Freed–Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University Logo (Trademark of Freed-Hardeman University University)

Motto	Teaching How to Live and How to Make a Living
Established	1869
School type	Private
President	Milton Sewell
Location	Henderson, TN, USA
Enrollment	1,440 undergraduate, 502 graduate
Faculty	117
Endowment	US$20 million
Campus	Urban, 96 acres (388,000 m²)
Sports team	Lions
Website	www.fhu.edu

The Bell Tower of Old Main at Freed-Hardeman University

Freed-Hardeman University is a primarily undergraduate university in Henderson, Tennessee in the United States of America. The university traces its heritage to the members of the Churches of Christ who helped found it. Freed-Hardeman is primarily undergraduate and residential, meaning it enrolls full-time students of traditional college age. The university also serves some commuting, part-time, and older adult students on-campus and through distance-learning programs. The university offers a limited number of master's-level graduate programs. Arts, science, and professional degrees are conferred.

The university is governed by a board of trustees, all of whom are required to be members of churches of Christ. Courses are offered by 12 academic departments organized into six schools – Arts and Humanities, Biblical Studies, Business, Education, Sciences and Mathematics, and the Honors College. The Loden-Daniel Library, provides service to undergraduate and graduate students as well as faculty and staff.

Freed-Hardeman traces its origin to the 1869 charter of a private high school and college for Henderson, the Henderson Male and Female Institute. It was known at various times as the Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, West Tennessee Christian College, Georgie Robertson Christian College, National Teachers' Normal and Business College; and (as of 1919) Freed-Hardeman College. In February of 1990, it became Freed-Hardeman University.

Campus information

Freed-Hardeman is in the small town of Henderson, Tennessee. The town's central area is located within walking distance of the university.

The university has five women's dormatories. Hall-Roland Hall is the oldest resident hall. The ground floor houses the nurse's station, a Personal Counseling Center, Graduate Studies in Counseling, and Behavioral and Consumer Sciences department. H. A. Dixon Hall is a four story dormatory opened in 1958. It can house upto 136 residents. Thomas E. and LaVonne B. Scott Hall opened in 1971 and can house 152 students. In 1973 W. A. Bradfield Hall opened. It houses 144 students. Porter-Terry Hall is the newest women's dormatory. It opened in 1977 and can house up to 156 students.

The four men's dormatories are as follows. Paul Gray Hall was built in 1929 and can house 128 men on four floors. L. L. Brigance Hall is available only to upperclassmen. It is unique to other dorms in that its doors open to the outside, rather than to a central indoor hall. It can house 78 men. Opened in 1970, George S. Benson Hall can accomidate 152 students. Farrow Hall opened in 1973 and has a capacity for 178 men.

The Student Services Building opened in 1966 and houses a variety of food services and recreational rooms. The first floor houses the Burks Center. The center contains a food center, post office, Career Resource Center, Student Government Association office, Student Services office, and Office of Student Life and Development. The main cafeteria, Gano Dining Hall, is located on the second floor. The food service is operated by Aramark.

Clayton Chapel, a red brick and stained glass building located on University Street, opened in 1992. It has a capacity of approximately 100. It may be reserved for devotionals and weddings.

Student Life

Full-time students are required to take a Bible class and attend a daily chapel service. Students have 8 unexcused chapel absences per semester and receive community service if they exceed 8 absences. Once a student has reached 12 absences they will be suspended.

Freed-Hardeman does not have fraternities and sororities in the traditional sense. Instead the university has co-ed social clubs. These social clubs are local only to Freed-Hardeman and have no connection to any national Greek system. At present there are six social clubs - Chi Beta Chi, Phi Kappa Alpha, Psi Mu, Sigma Rho, Tri Zeta, Xi Chi Delta. Each is student-led and has a faculty sponsor. There is no limit on membership in social clubs, however there is a limit on paid membership in social clubs. Paid members are allowed to participate in intramural sports among other special activities. Most undergrads choose to join social clubs at some point during their time at Freed-Hardeman. Most members of the social clubs, participate in the annual Spring musical, Makin' Music, among many other social activities. Alternatively, students may opt to be in the amorphous society and intramural sports organization Team ED, a loose brotherhood of friends that exists apart from the rules of the university.

