2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
    Oct 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Welcome to College of the Ozarks


College of the Ozarks is unique among the nation’s schools of higher learning. It is more than just another fully accredited four-year liberal arts coeducational college. The College’s program has a five-fold emphasis- academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, cultural. Our vision is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are welleducated, hardworking, and patriotic. College of the Ozarks has a durable and vigorous spirit that has grown since its opening in 1906. The College welcomes anyone who desires a quality education and is willing to work to his/her potential. This handbook outlines the policies and procedures followed at C of O. The rules and regulations established by the College are intended to ensure that the rights of all are protected and not merely for the purpose of punishing anyone.

Rules and regulations in this handbook are in effect at the time of publication, August 1, 2024. Changes in these policies may be made by the administration of College of the Ozarks at any time. The most updated information may be found online through the campus web that is available to all students. https://www.cofo.edu/content/handbook

Mission

The mission of College of the Ozarks is to provide the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.

Vision and Goals

The vision of College of the Ozarks is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.

To achieve this vision, the College has academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. Even as College of the Ozarks has evolved through secondary and junior college stages to the present four-year liberal arts institution, the fundamental goals have remained the same.

Academic Goal

To provide a sound education, based in the liberal arts. Vocational Goal To promote a strong work ethic, encouraging the development of good character and values. Christian Goal To foster the Christian faith through the integration of faith with learning, living, and service.

Patriotic Goal

To encourage an understanding of American heritage, civic responsibilities, love of country, and willingness to defend it.

Cultural Goal

To cultivate an appreciation of the fine arts, an understanding of the world, and adherence to high personal standards.

Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees April 23, 2002

 

Core Values

 

Creating and stewarding a faithful community that fosters growth and pursues good.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16

 

  • Steward Faithfully. God calls us to faithfully steward his gifts; therefore, we will faithfully steward the College’s mission, vision, goals, and resources (people, finances, time).

    This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
     
  • Create Community. God calls us to grow up together into Christ; therefore, we will cultivate a community that fosters personal growth and thriving by valuing, respecting, and lovingly speaking and receiving the truth from one another.

    Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15-16
     
  • Pursue Good. God calls us to be salt and light; therefore, we will influence others for good, both inside and outside the College, through selfless service, the pursuit of excellence, and living with Christlike character and integrity.

    And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
     
  • Practice Hospitality. God calls us to be hospitable; therefore, we will provide a gracious, welcoming environment for all we meet.

    Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13
     
  • Show Gratitude. God calls us to give thanks; therefore, we will practice gratitude in all we do.

    Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20