Student Handbook - Tougaloo College

STUDENTS, FREEDOMS, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Tougaloo College endeavors to provide an environment in which students may develop their
intellectual and personal capacities to the highest potential. Realizing that freedom of inquiry
and expression are essential to a learning environment, students are encouraged to develop a
capacity for critical judgment and engage in independent search for truth. It is the responsibility
of students, faculty, and administrative personnel to provide an environment conducive for
freedom to learn, teach, work, and play.
Institutional Safeguards of Student Rights
The selection of students for admission to Tougaloo College shall not be determined by race,
color, religion, creed, gender or national origin. College facilities and services are available to all
enrolled students. The use of facilities is scheduled through the Office of Facilities and Real
Properties Management.
Campus organizations shall be open to all students, without respect to race, religion, creed
gender, or national origin. Students and student organizations are free to discuss all questions of
interest to them, and to express opinions publicly and privately, subject to laws of libel and
slander. They are also free to support causes by orderly legal means which do not disrupt the
regular and essential operations of the College.
Academic Freedom
Students are responsible for attending classes and learning thoroughly the content of any course
which they are taking. They are free to question or reserve judgment about matters of opinion
and data presented in class. (Class attendance is required at Tougaloo College.)
Student Participation in Institutional Government
Students are encouraged to actively participate in the government of Tougaloo College by
serving as members of the College community. By expressing their views on issues in policymaking
operations and in the administration of policy on campus, students provide a viable link
of communication between faculty, students, and administration. Representatives to committees
are appointed by the President of the Student Government Association (S.G.A.), by a vote of the
Student Government Association Council.
The Student Government Association is composed of elected student representatives from the
four classes which compose the student body. The S.G.A. operates under the authority granted
by the faculty, administration and Board of Trustees of the College, and functions as an
autonomous legislative body under its Constitution.
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