1.0 Employee Handbook ,,,

This Employee Handbook contains policies that apply to faculty and staff at Seattle Pacific University. Most policies contained in this Employee Handbook apply to both faculty and staff, but some policies only apply to staff. Policies that only apply to staff are clearly labeled as only applying to staff. Other policies that apply to faculty are contained in the Faculty Employment Handbook. This Employee Handbook is not intended to apply to student employees. Student employees are subject to policies that are applicable to students and policies published by SPU’s Office of Student Employment. Policies that apply to faculty generally apply to all regular, contingent, and adjunct faculty (as defined in the Faculty Employment Handbook), unless otherwise noted. 

Seattle Pacific University is committed to fostering a respectful and professional work environment for all faculty and staff. This section outlines expectations for employee behavior and conduct as well as important employment policies that support our Christian mission, institutional values, and a culture of mutual respect.

The University welcomes faculty and staff from the range of theologically orthodox Christianity who affirm the University’s Statement of Faith. The University believes that a set of shared Christian commitments gives the University its distinctive identity. The University also recognizes that Christians embrace and display vital faith in a variety of theological expressions, worship forms, gifts, and ministries, and the University celebrates the diversity of Christ’s church. In recognition of the shared conviction across Christian communions of the centrality of church participation to the nurture of vital Christian life, all regular faculty and staff members are expected to actively participate in a local church in addition to affirming the University’s Statement of Faith.

All employees are expected to uphold these policies. These expectations apply across all areas of university life—whether in the classroom, office, virtual settings, or beyond—and may be updated periodically.