Mission and Ministry
Mission and Ministry supports the spiritual development of all members of the Gonzaga community, regardless of religious affiliation and tradition. Mission and Ministry provides opportunities and resources for spiritual growth and fellowship through retreats, liturgies, music ministry, small groups, spiritual direction, residence hall programs and more. These activities invite participants into a deeper understanding of Gonzaga’s Jesuit and Catholic identity as well as a profound respect for other religious and spiritual traditions.
Retreats
Retreats provide an opportunity for going deeper, both as individuals and as a community. We offer an extensive retreat program throughout the academic year. The Escape Retreat (for First Year Students) is offered during the fall and spring semesters. We offer an opportunity for Sophomore students to retreat together in the fall and spring as well. Search, Gonzaga’s longest-running retreat program, targeted at Juniors is held four times a year at the Bozarth Mansion and Retreat Center, an historic estate in north Spokane. For Senior students we will be offering a 5 day Ignatian Retreat during the winter prior to the start of the spring semester.
CLC/Life Groups
These are intentional small groups that meet weekly to reflect, share life, pray, laugh and grow. Each year, roughly 500 students gather in these small groups to deepen their relationship with God, form lasting relationships with others, and walk through the valleys and peaks of college life together. CLC/Life Groups also gather regularly for large-group activities, social events, and service projects.
Mass and Sacraments
As a Catholic university, we hold Masses on campus to unite us as a faith community. Two public liturgies are available each day in the Gonzaga community. People of all religious paths are welcome to join us in prayer and worship. In addition, we help students connect with other local churches and places of worship.
Not only are students invited to come to Mass, but they are also invited to take on leadership positions, such as Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Server, or Sacristan. Mission and Ministry also offers students the Sacrament of Reconciliation through appointment or before Sunday evening Mass.
If you have questions about other Mission and Ministry events and programs, please contact the office at (509) 313-4242 or umin@gonzaga.edu. Mission and Ministry is located on the main floor of the Hemmingson Center (Suite 104) and online at www.gonzaga.edu/missionandministry.
Veterans
Gonzaga University’s academic programs of study are approved by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board’s State Approving Agency (HECB/SAA) for enrollment of persons eligible to receive educational benefits under Title 38 and Title 10 USC.
For graduate students enrolled in academic programs offering courses in non-standard terms, the number of credits required to achieve a time status of "full time" shall be proportional to the number of weeks in that non-standard term divided by sixteen (e.g. 8 divided by 16, times 6 credits equals a full-time status of three (3) credits for a non-standard term of eight (8) weeks duration).
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch.33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:
- Prevent the students enrollment;
- Assess a late penalty fee to;
- Require student secure alternative or additional funding;
- Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students will be required to:
- Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
- Provide written request to be certified;
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Veterans
Veterans failing to achieve minimum standards of academic progress are placed on probation for the following semester and notified via email by the University's Veterans' Advisor. Should satisfactory academic progress not be achieved by the following term, certification of veteran benefits will be suspended and the VA Regional Processing Office will be notified. Certification of veteran benefits can resume once satisfactory academic progress standing is attained.
Eligible veterans needing to apply for their benefits, approved veterans needing certification of enrollment, or students with questions about possible veteran benefits should contact the University’s veterans advisor in Room 234 of College Hall.
Military Call to Active Duty/Training
Gonzaga students in the National Guard and Reserves and some prior active duty personnel may be called/recalled to active duty. Gonzaga University recognizes and appreciates the important contributions made by men and women to our country. Gonzaga supports a policy related to our students who have been called to active duty and/or training by any branch of the United States armed forces. The policy does not apply to students ordered to active duty in another country’s armed forces. This policy applies to all University schools and programs and is intended to recognize and make appropriate allowances for students who find themselves in such situations.
According to Federal Title X regulations, students should not be disadvantaged by being called to military service, whether for deployment or training. It is expected that everyone at the University will work together to do what is best for our students. Gonzaga has developed the following procedures to provide maximum flexibility in assisting these students. Students with activation orders or other official documentation should follow the process outline below. Dependent on when a student is called to active military duty and/or training, various processes will differ, depending on the time of the call up and length of the call up.
1. Deployment or Training Call-Up Prior to the Start of a Semester Through the Add/Drop Period:
Students should determine if they should drop all courses in every semester/session for which they are registered that will be impacted by their call-up. Consideration should be given to the length of the call-up, the number of credits and types of courses they’re registered for, and their personal assessment of their capability to make up missed classes. Should all courses be dropped, this will result in an automatic 100% refund of all tuition and related fees. The Military Call to Active Duty/Training Notification form will be submitted per the form instructions to the VA Certifying Official located in the Office of the Registrar. A copy of the deployment or training order will be provided with the form. If orders are not immediately available, submit a signed letter from your command pertaining to completion of your military obligation, sensitive information should be redacted. Student will initiate a Military Leave of Absence (MLOA). Return to Gonzaga and Reactivation/Readmission will be based on the criteria outlined in this policy.
2. Call-Up During a Term:
The Military Active Call to Duty/Training Notification form will be submitted per the form instructions to the VA Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar. A copy of the deployment or training order is to be provided with the form. If orders are not immediately available, submit a signed letter from your command pertaining to completion of your military obligation. Sensitive information should be redacted. It may not be in the best interest of the student to withdraw from the University. Academic accommodations may be possible to allow the student to progress in the existing course of study. However, students should carefully consider if missing course work necessary to meet course/degree requirements (e.g. labs, clinicals) will be impacted.
