CES standards updated, clarified

[Calm]

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/updated-ces-standards-students-closer-to-christ

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The updates are principle-based, provide consistency across CES institutions, and better align student endorsement interviews with Church leaders’ ecclesiastical responsibilities. The changes are designed to help students grow closer to Jesus Christ and strengthen the overall student experience.

There are quite a lot of details included, so I would suggest reading the article if you have any concerns as they might be addressed in it or linked to more info, but here are the two main items….

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Student Ecclesiastical Endorsement Questions

1. Are you striving to deepen your testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
2. Are you striving to deepen your testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
3. Are you striving for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior?
4. Do you obey the law of chastity?
5. Do you sustain the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators?
6. Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
7. Do you regularly participate in your church meetings and strive to keep the Sabbath day holy?
8. Do you strive to be honest in all that you do, including keeping the commitments you have made?
9. The Church Educational System is supported and funded by the tithes of the Church of Jesus Christ. Are you a full-tithe payer?
10. Do you obey the Word of Wisdom?
11. Are you striving to live the teachings of the Church and keep the covenants you have made to this point in your life?
12. Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?

CES Honor Code

The Church Educational System (CES) is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) and directed by the Church Board of Education/Boards of Trustees, with the mission to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.

The CES Honor Code helps to accomplish the CES mission to build disciples of Jesus Christ. As faculty, administration, staff, and students voluntarily commit to conduct their lives in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, they strive to maintain the highest standards in their personal conduct regarding honor, integrity, morality, and consideration of others. By accepting appointment, continuing in employment, being admitted, or continuing enrollment, each member of the campus communities personally commits to observe the CES Honor Code approved by the Board of Trustees:

• Maintain an Ecclesiastical Endorsement, including striving to deepen faith and maintain gospel standards
• Be honest
• Live a chaste and virtuous life, including abstaining from sexual relations outside marriage between a man and a woman. Living a chaste and virtuous life also includes abstaining from same-sex romantic behavior
• Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, vaping, marijuana, and other substance abuse
• Participate regularly in Church services
• Respect others, including the avoidance of profane and vulgar language
• Obey the law and follow campus policies, including the CES Dress and Grooming standards
• Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code and Dress and Grooming standards….

CES Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations

CES Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations are part of the CES Honor Code and part of each student’s, employee’s, and volunteer’s commitment.

When considering Honor Code and dress and grooming decisions, the teachings of the prophets and apostles, as well as Church instruction, such as “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices” can be helpful.

CES Dress and Grooming Principles

Each student, employee, and volunteer commits to:

1. Represent the Savior Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Church Educational System
2. Preserve an inspiring environment, without distraction or disruption, where covenants are kept in a spirit of unity so the Holy Ghost can teach truth
3. Promote modesty, cleanliness, neatness, and restraint in dress and grooming
4. Maintain an elevated standard distinctive to educational institutions of the Church of Jesus Christ

Dress and grooming expectations as in the examples below should align with these principles. However, application of these principles is not limited to the expectations listed. Members of the university community are expected to apply these principles to dress and grooming questions as they arise.

CES Dress and Grooming Expectations

1. Dress for men and women should:
   1. Be modest in fit and style. Dressing in a way that would cover the temple garment is a good guideline, whether or not one has been endowed. Accommodation may be made for athletic participation.
   2. Be neat and clean. Sloppy, overly casual, ragged, or extreme clothing is not acceptable.
2. Grooming
   1. Hair should be clean, neat, modest, and avoid extremes in styles and colors.
   2. Men’s hair should be neatly trimmed. Men should be clean shaven. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed.

 

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Calm

[Calm]

One question I have is if the dress standard applies to when on campus or attending any CES activity (or church), but not at all times.

Or can a CES student never be seen in sloppy or overly casual clothing?  Because if I were a student, I would be breaking that rule all the time.

They still haven’t dumped the no beard rule.

Which imo doesn’t really match this claim that it’s meant to give students more ownership of decisions.

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CES conducted focus groups at several of its institutions to gather input from students in the development of these changes. Students were enthusiastic and expressed their feelings that a focus on the Savior, combined with an emphasis on principles and expectations, would elevate dress, grooming, and behavior as students become more intentional and take increased ownership for dress and grooming decisions.

But they get to wear shorts now.

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For example, students on each campus will be allowed to wear shorts, provided those shorts are in keeping with the principles and expectations given.

 

Edited August 24, 2023 by Calm

[MustardSeed]

I’m glad they are setting the same expectations for all CES programs.  

[MustardSeed]

Just now, Calm said:

One question I have is if the dress standard applies to when on campus or attending any CES activity (or church), but not at all times.

Or can a CES student never be seen in sloppy or overly casual clothing?  Because if I were a student, I would be breaking that rule all the time.

I don’t think it applies to what one is wearing at home, only “on campus”

[Calm]

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There are no changes to the LGBTQ policies. CES is deeply committed to helping all our students, including our LGBTQ students, feel both the love and covenant expectations of the Savior. Same-sex romantic behavior has been and continues to be contrary to the principles included in the CES Honor Code. LGBTQ students are a welcomed and valued part of the campus community and share a common identity with every student as sons and daughters of God. All students will continue to be encouraged to live their gospel and university/college commitments. 

