STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Preamble
King's College was established in the Catholic tradition by the Congregation of Holy Cross in order to provide a liberal arts education which would best prepare men and women to live and work in the modern world. To achieve this goal, the College aims at a refinement of the student's intellectual, moral and social values by transmitting knowledge, by encouraging freedom in the pursuit of truth, by spiritually orienting students to the things of God, by developing in its students an awareness of the human person, thereby providing an opportunity for them to be emancipated from the limitations of bias, prejudice and ignorance.
As members of the educational community, students are encouraged to develop the capacity for critical thinking and judgment and to engage in a sustained and independent search for the truth. The freedom to learn depends in part upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community. The responsibility to secure and to respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to learn is shared by all members of the educational community.
The Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities serves to delineate the essential rights and therefore the essential responsibilities of the students as members of the educational community.

I. Freedom of Access to Higher Education
1. Within the limits of its facilities, King's College shall be open to all students who qualify according to the admission standards. In addition, any student may apply for financial grants and academic scholarships in accordance with procedures set down by government guidelines and College policies.
2. Students accepting admission are obliged to fulfill the academic and administrative requirements of the College.

II. In the Classroom
1. At the beginning of the semester, students must be given a course syllabus that includes criteria for evaluation of performance and also the policy for attendance in class. All course assignments, such as term papers, research projects and field studies, must be included on the course syllabus.
2. Students shall have the opportunity to secure a review of their grades. After receiving the official grade report, students who wish a review should consult the faculty member first. Further consultation can be sought from the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Any action should be taken within the semester following the issuing of the grades.
3. Students shall have the right to examine all corrected tests, papers, work assignments and final examinations. For this reason, instructors are urged to return all test papers and work assignments. Final examinations should be retained by the professor for review by the student until the end of the following semester.
4. Students shall have the opportunity to secure a review of a refusal to grant a degree and/or a refusal to transfer credit. These appeals shall be made through the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
5. Faculty should respect the rights of students with regard to views, beliefs and political affiliations expressed by students in the classroom.
6. In the exercise of academic freedom, students may pursue private research. As an individual and/or in collaboration with associations, they may study, exchange findings, and recommendations and publish material properly identified as to authorship.

III. Governance
1. At King's, every effort shall be made to represent appropriate student interest in committees of the Faculty Council.
2. Students will be assured some formal degree of participation both on the departmental level and the college-wide level in decisions concerning the modification and evaluation of curricular-related matters.
3. Students will have the opportunity to take part in the interviewing procedures prior to the hiring of faculty members and student affairs administrators, as well as their evaluation.

IV. Student Records
1. Refer to Policy on Student Records (Public Law 93.380) found in the Student Handbook and College Catalogue.

V. Student Affairs
1. Full-time students enrolled at King's College have the right to membership in student organizations provided they meet both the requirements stated in the organization's constitution, and the participation policy of the College.
2. Student organizations may be formed on campus and may be registered according to guidelines set down by the Student Government, the director of student activities, or the director of athletics.
(a) Included in these guidelines shall be a statement
of purpose criteria for membership and rules of
procedure.
(b) Student organizations may be registered on an annual basis by submitting a list of officers and a preferred advisor, a current statement of pur-
pose and a list of membership each spring se-
mester to the director of student activities.
3. Student organizations receiving college funds from the Student Government shall be accountable for said funds to the treasurer of Student Government through the board of representatives of the Student Government. Organizations not under Student Government but receiving funds from the Office of Student Affairs, shall be accountable to the vice president for student affairs.
4. Student organizations may post or distribute public notices concerning their organization by using the designated bulletin areas. The timely removal of such notices is the responsibility of the posting organization. In addition, the facilities of the College Post Office may be used for the distribution of club information, in compliance with procedures established for that school service.

VI. Freedom of Inquiry and Expression
1. Student organizations are free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them. Consistent with the mission of the college, they are free to support causes by orderly means which do not disrupt the regular and essential operations of the college as well as the surrounding community.
2. Student organizations shall have the use of campus facilities subject to the regulations pertaining to the scheduling of meetings. The facilities are to be used for the purpose reserved.
3. Student organizations may invite speakers of their choice to discuss topics of interest to them. Discretion should be exercised by the student organization to safeguard the college and its members from unjust criticism that would be harmful to the college.
(a) When the public at large has been invited to at-
tend student-sponsored lectures or activities, the
speakers will be selected in consultation with the organization's advisor and the director of student activities.
(b) The individual, group or organization requesting facilities must inform the director of student ac-
tivities of the general purpose of any meeting
open to persons other than members.

