Operational Statements 6100 - 6199

6100 Philosophy

6110 Objectives

6120 Boarding Advisory Committee

6130 Home Boarding

6140 Financial Requirements for Maintaining the Boarding Program

Residence Requirements 6200 - 6299

6200 Application for Admission to the Boarding Division

6210 Missionary to Non-Missionary Ratio

6220 Priority System

6230 Time Limits for Reserved Dorm Space

6240 Grade Level Requirement

6270 Appeal Rights

Relationships 6300 - 6399

6300 Family/Student/Boarding Division Personnel Relationships

6310 Guardians

6320 School/Community/Dormitory Relationships

Scope of Responsibility/Authority 6400 - 6499

6400 Responsibility/Authority

6410 Spiritual Care

6420 Health Care

6430 Safety and Security

6440 Standards of Conduct

6450 Discipline

6460 Search and Seizure

6470 Facilities

6480 Personnel Selection

6490 Confidentiality

 Reviewed: 1999-2000

6100 PHILOSOPHY

Morrison Academy operates a Boarding Division consistent with its primary purpose of providing educational options for the children of missionaries. Children of non-missionaries may be admitted under guidelines established by the Board of Trustees. The Boarding Division operates within the framework of the policies and procedures of Morrison Academy.

The Boarding Division recognizes the need for continuing parental responsibility and involvement in the care and training of students who reside in the dormitory. The values, teachings and beliefs of the parents are supported within the parameters of Morrison Academy's Statement of Faith.

The Boarding Division strives to create a comfortable, homelike, Christian environment by providing positive loving care, such as would be found in a Christ-centered home. The Boarding Division personnel exercise flexibility and understanding in the individual care of each boarding student within the context of the group living environment.Open communication, mutual respect, and trustworthiness are fundamental to the effective operation of the Boarding Division.

5/04

6110 OBJECTIVES

The Boarding Division seeks to provide a comfortable, homelike residence while providing care and training for each student in the following areas.

1. Spiritual: Provide an environment conducive to individual Christian growth and to assist the student in integrating Christian faith into all areas of life. 
2. Physical: Provide nutritious meals and promote a healthy life style.
   
3. Emotional: Assist the student in growth of self-esteem, personal responsibility and self-discipline. 
4. Social: Promote growth in personal relationships, respect for authority, and sensitivity to the rights of others.
   
5. Educational: Promote good study habits and provide an environment conducive to study. 
6. Cultural: Promote understanding, appreciation, and respect for the Chinese culture as well as other nationalities and cultures represented in the school and dorms.

5/04

6120 BOARDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Boarding Advisory Committee is composed of the Director of Boarding Services serving as Chairperson, and a minimum of four parents (preferably at least one missionary father, one missionary mother, and one Christian business parent of current boarding students), and one Trustee (preferably the parent of a boarding student). Each will serve a two-year term. The Committee members, with the exception of the Trustee, will be selected by the Director of Boarding Services. The Trustee member will be selected by the Board of Trustees. The Director of Boarding Services will be responsible to set the agenda for all meetings. Furthermore, he/she will ensure that accurate minutes are kept of all meetings, and that a copy of the minutes is sent to the Superintendent. The Committee will normally meet at least four times during the school year. The Director of Boarding Services may schedule additional meetings when necessary.

The Boarding Advisory Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the Director of Boarding Services. The duties of the committee include: input into the dormitory parent personnel selection process, input on System or Director of Boarding Services referred items; review of the dorm handbook; and review of the policy/procedures/programs of the Boarding Division.

The Boarding Advisory Committee does not discuss matters relating to individual personnel.

11/06

6130 HOME BOARDING

Due to the limited amount of dormitory space, Morrison Academy cannot guarantee housing for all applicants.

The Director of Boarding Services will maintain a current listing of people in the community who wish to board students in their homes. This list will be made available upon the request of families whose children cannot be or choose not to be placed in the dormitory. The Boarding Division will not offer placement, billing, or any other services related to boarding students in the homes of community members.

5/04

6140 FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING THE BOARDING PROGRAM

In order to assist missionaries, Morrison Academy may maintain a Boarding Division budget deficit. This deficit shall not exceed 40% of the Boarding Division's budget, including a prorated proportion of Taichung campus and system expenses.

