Commuter students make up majority on chapel probation

By Mouly Luna

Staff Writer

Of the 66 students currently on chapel probation, more than half are commuters, according to university data. 

While chapel attendance is a long-lasting part of Trevecca’s Christian identity, commuter students say balancing work schedules, transportation, and academic responsibilities can make meeting those requirements difficult. 

Anjelita Garcia, a member of the Commuter Council, described chapel expectations as another layer of stress for students already juggling multiple responsibilities. 

“A lot of commuters have to worry about scheduling. If pushing their hours affects their jobs,” said Garcia. “Missing even one week can put you really behind.” 

Trevecca requires chapel attendance for all undergraduate students, with freshmen and sophomores expected to earn 24 chapel credits per semester while juniors and seniors are expected to complete 20. 

Each semester the university offers more than 60 chapel credit opportunities through traditional services, special programming, and dialogue events. Administrators say these options are designed to provide flexibility. 

“Students who attend fewer than two-thirds of their required chapels in a semester are placed on chapel probation,” said Zack Church, associate dean for residence life. 

While on probation, students must meet 100 percent of their chapel requirements. Failure to do so can result in academic disenrollment for the next semester. This year 53 percent of the students on chapel probation are commuters. 

“Last semester, 66 students were placed on chapel probation,” Church said. “In the past five years only one student has been academically disenrolled specifically because of chapel attendance.” 

Church emphasized that chapel probation does not affect student’s grades, transcripts, or social standing. Students may also re-enroll after sitting out for a semester if they are disenrolled. 

University Chaplin Erik Gernand said Trevecca has expanded chapel opportunities in recent years in response to commuter concerns. These include Monday night chapels, service-based credits, and occasional virtual or intensive credit opportunities such as Spiritual Deepening week. 

“We try to have chapel events spread out all across the week, throughout the semester,’ said Gernand. “In any given semester, we’ll offer 60-plus credits. Our hope is that students can plot out a way to meet their requirements in a way that works for them.” 

Trevecca has also implemented automatic chapel credit reductions for certain commuters who do not have a class immediately after chapel on Tuesdays and Thursdays, automatically reducing to 12 credits per semester. 

Still some commuter students say the requirements remain overwhelming. 

Garcia added that while some commuter students qualify for reduced requirements, others do not, even though most commuters face transportation struggles. 

“Regardless of what time your class are, you still have to commute,” said Garcia. “It should be an exception for commuters as a whole, not just certain students.” 

Garcia also noted that alternative chapel opportunities, such as evening events or service credits, may not be accessible to students who work full-time jobs or live far from campus. 

Despite these challenges, Gernand said chapel remains a core part of Trevecca’s mission and campus culture. 

“Chapel is our opportunity to step out of the academic grind and center ourselves spiritually as a community,” said Gernand.