VII. Student Publications and Communications
Media
1. Student publications and the student radio are valuable aids in establishing and maintaining an atmosphere of free and responsible discussion and of intellectual exploration on the campus. The college radio station is subject to governmental regulations pertaining to broadcasting activities.
2. The college must provide sufficient editorial freedom for the student publications to maintain their integrity of purpose as vehicles for free inquiry and free expression in an educational community.
3. 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, indecency, undocumented allegations, attacks on personal integrity and the techniques of harassment and innuendo. They are also held accountable for accuracy of content and for fulfilling designated responsibilities, such as meeting all publication deadlines and honoring contractual agreements with publishers, printers and the college.
4. Institutional authorities, in consultation with the Board of Communications Media, have a responsibility to provide written clarification of the roles of the student publications and the college radio station, the standards to be used in their evaluation, and the limitations on external control of their operation. Advisors will guide and assist editors and managers in their respective organizations by being accessible for advisement, particularly in sensitive matters.
5. As safeguards for the editorial freedom of the student communication activities, the following provisions are necessary:
(a) The students involved in communication media
shall be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and its editors and managers shall be free to develop their own editorial policies and
news coverage.
(b) Editors and managers of student communication media shall be protected from arbitrary suspen-
sion and removal because of student, faculty,
administrative or public disapproval of editorial
content.
(c) Only for proper and stated causes shall editors
and managers be subject to removal and then only by procedures set down by the Board of Commu-
nications Media.
(d) All student publications financed by the college
shall explicitly state on the editorial page that opin- ions therein expressed are not necessarily those of the college or student body.

VIII. Off-Campus Freedom of Student
1. College students are both citizens and members of the educational community. As citizens, students shall enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and right of petition that other citizens enjoy; as members of the educational community, they are subject to the obligations that accrue to them by virtue of this membership.
2. Activities of students may result in violation of the law. In such cases, institutional officials shall be prepared to apprise students that they could seek sources of legal counsel.
3. Students who violate the law may incur penalties prescribed by civil authorities.
4. If the student is found guilty of a felony that proves them to be a possible danger to the college community, the administration has the obligation to suspend or dismiss the student.

IX. Disciplinary Standards and Procedures
1. The enhancement of responsible behavior is the outcome of the entire educational process, especially through instruction, mentoring, counseling, and admonition. A Student Conduct Code is developed and published by the institution to comply with its responsibility to set standards for student behavior in many areas of college life.
2. Students shall have the opportunity to participate in the formulation of disciplinary regulations through representatives designated by the Student Government.
3. Students shall have available to them information about the college regulations and disciplinary policies. Changes in the policy shall be published through ordinary means.
4. In disciplinary cases, procedural fairness requires that the student:
(a) be informed of alleged violations at least three days prior to the hearing;
(b) be given a hearing with an administrative hearing officer or student judicial board in compliance with the college judicial procedures;
(c) have an opportunity to present evidence on their behalf;
(d) have the right to appeal.
5. The college will not be arbitrary in deciding disciplinary actions. College authorities will not use harassment, intimidation, and/or threat on educational evaluation when seeking information about student conduct.
6. Pending disciplinary action, the status of a student should ordinarily not be altered and his/her right to be present on the campus and attend classes should not be affected. Students may be issued an interim suspension prior to their hearing, when the student's presence on campus may be a danger to themselves, other members of the college community or property.

X. Residence Life/Student Housing
1. The college views the residence experience as beneficial to the human development. Therefore, it is a valuable part of the college program for those students who qualify to reside on campus.
2. The college and students shall assume the proper legal responsibility when dealing with housing and student leasing.
3. The Residence Hall Contract and Apartment Lease will clearly state the responsibilities that the student and the college have within the housing agreements.
4. Students have an opportunity to offer recommendations about terms of the residence hall contract or apartment lease terms; these suggestions may be incorporated in future contracts.

XI. Administrative Communication
1. Decisions made by any committee forming administrative policies and decisions relating to students shall be made public and whenever possible, include the reasons for the policy.
2. Students shall be afforded the opportunity of appearing before college committees who formulate policy. Such requests shall be made in accordance with the procedures of each committee and initiated by writing to the chairperson of the particular committee indicating the matter one wishes to present and requesting that it be put on the committee's agenda.
3. Students are free to meet with members of the administration subject to the normal procedures of setting up appointments.
4. Students shall be informed of the reasons for changes in college fees, including, but not limited to, lab, orientation, graduation, health, tuition, room, board, and other related fees.
5. Students shall be informed through the Student Government of the disposition of the Comprehensive College Fee.

Revisions to 1973 approved document, accepted 1988.