end of the semester.
Non-degree seeking students are not required to fulfill chapel requirements. Non-degree seeking students shall be defined as follows:
- Students entering UMHB on Non-Degree Admissions application form.
- Students entering UMHB with a Baccalaureate Degree seeking to obtain a teacher’s certificate or course work to prepare for entry into a professional school such as pre-law courses necessary to enter law school.
(Note: All students included here are not involved in course work requiring their graduation from UMHB or other college or university.)
Students Shifting from Part-Time to Full-Time:
Chapel requirements do not apply to part-time students. If a part-time student, at any point, registers for twelve or more semester hours thereby becoming a full-time student, then they are required to complete chapel requirements according to their academic standing (freshmen, sophomore, junior, or senior) at the time they begin their first semester in a full-time status. The respective chapel requirements for transfer students stated above will apply to any student who shifts from part-time to full-time status and continue to remain in effect for as long as said student is enrolled at UMHB. Any students with questions may reach out to the Student Development Office at (254) 295-4590 for guidance.
Chapel Registration
Students should register for a section of Chapel (UMHB 1002) when registering for classes. Direct any questions regarding chapel registration to the Student Development Office at (254) 295-4590. Students are advised to sign up for Chapel the first semester they begin as a full-time student. By doing this, scheduling conflicts later on may be avoided.
Fine Arts Experience (UMHB 1005)
The general education core at UMHB is designed to help students develop to their full potential as educated persons. UMHB strives to offer its students a setting in which they can mature culturally, as well as intellectually. In an effort to provide a well-rounded education, the University requires a Fine Arts Experience (FAE) in addition to three hours of fine arts course credit required in the core curriculum. The purpose of this Fine Arts Experience requirement is to establish and foster a life-long pattern of fine arts involvement.
All full-time undergraduate, degree-seeking students must attend no less than eight (see requirements listed below) FAE events, one each semester they are enrolled. Students are advised to enroll for UMHB 1005: Fine Arts Experience each semester of full time attendance at UMHB.
What is a Fine Arts Experience Event?
Each semester a calendar of approved Fine Arts Experience events is prepared. Approved FAE events will cover a wide variety of programs and will be chosen from areas such as plays, art exhibitions and musical performances, or from lectures/presentations of general appeal related to the fine arts. These events will be scheduled and approved by the FAE Coordinator.
How Can the Requirement Be Fulfilled?
Satisfactory Fine Arts Experience (FAE) attendance requirements are as follows:
- Incoming Freshmen (or transfer students with less than thirty semester hours accepted by UMHB) must acquire eight semesters of FAE credit.
- Transfer Students
- Sophomores (students with thirty to fifty-nine semester hours accepted by UMHB) must acquire six semesters of FAE credit.
- Juniors (students with sixty to eighty-nine semester hours accepted by UMHB) must acquire four semesters of FAE credit.
- Seniors (students with ninety or more semester hours accepted by UMHB) must acquire two semesters of FAE credit.
- Students who complete their education in fewer than the expected number of semesters based on the number of hours with which they entered, will have their FAE requirement reduced to one per full semester they are at UMHB. For example: a student who enters as a freshman but completes a degree in seven semesters will only be required to complete seven FAE credits.
- FAE attendance is mandatory, if attendance records indicate that a student did not attend the required number of FAE events, or did not make-up the absence, they will receive non-credit for FAE on the grade report for that semester. Students are responsible for making sure they have fulfilled all requirements for attendance and can check the records of attendance with the FAE Coordinator.
If a student feels that an error has been made, he/she has until the first two weeks of the following semester to question the accuracy of the records.
To receive credit, the student must personally present his/her UMHB ID card for scanning to the designated event staff at the conclusion of the event.