Student Life
Personal Mentoring
God’s Word instructs believers to follow the example, “and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Phil. 3.17). As part of the Servant of All Program, SUM provides each undergraduate student with a mentor that models positive values and spiritual principles. Although the expectations and needs of each student vary, the mentoring program encourages the development of those goals through a caring relationship that responds to needs of each student. The staff at SUM consider spiritual mentoring to be part of their vocational calling. They offer spiritual care and mentoring during office hours, over coffee or mealtimes, and even in their homes.
Christian Service
The purpose of the Christian Service component of our education is to prepare students for citizenship as Christians in the world through service and to teach commitment to ideals of service, benevolence, and cleanliness.
There are numerous passages through the Bible that call us to serving others. Think about the powerful call of Paul to unity in Philippians 2:1-11. He encourages the believers to unite together by having the mind of Christ. Just as Jesus humbly served us through the crucifixion, we are to serve each other.
Students engaging in Christian Service at SUM should:
- Understand the biblical mandate for service
- Recognize that service to others is part of God’s purpose for us
- Know that it is better to give than to receive
- Have insight into appropriate service and its impact
Chapels
Here at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary we do not take it for granted that we are able to come together for corporate worship and for the hearing of the word of God. Being in the presence of fellow believers in worship is a source of joy and strength for our community. The main service of the day meets in the chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., daily, Monday-Thursday.
Physical Education
SUM is committed to training ministers to be healthy in all areas of life. Physical education is important because our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). A gym with filled workout machines, and a large grass field encourage students to stay healthy and meet the Physical Education requirement of three 20-workouts per week per trimester.
Voter Registration
The Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 requires colleges and universities to make voter registration forms available to you. Oakland students may connect with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the California Secretary of State. Students can complete their registration online, or print a registration form and mail it directly to their local elections official. Simply go to RegisterToVote.org. Hard copy forms are available at the Oakland campus Library and the Registrar’s office for California (or Student Life Office). This does not apply to schools in states that do not have a voter registration requirement or that allow voters to register at the time of voting. An electronic message may be used if exclusive to voter registration.
Student Ministries
Practicums
- All full-time undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 8 hours per week of supervised ministry practicums. This is typically divided into 2 four-hour practicums. Part-time students are required to complete at least 4 hours per week of student ministry practicums.
- All undergraduate students enrolled in the Winter trimester are required to participate in the Mardi Gras Outreach.
- All student ministry practicums will be under the direct supervision of a practicum leader, who is responsible for teaching, guiding, and evaluating the student’s ministry.
- In order for any student to receive credit for their weekly practicum ministry, each student is required read assignments and to hand in a student ministry evaluation form and report (one to two typed pages) to the practicum leader the following week.
- Students are required to complete prayer journals as part of their practicum.
- Forty hours of practicum are worth 1 credit on a student’s transcript. To graduate, 19 practicum credits are required for the B.A. degree in Biblical Studies.
- A student who fails to complete his/her practicum requirements will be dismissed from the program.
Internships
SUM’s mission is to provide hands-on ministry opportunities in the marketplace, mission field and local church (Mt 28:18-19; Mk 16:15-16; Lk 10:1-3; Jn 4:35-38). The student would work alongside an Internship Leader who is approved by the Dean of Student Ministry or Cohort Advisor who will guide the student to develop a Senior Year Project demonstrative of the student’s call of God and/or course concentration (3 credits).
Process
1. Propose a Senior Year Project that expresses the student’s calling.
2. Collaborate with an Internship Leader about 4 hours/week
3. Submit weekly reports, and at the end of the trimester, publicly display the Senior Year Project.
Evangelism Conference & Outreach (ECO)
Annually, SUM students from the main campus and students from across our nation (& from our international locations) will converge on a chosen city in the U.S. (there is a virtual option for those who are unable to attend) and participate in an explosive 3-day conference in the morning and street evangelism outreach in the evening. Students will be stirred by the Holy Spirit through worship, prayer and preaching of God’s Word by dynamic visionary leaders and hit the streets as the army of God sharing their faith with the lost.
Summer Missions
SUM encourages students to go to the ends of the earth for Jesus Christ. Students can earn up to 2 credits by completing a Summer Mission Practicum anywhere in the world whether US or overseas. Students will be required to plan for maximization of their mission trip: witnessing, street evangelism and preaching or leading Bible Studies or doing humanitarian works.
For any further questions, please contact the Student Life and Ministry Director at [email protected]
To submit a helpdesk ticket, please click here.
Student Handbook
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Library Handbook
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