The school's newspaper was originally called the Skyrocket and was begun in 1923. It was subsequently renamed the Bell Tower and is published weekly. The school's yearbook is called the Treasure Chest. The University's radio station, WFHC, is the 10,500-watt FM stereo station.

Halloween provides a unique activity on campus. Students are allowed to trick-or-treat in dorms of the opposite sex. This is the only time during the school year which members of the opposite sex are allowed to visit each other's dorms.

Student Expectations

Freed-Hardeman is a "strict" campus. Its student behavior standards are considered to be strict even in the Christian fundamentalist context of the Churches of Christ. Students could be expelled or receive severe disciplinary action if they perform any action deemed unsatisfactory by the discretion of the administration.

Students must be in the residence halls for room check at midnight Sunday through Thursday. Curfew is 12:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Any exception to the above hours requires special permission from the Office of Student Services. Late Minutes: Students are allowed to use up to 30 late minutes per week, Sunday through Saturday. Unused late minutes cannot be rolled over to the next week. Students who exceed their allotment of late minutes per week will be subject to one or more of the following consequences: dorm restriction, community service, club restriction, or other disciplinary action deemed necessary by the Dean of Students. Students who are habitually late or ignore curfew altogether are subject to severe disciplinary action. Students who fail to complete their disciplinary obligations may be prevented from registering for future terms. Any time a resident plans to be gone overnight, it is mandatory that he/she fill out a signout form, which designates the place, person, address and phone number of the hosting location. All requested information must be truthfully and accurately provided. Cell phone numbers should not be used as the primary number of the hosting location. Falsification of the sign-out card is viewed the same as cheating and is subject to severe disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension. Special permission must be obtained from the Office of Student Services on the following occasions: When out of the residence hall past curfew, When staying overnight Sunday through Thursday with anyone other than immediate family on or off campus, When visiting homes of members of the opposite sex, When making trips with members of the opposite sex. Groups, such as social clubs, choral groups and others can receive special permission to stay out late. This permission will be sent to the residence halls in the form of a permission sheet, which must be signed by the students who plan to participate. Abuse or violation of this policy by a group may subject them to disciplinary action. Special permission must be obtained 24 hours prior to the event taking place. Students may not use their 30 late minutes on top of special late permission. Students who stay out past their allotted late permission extension will be assigned community service, dorm restriction or both and may lose the privilege of special permission altogether. Students are not permitted to visit rooms of members of the opposite sex except during official open houses. This rule applies to non-students as well. Students, regardless of whether they live on or off campus, are not permitted to spend the night with members of the opposite sex without parental, faculty or staff chaperones. Any students who violate this policy will be held to the same discipline as the policy regarding sexual immorality, regardless of whether or not sexual immorality occurs. This may include unchaperoned group activities.

Modesty and appropriateness are the key guidelines with reference to hair and grooming. Students should dress appropriately for campus life and should keep in mind that, as Christians, we are not to be "of this world." Among the considerations are: Clothing should not have anything written on it that is not in keeping with Christian standards, Shoes must be worn, Shorts must be no more than three inches above the top of the knee and are never allowed in classes or in Loyd Auditorium, the library, the student center and classroom buildings before 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, Clothing should not be ragged or immodest, Midriff baring tops, tank tops and leggings worn without appropriate shorts or skirts over them are forbidden, Tops and dresses must have straps with a width of at least 1 inch and must meet standards of Christian modesty, Women's skirts must reach the knee, Students should not wear hats or bandannas in class or chapel, Men may not wear earrings at any time on campus, Body piercing is forbidden, Men's hair should be neat and should not cover the top half of the ear or the back of the collar, Ponytails on men are forbidden.

