Harvey Mudd College
Yellow light colleges and universities are those institutions with at least one ambiguous policy that too easily encourages administrative abuse and arbitrary application. Read more here.
Do you have any information, updates, or changes regarding the policies at this institution? Let us know!
On this page, FIRE has excerpted policies that address speech and expression. You may download the full policy in .pdf form, below.
Restrictions on Expressive Rights
Harassment Policies (Learn More)
Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy 12-13
Harassment can take many forms and will vary with the particular circumstances. Examples of harassment prohibited by this policy may include, without limitation: (1) verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, or slurs directed at an individual or group of individuals because of a protected characteristic; (2) unwanted advances and/or propositions of a sexual nature, including relationships which began as consensual, but later cease to be mutual and wherein one party then harasses the other; (3) visual displays such as derogatory posters, photography, cartoons, or drawings not protected by policies on academic freedom and freedom of expression that ridicule or demean an individual on the basis of a protected classification ....
Prohibited harassment is defined as any conduct directed toward an individual based on race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law (or based on a perception that an individual has such characteristics or associates with others who have, or are perceived to have, such characteristics) that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter or interfere with an individual's work or academic performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive, work, educational, or living environment.
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other unwelcome written, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work, educational, or living environment.
View full policy (PDF, 550 KB).
Posting Policies
Student Handbook: Publicity Posting Policy 12-13
Publicity may not contain any reference to alcohol, drugs or violence.
While it is not the intention of the HMC student body to post offensive posters, it may happen from time to time due to the difference in personal taste, opinion, or background. If a poster is thought to be offensive, it may be removed using the guidelines stated below. Moreover, any poster that does not meet the requirements listed under "Content" may also be removed under these guidelines. Elections posters are not exempt from this policy.
View full policy (PDF, 155 KB).
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Student Handbook: Communication Protocol for Bias-Related Incidents 12-13
Each school and CUC shall create and/or follow an established internal policy to communicate information regarding the incident.
Bias related incidents are expressions of hostility against another person (or group) because of that person's (or group's) race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation, or because the perpetrator perceives that the other person (or group) has one or more of those characteristics. As used in this Protocol, the term "bias related incident" is limited to conduct that violates one or more of The Claremont Colleges' disciplinary codes and which is not protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or by analogous provisions of state law.
View full policy (PDF, 124 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13
Students and student organizations shall be free to discuss all questions,
to express opinions publicly or privately, and to support causes by
orderly means insofar as such actions do not obstruct or disrupt the
regular and essential operations of the college.
It is the intent of the College to
develop in its students the capacity for critical judgement and to encourage the independent
and sustained search for truth. As an indispensable condition for this search,
it is the policy of the College to secure and to respect freedom to teach and freedom to
learn in the classroom, the laboratory and the extracurricular opportunities provided to
the students.
View full policy (PDF, 172 KB).
Student Handbook: Demonstrations at the Claremont Colleges 12-13
The undergraduate Claremont Colleges, Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College together with Claremont Graduate University, Keck Graduate Institute and Claremont University Consortium (CUC) are all member institutions of "The Claremont Colleges." Each of these member institutions respects the rights of free speech and peaceable assembly, and supports their exercise.
View full policy (PDF, 125 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in January 2013. According to FIRE’s research the substantive policies are current at least until this date. Directory information, including the name of the president of the college or university, may have been updated more recently. If any policy has been revised, or if you believe that we are in error, please contact us.
