On-Campus Summer Institute

Ethics Bowl is a course designed to take the abstract ways we reason about right and wrong and apply them to real-world situations and dilemmas. To this end, we will examine prominent ethical theories and principles, then apply them as we analyze and debate ethical dilemmas pertaining to race, immigration, homelessness, and more. The goal is to develop skills that will enable us to think and converse in a clear, informed, and Christlike way about some of the most challenging topics in our culture today.

Learn more about Taylor’s award-winning Ethics Bowl Team. 

Primary emphasis is given to the relationship between the theories and ideals of democracy and the actual practice of making and implementing policy. The course considers the constitutional system, as well as the institutions of American government. 

This course is taught by Dr. Jakob Miller. 

Students learn to study biblical texts carefully, inquisitively, and according to literary context. Students learn to attend to literary genre, relevant socio-historical and theological contexts, and using biblical studies resources and tools in order to grow in their ability to interpret biblical texts. Students learn to draw connections from what a text meant to its original audience to what its significance might be for people today, including how it might be lived out and taught in contemporary contexts.

This course is taught by Dr. Greg MaGee.

This class will teach women valuable self-defense skills and develop situational awareness with an emphasis on cultivating self-confidence and empowerment. Taught by Chief of Campus Police Jeff Wallace.

Tell us how God has been working in your life. You can do this one of two ways:

• Write your story (400-700 words)
• Share your story with an Admissions Counselor in person or over the phone.

Have your transcript sent to Taylor. Your application is not complete without this components.

An adult who can speak of your academic aptitude may complete this reference form. The form will be emailed to the individual you designate through the online application.

A pastor, mentor, or any adult who can speak of your spiritual walk may fill out the reference form. (Family members are not permitted to complete this form.) The form may be completed in one of two ways:

• Online Form: During the application process, you will email them an electronic form.
• Print Form: Print the PDF form and give it to them to be completed and sent to Taylor.

A non-refundable application fee of $30 must be submitted online or by mailing a check to the Office of Admissions.

Registration will begin at 5:30 pm on Sunday, June 11 in the lobby of Breuninger Hall. (Dinner will not be available, so please grab something on your way to campus.) Students can move into the residence hall until 7 pm, at which time there will be a Summer Program Welcome Meeting for students and parents. Parents, please plan to leave campus following this meeting. 

You’ll be staying in Breuninger Hall and will be sharing your room with one roommate. The air-conditioned rooms include desks, beds, closets and a couple of dresser drawers per student. Free laundry facilities are available in the hall.

Not totally—but close! Since most of the students attending are younger than eighteen, there are some general rules that apply to Summer Institute students that do not apply during the regular school year.

We do, for example, observe a local curfew ordinance. You will be required to be in the residence hall (or other designated campus areas) before 10 pm on Sunday through Thursday evenings and before midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.

Summer Institute includes regular college classes, identical residence and food service facilities and a Taylor experience typical in most ways. You will be very busy during the program with classes, study, and community-building activities. There will also be some downtime included so that you can recharge. You will be expected to participate in all activities that are scheduled for your Summer Institute experience. Summer Institute cannot accommodate visits from family or friends during the program.

During the week, Summer Institute students will be involved in dynamic small groups led by Taylor students. In these groups, students will explore what it means to have their identity in Christ, build often life-changing relationships with other students, and be challenged to go deeper in their personal relationship with Jesus.

A service project may be part of the weekend experience.

Summer Institute is staffed to provide the appropriate supervision for all participants. Personnel Assistants will live on your floor. These positions are filled by highly qualified upperclassmen who have a previously held or currently hold leadership positions on campus. The Residence Hall Director is a Master in Higher Education graduate student, currently training for work with students. His/her job is to supervise the Personnel Assistants and deal with emergency and discipline situations that may arise. Taylor faculty and administrators, in turn, supervise the Residence Life staff.

In addition to orientation, we will host a closing banquet for the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Summer Institute on the last day of the program. Families are strongly encouraged to join us for this culminating event. Students are free. Seating is available for family and friends. The cost for family and friends is $20/person. Please register at check in on June 11. Payment must be received, via check or cash, at that time.

Students should plan to leave campus after the closing banquet on June 23. If your flight arrangements may require a Saturday, June 24 departure, please email kiersten_seeman@taylor.edu to inquire about special arrangements. 

We will pick students up at the Indianapolis or Fort Wayne airports. To register for the airport shuttle service, fill out the Airport Shuttle Request Form. Timing details will be announced after camp dates are determined.

We are strongly encouraging students to bring their own laptop computers. You will have a “.edu” email address once you’re accepted and have paid for Summer Institute. If you are interested in purchasing a laptop for Summer Institute and further use at college the following year, many companies offer discounts to students with a .edu email address. 

At Taylor, casual dress is the guideline for class attendance, residence hall and dining hall activities. However, “casual” is not meant to include form-fitting or revealing clothing. Dress and grooming standards should respect personal boundaries and should not be distracting or attention-grabbing. Walking shorts are permitted in class; however, athletic shorts are not.

You should also bring a pair of athletic shoes, clothing appropriate for outdoor recreation and service projects, and a modest swimsuit. You will also want to pack some clothing appropriate for church.

The program costs $1,250 (additional $30 application fee). This total includes a $50 matriculation fee which reserves the student’s spot in the program. Every student receives a free tuition scholarship for the Summer Institute program, saving you approximately $1,500.

The program costs include your room and board (lodging and food) and books. Students who complete this two-week summer program also receive an exclusive $1,000 scholarship toward their Taylor University freshman tuition.

You only need spending money for toiletries, snacks and an occasional outing. Conservative spenders are encouraged to bring around $50 to cover extras, although this amount is not required.

The Campus Store will be open Monday through Friday from 10 am–3 pm. You can purchase school supplies, clothes, toiletries, and snacks. 

Although there is not a prevalent threat, it is a best practice to not carry around a lot of cash and to secure valuables during the program. ATMs (cash dispensing only) are provided on campus in the Dining Commons, Student Union, and Administration Building (PLUS System, Cirrus Network, and most other major ATM networks).

You will receive billing information that will list tuition, room and board costs. However, the tuition will be paid by the University—we wait to see who actually attends before we make the payments, in case someone can’t make it. This means it will show up on your bill even though you will not need to pay any portion of it. Room and board charges ($1,250) are the responsibility of the student. Payment is due the first Monday of the program. You may want to arrange a means to make this payment with your parents. If you prefer, you can pay the room and board charges earlier by contacting the Student Accounts Office at 765-998-5123.

You should have received a medical release form with your acceptance materials. This form must be signed by a parent/guardian and mailed to the Office of Admissions or brought to campus at the start of the program.

Contact Kiersten Seeman at kiersten_seeman@taylor.edu.