The College of New Jersey
A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. 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)
Student Conduct Code: Sexual Harassment 11-12
Conduct of a sexual nature or based on gender or sexuality that is severe or
pervasive enough to create an intimidating, abusive, or hostile campus,
educational, or working environment as defined by a reasonable person under
similar circumstances. This may include unwanted, unwelcome, or
inappropriate sexual or gender-based activities, or comments.
View full policy (PDF, 11781 KB).
Student Conduct Code: Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment 11-12
Engaging in conduct, including any gesture, written, verbal or physical act, or
any electronic communication (which includes e-mails, text messages, and
Internet postings on web-sites or other social media), whether it be a single
incident or series of incidents; that is so severe or pervasive and objectively
offensive that it substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of
the College or the rights of any student or other member of the College
community ....
View full policy (PDF, 11781 KB).
Human Resources: TCNJ Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace/Educational Environment 11-12
To achieve the goal of maintaining a work/educational environment free from discrimination or harassment, the College strictly prohibits the conduct that is described in this policy. This is a zero tolerance policy. This means that the College reserves the right to take either disciplinary action, if appropriate, or other corrective action, to address any unacceptable conduct that violates this policy, regardless of whether the conduct satisfies the legal definition of discrimination or harassment.
Examples of Behaviors That May Constitute Prohibited Workplace Discrimination or Harassment Include, But Are Not Limited To: ... Calling an individual by an unwanted nickname that refers to one or more of the above protected categories, or telling jokes pertaining to one or more protected categories; Using derogatory references with regard to any of the protected categories in any communication; ... Displaying or distributing material (including electronic communications) in the workplace/educational environment that contains derogatory or demeaning language or images pertaining to any of the protected categories ....
This Policy Prohibiting Discrimination in the Workplace/Educational Environment (this "Policy") applies to all employees, including student employees with respect to conduct that arises out of their employment status, and applicants for employment at the College.
Examples of prohibited behaviors that may constitute sexual harassment and are therefore a violation of this Policy include, but are not limited to: Generalized gender-based remarks and comments; ... Verbal, written, or electronically sexually suggestive or obscene comments, jokes or propositions including letters, notes, e-mail, text messages, invitations, gestures or inappropriate comments about a person's clothing; ... Visual contact, such as leering or staring at another's body; gesturing; displaying sexually suggestive objects, cartoons, posters, magazines or pictures of scantily-clad individuals; or displaying sexually suggestive material on a bulletin board, on a locker room wall, or on a screen saver ....
It is also a violation of this Policy to use derogatory or demeaning references regarding a person's race, gender, age, religion, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, ethnic background, or any other protected category set forth in I(a) above, which have the effect of harassing an employee or student or creating a hostile work/educational environment. A violation of this Policy can occur even if there was no intent on the part of an individual to harass or demean another.
View full policy (PDF, 44 KB).
Other Speech Codes
Student Handbook: Student Rights and Freedoms 11-12
Students are allowed to invite and to hear guest speakers of their choosing. Persons considered by the larger community to be extremely controversial must be approved by the vice president for student life and the president of The College of New Jersey, after due consideration of all aspects resulting from the individual's presence on campus.
View full policy (PDF, 3263 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Student Rights and Freedoms 11-12
Academic institutions exist for the transmission of knowledge, the pursuit of truth, the personal
development of students, and the general well-being of society. Free inquiry and free expression are
indispensable to the attainment of these goals.
Students are both members of the academic community and citizens. As citizens, students enjoy the same freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and right of petition that other citizens enjoy; as members of the academic community, they are subject to the obligations which accrue to them by virtue of this membership.
View full policy (PDF, 3263 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in February 2012. 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.