Every effort will be made by the faculty, staff, residence hall directors and the dean of students to work out problems. Students are expected to cooperate with staff members in providing information concerning violation of university policy. Withholding relevant information may result in disciplinary action. Students may be sanctioned for conduct that constitutes a hazard to health, safety or well being of members of the university community, or conduct that is detrimental to the university's interest, whether such conduct occurs on or off campus or at university-sponsored events.

Serious offenses or violations of the rules and regulations of Freed-Hardeman University will result in disciplinary action being taken.

Any student found to be involved in any of the following activities will be suspended from the university:

• Unauthorized possession or use of any mind-altering or illegal drugs. Paraphernalia commonly associated with the use of drugs fall into the same category and will be treated in the same manner. If a residence hall director or student services dean determines that there is probable cause to believe that a student has been using any unapproved drug, including alcohol, he/she may request that the student take an appropriate test. Refusal to take the test shall constitute sufficient grounds for dismissal.
• Participation in setting off false fire alarms
• Rape or any other forced sexual behavior

Any student found to be involved in any of the following activities may be suspended from the university according to the discretion of the dean of students:

• Dishonesty — This includes the falsification of university documents such as off-campus approvals, chapel excuses, sign-out cards and the like.
• Cheating
• Theft — This includes unauthorized use of long-distance access numbers and student IDs.
• Vandalism
• Violence
• Sneaking out
• Hosting gatherings with alcohol and/or sexual illicitness.

First-time sexual or alcohol-related offenses — Illicit sexual activity includes any homosexual behavior. Students should also be advised that unapproved visitations between members of the opposite sex within the residence halls, or similar situations elsewhere on campus, will be treated as illicit sexual activity, regardless of whether or not sexual activity occurred. Alcohol use includes purchasing, drinking, or possessing alcoholic beverages. Students should not be present at any business or activity where the primary purpose of the business or activity is to serve alcohol. Students are forbidden to visit dance clubs and will be disciplined accordingly, regardless of whether or not alcohol was consumed. Any student found to be involved in illicit sexual activity or alcohol use as a first-time offense must complete the following in order to remain in school:

• Six weeks of disciplinary probation
• Four or more counseling sessions, as determined by the student services deans
• Two weeks of campus restriction
• Forty hours of community service, as determined by the student services deans. The student must complete all 40 hours before the disciplinary probation is removed.
• Off-campus students who host events where alcohol is served or consumed will be subject to harsher discipline, including the possibility of suspension.

Fireworks — Any student found to be involved in the use or possession of fireworks on campus as a first-time offense must complete the following in order to remain in school:

• Six weeks of disciplinary probation
• Two weeks of campus restriction
• Forty hours of community service as determined by the student services deans. (The student must complete all 40 hours before the disciplinary probation is removed.)

Repeated Violations — Repeated violations of any university regulation or a combination of university regulations may also result in suspension.

Important Note: Any student who finds himself/herself in the presence of any of the aforementioned serious offenses should excuse himself/herself immediately. Any student who fails to do so may be subject to the discipline for the offense that occurred in their presence, unless they can satisfactorily explain his/her inability to leave to the student services deans.

For more information, read the Student Handbook.

Trivia

• The campus was used as filming location for the 1973 movie Walking Tall.
• Each year the university has a fundraising dinner featuring a famous speaker. Past speakers have included George H. W. Bush, Regis Philbin, Norman Schwarzkopf, Mary Lou Retton, Elizabeth Dole, Dr. Bill Frist, Paul Harvey, and Walter Cronkite.

Contact Information

Freed-Hardeman University

158 East Main Street

Henderson, TN 38340

Phone: 1-800-348-3481

Links

• Official site
• Freedies.com - student-led discussion about the university.

Student/Alumni Links

• Anna Currence
• Tim Wells