Preamble

Fort Hays State University exists for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the development of students and the general well being of society. Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the attainment of these goals. As members of the Fort Hays State University academic community, students shall be encouraged to develop the search for truth.
Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus and in the larger community. Students should exercise their freedom with responsibility.
The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the Fort Hays State University academic community. FHSU has a duty to develop policies and procedures which provide and safeguard this freedom. Such policies and procedures should be developed within the framework of general standards and with the broadest possible participation of the members of the academic community. The purpose of this statement is to enumerate the essential provisions for students' freedom to learn.

I. Freedom of Access to Higher Education

The admission policy of FHSU is a matter of institutional choice provided that requirements for admission are clearly stated and upheld. Under no circumstances will a student be barred from admission on the basis of race, creed, color, ancestry, national origin or political philosophy. Thus, within the limits of its facilities, FHSU is open to all students who are qualified according to admission standards, and its facilities and services are open to all of its enrolled students.

II. In the Classroom

The professor in the classroom and in conference will encourage free discussion, inquiry and expression. Student performance will be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters not related to academic standards.

The professor in the classroom and in conference will encourage free discussion, inquiry and expression. Student performance will be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters not related to academic standards.

A. Protection of Freedom of Expression
Students are free to take reasoned exception to the data or view offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matter of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled.

B. Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation
Students have protection through orderly procedures against prejudice or capricious academic evaluation. At the same time, they are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance established for each course in which they are enrolled.

III. Student Affairs

A. Freedom of Association
Students are free to organize and join associations to promote their common interests (with the stipulation that all campus organizations must be lawful). Such organizations must be registered by the Student Organizations Committee to be eligible for the allocation of student fee resources from the Student Government Association.

B. Freedom of Inquiry and Expression
1. Students and student organizations are free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. They are always free to support causes by orderly means that do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of FHSU. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the students and student organization to make clear to the academic and larger community that in their public expressions or demonstrations; they speak only for themselves.
2. Students may invite and hear any person of their own choosing. Those routine procedures required by FHSU before a guest speaker is invited to appear on campus are designed only to insure that there is orderly scheduling of facilities and will not be used as a device of censorship. It is the responsibility of those sponsoring student organizations to make clear to the academic and larger community that sponsorship of guest speakers does not necessarily imply approval or endorsement of the view expressed, either by the sponsoring group or FHSU.

C. Student Participation in Institutional Government
As constituents of the academic community, students are to be free, individually and collectively, to express their views on issues of institutional policy and on matters of general interest to the student body. The student body has clearly defined means to participate in the formulation and application of institutional policy affecting academic and student affairs. The role of the Student Government Association (SGA) and both its general and specific responsibilities are explicit, and the actions of the SGA within the areas of its jurisdiction are reviewed only through orderly and prescribed procedures.

D. Student Publications
Student publications and the student press are a valuable aid in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and of intellectual exploration of the campus. They are a means of bringing student concerns to the attention of the faculty and administration and of formulating student opinion on various issues on the campus and the world at large.
In the delegation of editorial responsibility to students, FHSU must provide sufficient editorial freedom and financial autonomy for the student publications to maintain their integrity of purpose as vehicles for free inquiry and expression in the academic community.
Institutional authorities, in consultation with students and faculty, have a responsibility to provide written clarification of the role of student publications, the standards to be used in their evaluation and the limitations on external control of their operation. At the same time, the editorial freedom of student editors and managers entails corollary responsibilities to be governed by the canons of responsible journalism, such as the avoidance of libel, attacks on personal integrity and the techniques of harassment and innuendo.

IV. Off-Campus Freedom of Students

Exercise of Rights of Citizenship
College students are both citizens and members of the academic community. As citizens, students shall enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and right of petition that other citizens enjoy, and as members of the academic community, they are subject to the obligations that accrue to them by virtue of this membership. Faculty members and administrative officials will insure that institutional powers are not employed to inhibit such intellectual and personal development of students as is often promoted by their exercise of the rights of citizenship both on and off campus.