Guiding Principles for Consideration:
- Students activated for deployment or training are held to the same standard of academic excellence expected for all students. Documented absences for scheduled deployment or training does not relieve the student of class responsibilities, including any course material covered during missed classes.Students should consider major exams, due dates for projects/papers, and mandatory class activities.
2. It is the student’s responsibility to notify instructors as soon as possible regarding their deployment. Where there are schedule conflicts, absences, or other issues, the student, along with the faculty member and the student’s Chair and/or Dean, will work together to achieve the most optimal solution.
3. Faculty members should make every reasonable effort to support and accommodate the student during the call-up period.
4. Students should work with faculty to develop a plan for making up missed coursework when they don’t withdraw from a course. Discussions should also be made concerning changes to the student’s circumstances which would not allow completion of the plan.
5. When permissible and with the instructor’s agreement if the excused course is near the end of the term and the student has completed all but a small portion of the coursework, a grade of Incomplete or In Progress may be assigned. Deadlines for removal of these grades will be in accordance with University policy. No further tuition or course fees will be charged to the student in order that a student may successfully complete courses for removal of the incomplete or in progress grade. Law students will follow Law School policy for withdrawing, incomplete/in progress grades, and returning to the university.
Room and board refunds will be pro-rated based on the date of the complete withdrawal when applicable.
A transcript notation “Student Called to Active Military Duty” will be applied to the student record outlining why the withdrawal occurred. Student will initiate a Military Leave of Absence (MLOA) when withdrawing. The Electronic document can be found here https://my.gonzaga.edu/academics/registration-enrollment/registrar-office/resources/forms. The student record will be coded accordingly outlining information related to the Military Leave of Absence.
Reinstatement/Readmission:
Reinstatement
A student will be reinstated under a reactivation procedure through the Office of the Registrar. A Return from Military Duty form is necessary for all students wishing to re-enroll in order that the required adjustments in the student information system can be made, and so that the University can inform the student about academic advising, registration procedures, housing options, tuition charges and financial aid options. The Electronic document can be found here https://my.gonzaga.edu/academics/registration-enrollment/registrar-office/resources/forms Reinstated students will be allowed to continue with the academic requirements under the semester/session of their original entry to Gonzaga University (matriculation term) whenever possible (i.e. using the same catalog). In recognition that tours of duty frequently exceed one year in duration, every effort will be made to accommodate through exception, the special academic needs of students returning from active military duty. However, such exceptions and substitutions can be made only to the extent that they do not compromise the quality or integrity of the student’s degree. The student must meet the required GPA, and financial and disciplinary requirements of any other student.
Readmission
Should it be necessary for the student to reapply for admission, policies of the Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law admission offices will be adhered to.
FINANCIAL AID IMPLICATIONS
Financial aid and payments received by these students for the term are refunded to the source, as per the Office of Student Financial Aid policies.
Students who have received a refund from financial aid sources are expected to repay the financial aid according to the terms of any promissory notes they have signed. The same standards that are applied to students who have an outstanding tuition balance with the university are applied to those called for military duty.
In addition, the University adheres to the guidance offered by the U.S. Department of Education regarding students who have received a Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Nursing Loan.
Students must contact their lender to request a loan deferment.
NOTE: It is recommended that students wishing to resume or begin collecting VA benefits should contact the Veteran Certifying Official located in the Office of the Registrar to discuss the documentation needed for veteran educational benefits to be certified.
Disability Access Office, Center for Student Academic Success
Disability Access provides access services to Gonzaga University’s programs, services, activities and facilities for qualified students with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Washington State laws. Disability Access serves students with permanent or temporary disabilities. Disability Access arranges and implements appropriate and reasonable academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Students should contact Disability Access to inquire about the procedure for requesting accommodations. The University recommends the student contact Disability Access at least four weeks prior to the semester for which they are requesting services. However, Disability Access continuously evaluates student documentation and requests for accommodation throughout the school year.
If at any time during the process of application, admission, and enrollment, individuals feel that they have been discriminated against because of disability, they are encouraged to notify Disability Access. Incidents which have occurred more than 120 days prior to making the complaint may or may not be given consideration. To obtain copies of GU’s Informal Complaint Process for Reasonable Accommodation or the Formal Grievance Procedure, please contact the Disability Access office.
Disability Access is located in Foley Center Library, 2nd floor, Room 208 and is at extension 4134. Visit the Disability Access website.
Academic Testing Center
If you have testing accommodations through the Disability Access office, your instructor may ask that you take your exams in the ATC to receive those accommodations. Please use the ATC’s online portal to schedule your exams in advance. If you have questions about scheduling, contact the ATC. The Academic Testing Center is located in Foley Center Library, Second Floor, Room 203 and is at extension 5535.
International Students
The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) provides an international student orientation prior to the GU new student orientation as well as ongoing academic, cultural, and immigration support for all F-1 and J-1 international students attending Gonzaga University. Through various programming, ISSS aims to help international students adjust to the new culture and community smoothly and maximize their potential. In addition, ISSS assists with insurance, tax filing and SSN application processes.
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