The faith that Meredith places in students as responsible, contributing members of the college community dates back to the first years of the institution. The establishment of a student government association in 1905 is early evidence of this confidence, and the more recent trend to allow more academic and co-curricular matters to be directed by the students’ sense of responsibility further reflects this attitude. While there are some policies that the College must make explicit, students largely accept responsibility for student government, student life, and the success of campus organizations and activities. In addition, they contribute to overall policy decisions, as they have voting representation on many college committees.
Honor System
The Honor System is the clearest example of student responsibility. Founded on the premise that dishonesty has no place at Meredith, the system demands personal integrity of each student. The Honor System, through the spirit of community it engenders, encourages the freedom and trust essential to intellectual growth and maturity.
Its operation entrusted to the student body, the Honor System depends on each student’s belief in the principles underlying the system and on students' insistence that it work. Each student is personally responsible for their own personal conduct and actions. If a student breaks a regulation, the student is expected to keep faith with fellow students by self-reporting to student leaders. If a student is aware of a violation by another student, this violation of responsibility should be called to the attention of that student.
Student Government Association
All students are responsible for the self-governing operations of Meredith under the Honor System. Therefore, all students are members of the Student Government Association, which promotes individual responsibility to the Honor System. The Student Government Association also seeks to involve all students in the academic and social life of the College.
The branches of the Student Government Association are composed of the Senate, Honor Council, Student Life Committee, Elections Board, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Board, Association of Meredith Commuters, Residents Housing Association, and WINGS. An executive board is composed of the student government president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer (who also serves as the Student Activities Fee Chair), a freshman member-at-large, and chairs/presidents from each branch.
Student Regulations
Through the Student Government Association, students make many of their own regulations pertaining to student life. In keeping with the spirit of Meredith, student and faculty committees confer with the SGA on matters of student concern. Regulations deemed necessary for the well-being of the students are explained in the online Student Handbook.
Student Life Committee
With campus-wide representation, the Student Life Committee works to enhance the quality of student life at Meredith. The committee directs attention and study to the concerns and the well-being of the students and gives consideration to social, cultural, academic, spiritual, recreational and health needs of the students.