Can members of CES campus communities who identify as LGBTQ or have same-sex attraction be disciplined for behavior like going on a date, holding hands or kissing?

Same-sex romantic behavior is not compatible with the principles included in the CES Honor Code. As in years past, each situation will be handled on a case-by-case basis to help each student feel the love of the Savior and to encourage them to live their gospel covenants and university/college commitments.

 

[Calm]

11 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I don’t think it applies to what one is wearing at home, only “on campus”

It is confusing imo because other off campus behaviour is part of it, dating, drinking, etc has to meet the standards, so my guess if a student is going on a date in a backless dress, that would be seen as a violation, so why not the sloppy clothing?

I wonder if leggings will be allowed on campus.

Edited August 24, 2023 by Calm

[ksfisher]

12 minutes ago, Calm said:

They still haven’t dumped the no beard rule.

 

19 minutes ago, Calm said:

Men should be clean shaven. If worn, mustaches should be neatly trimmed.

These two sentences seems almost contradictory.  Kind of sideways permission to wear a mustache.  But who wears mustaches now anyways?  I'd say that for every 100 beards I see, I see 1 mustache.

[blackstrap]

1 hour ago, ksfisher said:

for every 100 beards I see, I see 1 mustache.

A beard happens when a mustache meets the sideburns. 

[MustardSeed]

No one had an issue with my Moustache except the boys I hoped to date 😕

[Rain]

2 hours ago, ksfisher said:

 

These two sentences seems almost contradictory.  Kind of sideways permission to wear a mustache.  But who wears mustaches now anyways?  I'd say that for every 100 beards I see, I see 1 mustache.

My son, 22, wears one and so do quite a few of his friends. 

[Rain]

3 hours ago, Calm said:

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/updated-ces-standards-students-closer-to-christ

There are quite a lot of details included, so I would suggest reading the article if you have any concerns as they might be addressed in it or linked to more info, but here are the two main items….

 

 

I wish they would change "striving" to "trying".  Maybe I'm the only one, but I have rarely strived (to devote serious effort or energy: endeavor. strive to finish a project. 2. : to struggle in opposition) to strengthen my testimony or keep morally clean. 

[ksfisher]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

I wish they would change "striving" to "trying".  Maybe I'm the only one, but I have rarely strived (to devote serious effort or energy: endeavor. strive to finish a project. 2. : to struggle in opposition) to strengthen my testimony or keep morally clean. 

Striving matches the language in the temple recommend interview.  Striving sounds like a little more effort is being put forth than trying.

Edited August 25, 2023 by ksfisher

[Rain]

45 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

Striving matches the language in the temple recommend interview.  Striving sounds like a little more effort is being put forth than trying.

Yes, that's where I know it from and wish it would change. When I picture striving I think of an incredibly difficult arm wrestling contest or constantly hurrying to do a good dead. The connotation of striving is just so much...more. it's like you can never be happy because you are constantly on and in the fight.  

[Calm]

10 hours ago, Rain said:

I wish they would change "striving" to "trying".  Maybe I'm the only one, but I have rarely strived (to devote serious effort or energy: endeavor. strive to finish a project. 2. : to struggle in opposition) to strengthen my testimony or keep morally clean. 

Striving makes me feel I can never rest, too intense. I like to take my time and examine stuff to see what is really important, not feel like I have to fight myself or others, climb that wall, carry that weight or else I am failing.  I think progress can be made even more by stopping and looking at what’s around you and mulling it over for awhile.

[ksfisher]

11 hours ago, Rain said:

Yes, that's where I know it from and wish it would change. When I picture striving I think of an incredibly difficult arm wrestling contest or constantly hurrying to do a good dead. The connotation of striving is just so much...more. it's like you can never be happy because you are constantly on and in the fight.  

And when I think of trying I think of someone putting in minimal effort.  

[Rain]

1 hour ago, ksfisher said:

And when I think of trying I think of someone putting in minimal effort.  

Interesting how we all think different.

When you hear the "I'm trying to be like Jesus" song to you feel that minimal definition too?

[ksfisher]

41 minutes ago, Rain said:

Interesting how we all think different.

It is.  Words have different meanings depending on peoples life experiences.

"I tried" often times is part of an excuse for not doing something.

 

41 minutes ago, Rain said:

When you hear the "I'm trying to be like Jesus" song to you feel that minimal definition too?

Words also have different meanings in different circumstances.  It's a fun little primary song with a nice, pleasant tune. 

Edited August 25, 2023 by ksfisher

[blackstrap]

I think we have all met people who are " trying ".😁

[Ragerunner]

It just feels like cultural dogma. 

The focus that a certain type of dress, shirt, a tie, pants or grooming standard will make you ‘more worthy’ truly seems to be missing the mark.

The reverse also seems trivial. A colored shirt, facial hair, an extra earring, shorts, a tattoo will some how make you ‘less worth’. 

Take all this effort and energy that goes into ‘creating and enforcing’ all of this and use it to help people become more loving, caring, compassionate, less judgmental and more Christlike. Now you have real change that actually matters. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by Ragerunner