The City College of New York
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)
Office of Affirmative Action: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when: 1) submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment or academic advancement; 2) unreasonably interferes with an individual's work or academic performance; or 3) creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work or academic environment.
Examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment may include but are not limited to: ... Sexually explicit statements, comments, questions, jokes, innuendoes or gestures; Unnecessary touching, hugging, or brushing against a person’s body or other inappropriate touching of an individual’s body; Remarks of a sexual nature about a person’s clothing or body; Display of sexually explicit pictures, screensavers or videos; Use of electronic mail or computer to disseminate sexually oriented or sex-based communications; and Accessing sexually explicit Internet websites.
View full policy (PDF, 575 KB).
Office of Public Safety Annual Report: College Regulations/Code of Conduct 12-13
Each member of the academic community or an invited guest has the right to advocate his/her position without having to fear abuse, physical, verbal, or otherwise, from others supporting conflicting points of view. Members of the academic community and other persons on the college grounds shall not use language or take actions reasonably likely to provoke or encourage physical violence by demonstrators, those demonstrated against, or spectators.
View full policy (PDF, 6306 KB).
Internet Usage Policies
Computer Users Rules & Responsibilities 12-13
Abusive and improper private use includes using CCNY computing resources for profit-making and illegal purposes, as well as sending harassing anonymous or unsolicited messages within CUNY or beyond via network facilities. Use of college facilities for private purposes is not permitted unless prior authorization and monetary compensation are arranged.
View full policy (PDF, 459 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Office of Public Safety Annual Report: College Regulations/Code of Conduct 12-13
The tradition of the University as a sanctuary of academic freedom and center of informed discussion is an honored one, to be guarded vigilantly. The basic significance of that sanctuary lies in the protection of intellectual freedoms: the rights of professors to teach, of scholars to engage in the advancement of knowledge, of students to learn and to express their views, free from external pressures or interference.
View full policy (PDF, 6306 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in November 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.