5/05

6200 APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE BOARDING DIVISION

Each application for admission to the dormitories will be considered on an individual basis.  Students who have lived in the dormitory normally retain residency; and may not be involuntarily replaced by new applicants. Students are accepted into the dormitories based on the following:

1. Confirmed admittance to Morrison Academy;
2. Completion of the necessary forms and procedures;
3. Space availability;
4. Previous attendance at Morrison Academy for at least one year.  Exceptions may be made for missionaries;
5. Potential for making a positive contribution to a Christian dorm environment.

The Director of Boarding Services will make decisions regarding a prospective student's admission to the dormitory.  In cases where the references of the applicant indicate that the applicant may not make a positive contribution to the dormitory, the Superintendent will be consulted regarding admittance. When students are being considered for admittance into the dormitory after the beginning of the school year, the Boarding Division personnel will be consulted.

Students whose parents are residing in their homeland are not eligible for dorm residency. Exceptions may be made by the Superintendent for families on a short-term home service / furlough during the school year.

Children of non-missionaries who either reside outside of Taiwan or who are often not on-island are ineligible for dorm residency. 

1/09 

6210 MISSIONARY TO NON-MISSIONARY RATIO

Morrison Academy will provide dormitory facilities in which at least 70% of the students are missionary children. The Superintendent will have authority to make exceptions to 65%.

6220 PRIORITY SYSTEM

The following priorities are employed in deciding which applications will be accepted:

1. On-island mission 
2. Off-island mission 
3. On-island non-missionary

Consideration will also be given to the number of years the student has attended a Morrison school, and to whether or not other high school options are available to the student.

6230 TIME LIMITS FOR RESERVED DORM SPACE

Morrison will reserve available dorm space for the children of missionaries who submit requests before the reservation deadline.  The reservation deadline is determined by the Director of Boarding Services in consultation with the Superintendent.

1/08

6240 GRADE LEVEL REQUIREMENT

All dorm students must be enrolled at Morrison Academy's Taichung campus. The dorm is for students from grades seven through twelve.

5/96

6270 APPEAL RIGHTS

11/06

6300 FAMILY/STUDENT/BOARDING DIVISION PERSONNEL RELATIONSHIPS

It is the responsibility of the Boarding Division personnel to maintain communication with the parents of a boarding student.

The Boarding Division will encourage boarding students to maintain communication with their parents and dormitory parents.

Parents of boarding students are expected to maintain open lines of communication with dormitory parents and their children who reside in the dormitory.

Boarding Division personnel are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality regarding personal information pertaining to boarding students and their families.

5/96

6310 GUARDIANS

Parents of boarding students must sign a document stating that the boarding home parents or supervisor have the right to make crucial parental decisions when neither parent can be contacted in a timely manner.

Parents of boarding students from off-island must designate an adult who is living in Taiwan who agrees to be responsible for the student when the dorm is closed and the student remains in Taiwan.

6320 SCHOOL/COMMUNITY/DORMITORY RELATIONSHIPS

There is a clear separation between Morrison Academy's boarding and academic programs. The Boarding Division and High School are autonomous divisions of Morrison Academy. The relationship of boarding students and dorm parents to the school staff members shall be the same as that for day-students and their families.

Dorms are considered private residences for dorm students and Boarding Division personnel. Individuals from the school and community are expected to respect the privacy of the dorm families.

6400 RESPONSIBILITY/AUTHORITY

Boarding students are under the authority of the Boarding Division from the time they arrive at Morrison's Taichung campus after a break, until they leave the campus to be with their parents, or leave campus for an overnight stay authorized by their parents.

6410 SPIRITUAL CARE

The Boarding Division is responsible to provide an environment conducive to individual Christian growth. Boarding students are encouraged to develop a lifestyle that reflects Biblical principles. The Director of Boarding Services, after consultation with the Boarding Advisory Committee, will establish procedures regarding boarding students' church attendance and dormitory devotions.

11/06

6420 HEALTH CARE

Boarding Division personnel are responsible to respond to the medical needs of boarding students who become ill or injured while under their responsibility.  In an emergency situation, the dormitory parents are to take appropriate action as indicated in the Procedure Manual. Boarding Division personnel are responsible to inform the parents or guardian as soon as possible whenever a boarding student requires emergency hospital treatment. Boarding Division personnel are responsible to encourage good health practices. They also provide limited supervision of the student's diet, rest, exercise, and emotional health.

