University of Utah
Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more here.
| Public or Private: | Public | |
| Federal Circuit: | Tenth Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Michael K Young University of Utah Office of the President John R. Park Building 201 South Presidents Circle, Room 203 Salt Lake City, UT 84112 801-581-5701 president@utah.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.utah.edu | |
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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)
Residence Hall Handbook: Assault 10-11
Physical or verbal assault, sexual harassment, hazing, threats, intimidation, coercion, or any other behavior
which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any member of the University community or any other
person while on University premises, at University activities, or on premises over which the University has
supervisory responsibility pursuant to state statute or local ordinance is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 54 KB).
which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any member of the University community or any other
person while on University premises, at University activities, or on premises over which the University has
supervisory responsibility pursuant to state statute or local ordinance is prohibited.
Residence Hall Handbook: Discrimination & Sexual Harassment 10-11
Sexual harassment includes verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that has the purpose or effect of
unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or educational performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's employment, education, living
environment, or participation in a university activity.
View full policy (PDF, 33 KB).
unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or educational performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's employment, education, living
environment, or participation in a university activity.
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Standards of Behavior 10-11
Physical or verbal assault, sexual harassment, hazing, threats, intimidation, coercion or any other behavior which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any member of the University community or any other person while on University premises, at University activities, or on premises over which the University has supervisory responsibility pursuant to state statute or local ordinance.
View full policy (PDF, 228 KB).
Sexual Harassment and Consensual Relationships 10-11
The free and open discussion of issues or theories relating to sexuality or gender in an academic or professional setting, when appropriate to subject matter, will be presumed not to constitute sexual harassment even if it offends or embarrasses an individual unless other factors are involved. Such factors include targeting the discussion to an individual or carrying out the discussion in terms that are both patently unnecessary and gratuitously offensive.
[S]exual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's employment or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for that individual's employment, education, living environment, or participation in a university activity.
View full policy (PDF, 63 KB).
Free Speech Zones
University Speech Policy 10-11
Demonstrations and picketing on campus are legitimate means of expression. Anyone who wishes to engage in demonstrations and picketing shall be permitted to do so freely, as long as their conduct is not violent and does not unduly disrupt the functioning of the University or interfere with the rights of other members of the University community or damage University or private property. ... Time, Place and Manner Restrictions: 1. Picketing or demonstrating must be orderly at all times and must not jeopardize public order or safety.
2. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with the entrances to buildings or the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
3. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with organized meetings or other assemblies in such a way as to invade the rights of others to assemble and the rights of speakers to free expression.
4. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with classes and teaching, the use of offices or research facilities, the privacy of University housing, or the special needs of the hospital, Health Service, and other University activities related to teaching or research.
2. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with the entrances to buildings or the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
3. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with organized meetings or other assemblies in such a way as to invade the rights of others to assemble and the rights of speakers to free expression.
4. Picketing or demonstrating must not interfere with classes and teaching, the use of offices or research facilities, the privacy of University housing, or the special needs of the hospital, Health Service, and other University activities related to teaching or research.
1. The University shall provide reasonably appropriate facilities in the area of the Union Plaza and adjoining lawns on the southwest side of the Union Building (bounded by the University Bookstore and Orson Spencer Hall) to enable speakers to address those wishing to listen. These facilities shall be available to any person, but members of the University community and their organizations shall have preference in the use of the facilities. Use of the facilities may be reserved through the Office of the Dean of Students or the Dean's designate for up to two hours for purposes of speaking. Members of the University community or their organizations reserving use of the facilities shall have preference in its use in the order of their application and over those seeking to use the facilities without reservation. Persons using the facilities may make use of tables and other temporary means for displaying or distributing information while the person or organization representing them is making use of the facilities. The tables or other temporary means for displaying or distributing information shall be removed upon the expiration of the time during which the facilities are being used by the person or organization.
2. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as limiting the right of free speech elsewhere on the campus as provided by these regulations. The Office of the Dean of Students shall provide general notice of the existence of free speech facilities provided for in this section and the procedures for reserving use of the facilities.
View full policy (PDF, 161 KB).
2. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as limiting the right of free speech elsewhere on the campus as provided by these regulations. The Office of the Dean of Students shall provide general notice of the existence of free speech facilities provided for in this section and the procedures for reserving use of the facilities.
Internet Usage Policies
Network Acceptable Use Policy 10-11
Services associated with the uNID will not be used for illegal or improper purposes. This includes, but is not limited to ... the generation of threatening, harassing, abusive, obscene or fraudulent messages.
View full policy (PDF, 74 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Student Bill of Rights 10-11
Students have certain rights as members of the University community in addition to those constitutional and statutory rights and privileges inherent from the State of Utah and the United States of America. Nothing in this document shall be construed so as to limit or abridge students' constitutional rights. ... Students have a right to examine and communicate ideas by any lawful means. Students will not be subject to academic or behavioral sanctions because of their constitutionally protected exercise of freedom of association, assembly, expression and the press.
View full policy (PDF, 228 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 2011. 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.
