BYUH Employment Standard
Thursday, January 27, 2022
Aloha e BYU–Hawaii Employees,
BYU–Hawaii is a vital part of God’s work on this earth. He has established it through His prophets to educate His children and help them make and keep sacred covenants. By honoring those covenants, we learn more of our Savior, grow closer to Him, and become more like Him. Our service at this university is part of His work and His glory.
Today the Church Educational System announced that all new hires at CES institutions who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must hold and be worthy to hold a temple recommend. This change goes into effect immediately. More information can be found in this news release from the Church and at this Q&A for faculty, staff, and administrative employees.
I fully support this change, and I invite all non-student employees of BYU–Hawaii to commit voluntarily to this same standard of “hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend” that applies to all new hires. Employees may opt in to this standard using Workday as instructed.
Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting the spiritual and intellectual progress of the students of BYU–Hawaii.
Mahalo nui loa,
John S.K. Kauwe III
University President
BYU–Hawaii Employment Standard Q&A
Why is the Church Educational System (CES) making this adjustment to its employment criteria?
By requiring new faculty and personnel to hold and be worthy to hold a temple recommend and remain true to the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, CES schools remain true to their mission statements. BYU–Hawaii’s prophetic mission can best be accomplished with employees who fully support the mission, values, and goals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple-recommend requirement strengthens the spiritual foundation for employees—individually and collectively—that better enables them to provide a spiritually strengthening experience for BYU–Hawaii’s students.
I thought this was the policy all along. What is the difference between the former standard that stated “conduct consistent with qualifying for temple privileges” and the updated standard that states “hold and be worthy to hold a temple recommend”?
For most employees who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ, BYU–Hawaii anticipates this will not represent a change because they already hold and are worthy to hold temple recommends. Our employees are known for their commitment to the university’s prophetic mission, their devotion to Jesus Christ and their dedicated service in the restored Church of Jesus Christ.
Holding and being worthy to hold a temple recommend signifies that a person believes in and adheres to Church doctrine, principles and practices and is worthy to enter the temple.
Does this change comply with BYU–Hawaii’s Academic Governance Policy?
Yes. In this case, the modified employment standard is required only of individuals who accept new employment opportunities on or after January 27, 2022.
Why is the conjunction “and” used in the new standard: “Hold and be worthy to hold”?
Church members have the opportunity every two years to interview with ecclesiastical leaders and affirm their belief in and adherence to Church doctrine, principles and practices. A temple recommend becomes effective when the member and the ecclesiastical leaders all sign it. Use of the word “and” emphasizes the fact that employees need to renew their temple recommends every two years and also maintain their worthiness to hold the temple recommend at all times.
What is the process for existing faculty, staff and administrative personnel to adopt the new requirement?
Current employees can opt in on Workday following the instructions.
Will a current faculty member or employee be terminated if they choose not to adopt the employment standard of holding and being worthy to hold a temple recommend?
No. Current faculty and personnel will be invited to adopt the new standard, but it will be their choice. BYU–Hawaii’s existing employment standards, including the requirement that employees who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ “accept as a condition of employment the standards of conduct consistent with qualifying for temple privileges,” will continue to apply to employees who decline to adopt the temple-recommend standard.
Does this standard also apply to part-time personnel and adjunct faculty?
Yes. Each employee at BYU–Hawaii has an important role to play in accomplishing the university’s mission.
Do student employees fall under this category?
BYU–Hawaii student employees will not fall under this standard. All students will continue to need an ecclesiastical endorsement.