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Biola University
Scripture provides the foundation for our teaching chapels, which also present biblically-based wisdom from across the disciplines. Through the close study of biblical texts integrated with scholarly, artistic and ministry specializations, teaching chapels provide wisdom for spiritual growth, relationships, missions and evangelism, justice, diversity and reconciliation, apologetics, and arts and culture, among several other topics. Structured prayer and worship services are provided throughout the week for students to learn the rhythms of the spiritual life whereby they can listen and respond to God’s Word and wisdom for their lives. The Torrey Memorial Bible Conference in the fall and the Missions Conference in the spring create space for three days of focused teaching on biblical themes. In addition, once each semester the University observes a planned Day of Prayer, which provides opportunities for corporate and individual prayer gatherings across the campus. Weekly engagement with Biola’s Spiritual Development opportunities— which include chapels, retreats, and spiritual mentoring—are required of all undergraduates, and encouraged for all graduate students. (Graduate programs also have chapel services of their own.) Speakers are drawn from across the nation and around the world, but also include Biola's own faculty and staff, many of whom are sought after as speakers by other universities. Of course, the spiritual formation of students is taking place across the campus, in class, in advising, and less formally in the many discussions and prayer times that occur spontaneously among faculty, staff and students. More than 50 local churches are invited to come on campus annually to acquaint student with and invite them into these congregations. In the context of community and gospel-centered ministry, students can serve in many campus, local and global ministries through prayer, discipleship, evangelism and outreach, proclaiming the gospel of Christ in word and deed. These opportunities for ministry range from the “Brown Bag” ministry to the homeless, to the construction of pipelines that bring water to Honduran villages, to the “California School Project, which empowers and trains high school students in southern California schools to share their faith with their peers. Nearly 100 students are involved in leadership with chapel programs, and local and global ministries, and receive weekly leadership training that prepares them not only for ministry, but also with vocational skills for life and work in a diverse world. Pastoral care by appointment is available to all of our students, and is a safe and confidential place to discuss their relationships to God and others, their emotional needs, questions of discernment and calling, sexuality, theological doubt, or simply to receive short-term spiritual guidance and mentoring. Students are also encouraged to seek longer -term guidance through the spiritual direction program where students are matched with trained spiritual mentors who will walk with them throughout their years at Biola. For additional information, go to studentlife.biola.edu/chapel-ministries (http://studentlife.biola.edu/chapel-ministries). Student Government for Undergraduates All registered undergraduate students are represented by the Student Government Association (SGA), Biola's undergraduate student government. The mission of SGA is to equip student leaders to provide representation and advocacy for students' needs to university administration. The SGA President presides over two branches that comprise the student government, the Senate Branch and the Auxiliary Branch. The Senate Branch, which holds the legislative power of SGA and determines how
contingency funds and funding for student clubs will be allocated, is supervised by the SGA Senior Vice-President and consists of elected Senators and a hired Diversity Liaison. The Auxiliary Branch includes the Marketing and Communications Department, Finance Department and Office Administration Department. SGA is located in the upper level of the Student Union Building and is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. SGA staff can also be contacted at (562) 903-4882. Student Programming and Activities The Student Programming and Activities (SPA) department plans events and administers programs to provide opportunities for community building and out-of-the-classroom learning. A staff of over 30 student workers (reporting to the Director and Assistant Director of Student Programming and Activities) manage 70–80 active student clubs, intramurals, and plan large-scale events each year, including Mock Rock, the Eddys, Punk N' Pie, Nationball, and Study Break. SPA is located in the upper level of the Student Union Building and is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30am-5pm and Friday from 8:30am-3pm. SPA staff can also be contacted at (562) 903-4882. Student Government for Graduate Students Each graduate school has an appropriate student government program which provides leadership and activities appropriate for graduate students. For additional information contact the respective graduate school offices. Student Missionary Union The Student Missionary Union (SMU) is a student-led organization, founded in 1923, that has at the heart of its mission to glorify God and to see Him glorified. All of history is moving to a time when God will restore all of creation to what He had intended from the beginning. God began His work of restoration through Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. God has made us agents of that restoration by making us His ambassadors. The Student Mission Union is a student-led organization that motivates and mobilizes students to align their lives toward the completion of the Great Commission. SMU facilitates the sending of short-term mission teams to locations all over the globe, including such places as China, Mozambique, Mexico, Holland and Romania. They sponsor an Unreached Simulation, weekly prayer meetings and other events through their Prayer Ministries. The entire student body attends Missions Conference, which includes exciting events such as Global Awareness, where students experience another culture, and Explorations, where they can visit such places as a mosque or a Mormon temple. The Long-Term Missions Department seeks to answer many practical questions from students interested in long-term cross-cultural work. SMU offers a multitude of opportunities for involvement with 25 staff positions and more than 100 volunteers each year. They are located in the upper level of the Student Union Building and are open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They can also be reached at (562) 903-4881.
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