As a public university, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln doesn't have many religious-based living restrictions or graduation requirements.
And you could assume that Nebraska Wesleyan University, a school associated with the United Methodist church and Union College, a Seventh-day Adventist school would have religious requirements.
But life at Wesleyan is similar to UNL, while Union College has general education requirements in religion and specific housing rules. "Many years ago there were specific rules," said Sara Boatman, the vice president for student life at Wesleyan. "I would say there are no special rules now."
When Boatman was a student at Wesleyan, attending chapel was a requirement and women had to be in their dorms early at night.
"None of that exists anymore," she said.
Wesleyan has core values that it uses as a basis for making policy. Boatman said the mission of the university makes a reference to providing a liberal arts education for intellectual growth with Christian concern.
"When we are developing policies we are trying to think of how a policy promotes excellence and has personal attention to students," Boatman said.
For example, Wesleyan's alcohol policy follows that of the Nebraska state law. Students must simply be of age to consume alcoholic beverages on campus or in their dorm rooms.
The UNL alcohol policy states that "possession, use, distribution, sale or manufacture of (alcohol) on this campus except as allowed by law is contrary to university policy."
UNL is a dry campus so students can't have alcohol in their dorms or in other campus housing.
However, at Union College, there are more rules that pertain to student life.
The Union dorms are not coed, and men can only be in the front lobby of the women's dorm Sunday through Friday nights until 11 p.m. and Saturday night until 1 a.m. And the same applies to women in the men's dorm, according to residence hall information books.
Both UNL and Wesleyan have a 24-hour visitation policy in residence halls.
And when it comes to class requirements, UNL and Wesleyan have general education requirements that allow students to take religion courses if they want.
"Students have to take classes from certain general areas on understanding different cultures," said Peter Heckman, the associate dean of the college of liberal arts and sciences at Wesleyan.
Students can choose to take religion courses or a philosophy class to fulfill that Wesleyan requirement.
UNL has general education requirements that allow students to take religion classes if they want, according to the class schedule handbook.
At Union College there are certain religion classes that are part of the LEAD general education requirements. LEAD stands for Lifetime Education and Active Discipleship education.
"Particular Adventists classes are not required," said Sylvester Case, a religion professor at Union College. "There are usually general classes about Christianity."
Union students must take 12 hours of religion classes to meet religion requirements.
Boatman, having worked at both UNL and a small, religiously affiliated liberal arts college, said the bottom line is the difference between public and private.
But at Wesleyan the values of the United Methodist church are woven through the school, Boatman said. The values are very important to the church and Wesleyan in particular, she said.
jordandemmel@dailynebraskan.com
is a member of the 
