I. Freedom of Access
A. The facilities and services of the College must be open to all enrolled students and student groups on an equal basis.
II. Freedom in the Classroom
A. Students have the right to participate in free discussion, inquiry, and expression.
B. Students have the right to only be evaluated on an academic basis and not on opinions of conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards.
C. Students have the right to reasonably disagree with views offered in any course of study as long as they take responsibility for learning the content of the course if they are enrolled in it.
D. Students have the right of protection from prejudiced or capricious academic evaluations as long as they maintain the standards of academic performance established for the course.
E. Students have the right against improper disclosure of views, beliefs, or political associations.
F. Students have the right to protection of the privacy of their records as set forth in the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment).
III. Freedom of Student Organizations
A. Students have the right to organize and join associations to promote their common interests. However, the College maintains a process to properly recognize student organizations (see Student Engagement Center for further explanation). Affiliation with a non-Randolph-Macon organization may not solely disqualify a student organization from institutional recognition. Campus advisors should advise organizations on the exercise of responsibility, but they shall not have the authority to control the policy of the organization.
B. Students and student organizations have the right to freedom of expression, and the freedom to support of causes of interest to them as long as they do not disrupt the essential operations of the College.
C. Students and student organizations may invite guest speakers and hold programs pursuant to the Guest Speakers and Program Philosophy.
IV. Freedom of Participation in Institutional Matters
A. Students have the right to individually and collectively express their views on issues of institutional policy and on all matters of interest to the student body.
B. Students have the right and must be provided clearly defined means to participate in the formulations and application of institutional policy affecting academic and social student affairs.
C. Students have the right of access to documents concerning institutional policy and information with the exclusion of confidential information.
D. Students have the right to maintain student publications and press with the freedom from censorship and advance approval of copy. Disapproval of editorial policy or content is not considered a sufficient reason for arbitrary suspension or removal of editors and managers of student publications.
V. Freedom of Off-Campus Activities
A. Students have the right to the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and petition they are granted by way of citizenship.
VI. Freedom in Disciplinary Proceedings
A. Students have the right to only be subject to disciplinary proceedings for violations of standards of conduct stated in The Student Handbook.
B. Students have the right to privacy of their room of residence, subject to the College’s right to enforce its rules of conduct and to maintain its physical property. Searches may only be made after an application has been made to the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. The students whose room is to be searched will be notified and should be present, if possible, during the search.
C. Students have the right to protection against the alteration of their status while charges against them are pending. This includes his/her right to be present on the campus and to attend classes, except for reasons related to the safety and well being of self, other students, faculty, staff, or RMC property.
