Staff Handbook

This Staff Handbook governs the conduct, expectations, and terms of employment for all faculty and staff of Tangible Bible College and Consummare High School, both ministries of Tangible Word International Fellowship (TWIF), a church devoted to biblical literacy, education, and missions.

It applies to every employee in every capacity — consultant, part-time, or full-time — and to all instructors, administrators, and support personnel.

Acceptance of Terms. By accepting employment in any of these capacities, an employee affirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to abide by the policies and standards set forth in this handbook. Continued employment constitutes ongoing acceptance of these terms. The administration reserves the right to update this handbook; updates will be communicated to all employees and continued employment thereafter constitutes acceptance of the updates.

Both institutions are distinctly Christian ministries of Tangible Word International Fellowship (TWIF), a church with a strong emphasis on biblical literacy, education, and missions. Our heritage is rooted in the Baptist and Pentecostal traditions — affirming the priesthood of every believer, believer's baptism, the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, and the present-day work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Employees are expected to align with and uphold the institutions' Christian identity and mission.

Employees affirm the historic, orthodox Christian faith: the inspiration and authority of Scripture; the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the deity of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins; His bodily resurrection; salvation by grace through faith; the indwelling and empowering work of the Holy Spirit; and the personal return of Christ.

The Fruit of the Spirit. Because genuine faith is shown in a transformed life, employees are expected to demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit — "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23) — in their teaching, relationships, and service. A life marked by these qualities is a primary evidence of the Christian character this handbook requires.

Employees conduct themselves as representatives of these institutions and are expected to support — not undermine — the Christian mission in word, conduct, and classroom instruction.

Both institutions deliver instruction through a shared digital platform. Faculty are expected to use it faithfully for course management, assessment, and communication.

• Live Classes. Instructors run live class sessions through the Live Class tool, which provides a Zoom meeting link, meeting ID, and passcode to enrolled students. When a session is live, students see a "Join Live Class" button in their Course Hub. Instructors may lock a live session so that only they (or an administrator) control it.
• Syllabi. Each course has a generated syllabus filed automatically as an immutable accreditation document. Instructors manage reading lists through the Syllabus Editor; the Bible is a mandatory required text for every TBC course. The Staff Syllabus Archive displays the locked accreditation snapshots, not the live editable records.
• Gradebook. Instructors record attendance and grades through the Gradebook and Grade Entry tools. Only live, running courses appear in the My Gradebook view. Every manual grade adjustment is captured in a permanent audit trail with before-and-after values.
• Assessments. Course tests and quizzes are generated and managed through the platform. Mastery tests require School ID verification before a student may begin.
• Calendar. Class sessions and reading deadlines are synced automatically to each enrolled student's personal calendar.
• Library Access. Instructors of live classes receive a unique library access number and PIN by automated email to use the Digital Library.

All employees are expected to live a lifestyle consistent with the teachings of Scripture, both on and off campus, in public and in private, and in their online presence. This morality clause reflects the institutions' conviction that those who teach and lead must model the character they seek to cultivate.

Employees are expected to:

• Sexual purity — Refrain from sexual immorality, pornography, adultery, and any sexual conduct outside the biblical covenant of marriage between one man and one woman.
• Marital fidelity — Honor marriage vows; employees experiencing marital difficulty are encouraged to seek counsel.
• Honesty & integrity — Be truthful in speech, records, and all professional dealings.
• Financial integrity — Avoid fraud, embezzlement, or misuse of institutional funds.
• Edifying speech — Refrain from profanity, slander, gossip, and conduct that dishonors Christ or the institutions.
• Sobriety — Refrain from drunkenness (see the Drug & Alcohol-Free Campuses section).

Conduct — whether on or off campus, in person or online — that is inconsistent with a biblically consistent lifestyle may be grounds for discipline, up to and including termination, regardless of whether it results in legal action.

Employees must maintain clear, professional boundaries with students at all times.

No Fraternization. Romantic, dating, or sexual relationships between employees and students are strictly prohibited, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in the employee's course or institution. This policy applies to in-person and online interactions alike.

• No employee may pursue, accept, or continue a romantic or intimate relationship with any current student.
• Employees must avoid any conduct that could reasonably be perceived as romantic or sexual interest in a student.
• Favoritism, special treatment, or private socializing with a single student that creates an appearance of impropriety is prohibited.
• Employees must communicate with students through institutional channels for academic purposes; private, personal messaging outside institutional platforms is discouraged and, where it occurs, must remain strictly professional.

In-App Messaging. All student-instructor communication occurs through the platform's messaging tool. Messages are permanent and immutable — neither party may edit or delete them — to maintain a safe, auditable record for compliance and review. Employees should conduct all course-related correspondence there and never move a student conversation to personal channels.

Reporting. Any employee who becomes aware of a fraternization violation is obligated to report it to their supervisor or the administration. Retaliation against a person who reports in good faith is prohibited.

Employees are expected to present themselves in a manner that reflects the professional and Christian character of the institutions, whether teaching in person or online.