The parents of dorm students are responsible for informing the dormitory parents and the school nurse of any known medical needs/problems their child(ren) may have. The Boarding Division is not responsible for treating serious illnesses or injuries, arranging for routine medical services, or paying for medical expenses.

6430 SAFETY AND SECURITY

Reasonable precautions will be taken to protect and prevent boarding students from being injured while residing in the dormitory.

Morrison Academy assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged personal property kept in the dormitory.

The Boarding Division reserves the right to set safety standards for boarding students under its authority. These standards include, but are not limited to, the prohibition of the use or the possession of the following:

1. Dangerous Materials: This includes, but is not limited to, fireworks, and explosives. 
2. Dangerous Instruments: This includes, but is not limited to, knives, bows and arrows, guns, and martial arts weapons.
   
3. Driving Motorized Vehicles: This includes, but is not limited to, motorcycles, scooters, and cars. Boarding students may ride on motorcycles with written parental permission. They must wear helmets at all times when riding on motorcycles.

6440 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

Morrison Academy is committed to the Word of God and its authority regarding all matters of Christian faith and living.  The school promotes Biblical standards of Christian conduct, including a loving and respectful attitude toward God and others, honesty, respect for other's property, and high moral standards. 

The Boarding Division reserves the right to determine the standards of conduct within which the boarding students are expected to live while they are under its authority and responsibility. The following activities are prohibited:

• Profanity
• Provocative sexual behavior
• Premarital sex
• Homosexual activities
• Possession or use of pornographic materials
• Promotion or involvement in the occult
• Promotion or use of excessive violence
• Possession, use, or promotion of unauthorized controlled substances, illegal drugs, tobacco products, or alcoholic beverages. 

While under the jurisdiction of the Boarding Division, students may not attend dances.

3/06

6450 DISCIPLINE

The purpose of any disciplinary action should be to encourage boarding students to be responsible for their actions and to help them integrate Christian principles into their lives.

Boarding Division personnel reserve the right to discipline any boarding student who violates the rules and standards of the Boarding Division. Discipline should be administered, applying the following guidelines:

1. Consequences should be fair and equitable.
   
2. Consequences should be appropriate and timely. 
3. Consequences should maintain confidentiality.
   
4. Consequences should maintain the dignity of the student. 
5. Consequences should be administered in and tempered by love.

Possible disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to, restrictions, probation, suspension, and revocation of dormitory residency. The use of corporal punishment is prohibited.

It will be the responsibility of the Director of Boarding Services to ensure that proper documentation and due process is adhered to in the administration of any of the following disciplinary actions.

Restrictions

A boarding student may be restricted to the campus, dormitory or a room for disciplinary purposes. If the restriction is longer than two days, the Director of Boarding Services will be consulted ahead of time.  When these restrictions are imposed, the dormitory parents will confer with the parents regarding the reasons for the discipline.

Probation

A boarding student may be placed on probation, for disciplinary purposes by the Director of Boarding Services, in consultation with the Superintendent.  When a student is placed on probation, the Director of Boarding Services will confer with the parents regarding the reasons for the discipline and possible consequences for violations of the terms of probation. 

Suspension

Suspension from the dormitory may occur for violations of dormitory rules which are deemed by the administration to be a serious detriment to the student, the staff, or the dormitory. Students, whose presence pose a danger to persons, property, or are an on-going threat or disruption to the Christian home environment, may be immediately removed from the dormitory.

The length and terms of a suspension will depend on the situation and the discretion of the Director of Boarding Services in consultation with the Superintendent.

At the time of suspension, the Director of Boarding Services and dormitory parents will confer with the parents regarding the reasons for suspension, with conditions of re-admission established in writing.

11/06

6460 SEARCH AND SEIZURE

11/06

6470 FACILITIES

Morrison Academy reserves the right to use dormitory rooms during school vacations. Students shall be notified ahead of time in order to secure their possessions.

6480 PERSONNEL SELECTION

The administration will establish practices/procedures to insure the selection of appropriate Boarding Division parents and assistants to provide quality, Christian supervision for students living in the dormitories.  The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) will be used as a screening device for all dormitory parents.

6490 CONFIDENTIALITY

11/06