In-Person Instruction & Campus Presence:

• Attire should be modest, clean, professional, and appropriate to an academic, faith-based setting.
• Clothing should not display slogans, images, or messages inconsistent with the institutions' values.
• Grooming should be neat and professional.

Online Instruction & Recorded Sessions:

• Camera should be on during live instruction unless an exception is approved.
• The employee should be framed clearly, with a clean, neutral, and professional background free of distracting or inappropriate content.
• Attire online must meet the same standard as in-person instruction — modest, professional, and appropriate. Teaching in sleepwear, revealing clothing, or otherwise unprofessional attire is prohibited.
• Other household members should not appear on camera during instruction, and background audio should be minimized.

Employees who fail to meet these standards may be asked to correct their presentation; repeated or egregious disregard is grounds for disciplinary action.

Both Tangible Bible College and Consummare High School are drug- and alcohol-free institutions. This policy applies to all employees on all campuses, at all college-sponsored events, and during any in-person or virtual academic activity.

• The possession, use, distribution, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is prohibited on school grounds and at school events.
• The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of controlled substances is prohibited.
• Prescription medications must be used only as legally prescribed and may not be shared or misused.
• Reporting to work impaired by alcohol or any controlled substance is grounds for immediate removal and disciplinary review, up to and including termination.
• Distribution of any controlled substance on campus will be reported to authorities and results in immediate dismissal.

Employees are reminded that conduct off campus that violates the law or the morality clause may still bear on continued employment.

Both institutions are committed to resolving disputes with fairness, humility, and a spirit of Christian reconciliation (Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). The following process applies to all employment-related grievances.

1. Good-Faith Resolution. The employee first seeks to resolve the concern directly and privately with the person involved, or with their immediate supervisor.

2. Written Grievance. If unresolved, the employee submits a written grievance to the administration within fifteen business days, stating the facts and the remedy sought.

3. Required Mediation. Before any further action, the parties must submit the grievance to mediation facilitated by a neutral mediator acceptable to both sides. Mediation is a mandatory prerequisite to any further dispute resolution and is a condition of employment under this handbook.

4. Escalation to the Board. If mediation does not resolve the matter, the grievance is presented to the Board of Directors of Tangible Word International Fellowship (TWIF). The Board reviews the matter, may convene a hearing at which all parties may be heard, and issues a final, binding decision.

5. Waiver of Litigation. As a condition of employment, employees waive their right to initiate or maintain any civil lawsuit against the institutions, their officers, or Tangible Word International Fellowship arising out of or relating to their employment, including claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, or breach of contract. All such disputes shall be resolved exclusively through the mediation and Board review process described above, and the Board's decision shall be final and binding. This waiver is intended to be construed broadly in favor of internal, Christian conciliation.

Nothing in this section prevents an employee from filing a good-faith report of unlawful conduct with a government agency where law expressly protects that right.

Employment at Tangible Bible College or Consummare High School — whether as a consultant, part-time, or full-time employee — is offered and accepted on the terms set forth in this handbook.

• At-Will Nature. Unless a written employment contract expressly provides otherwise, employment is at-will: either the institution or the employee may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause.
• Acceptance by Conduct. Accepting an offer of employment, beginning work, or continuing to work after receiving this handbook constitutes the employee's acceptance of all terms herein, including the morality clause, the no-fraternization policy, and the grievance, mediation, and waiver-of-litigation provisions.
• Acknowledgment. Employees may be asked to sign an acknowledgment of receipt of this handbook. Failure to sign does not negate the employee's acceptance of these terms by conduct.
• Amendments. The administration may amend this handbook; continued employment after notice of an amendment constitutes acceptance of the amendment.

This handbook does not constitute a contract guaranteeing employment for any specific term and is not a substitute for any written employment agreement specific to an employee's role.

• Live Instruction & Attendance: Instructors are responsible for hosting live sessions via the integrated Zoom portal, where they may lock sessions to maintain classroom security. Attendance must be recorded per class meeting to ensure accurate accreditation tracking.
• Course Administration & Withdrawals: Students meeting the threshold of two or more absences may initiate a self-withdrawal with a "W" grade designation prior to the issuance of a final grade. Formal requests for withdrawal under other circumstances must be directed through the My Requests page.
• Academic Integrity & Audit Trails: To maintain institutional accountability, all manual grade adjustments are logged within a permanent, immutable audit trail. Additionally, all in-app messaging between students and instructors is archived as a permanent record, with no functionality for editing or deletion.
• Library & Security: Access to the digital library requires authentication via Student ID and a unique PIN. Instructors will receive system-generated access credentials via their institutional email addresses.
• Financial Protocols: Tuition is processed through the secure Base44 Payments gateway at the time of checkout. All transactions will generate a branded receipt delivered via email to the student.
• Academic Records: The institution maintains immutable accreditation snapshots of all course syllabi within the Staff Syllabus Archive. Incomplete grades ("I") are subject to a mandatory conversion to "F" if not resolved within four weeks of the course conclusion.