Yellow Light School

State University of New York - Albany

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.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Second Circuit
Head of Institution: George M Philip
State University of New York - Albany
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
518-437-4900
presmail@uamail.albany.edu
Website: http://www.albany.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)

Yellow light: Community Rights and Responsibilities: Appendix B- Harassment/Sexual Harassment 12-13

Harassment or sexual harassment (as defined under Prohibited Conduct #4 and #5) can take a variety of forms. Classifications include: Sexual harassment, which may range from inappropriate sexual innuendoes to coerced sexual relations. Examples of sexual harassment that are unwelcome include but are not limited to: leering at a person’s body, unnecessary touching, pressure for sexual behaviors, sexually explicit statements communicated verbally, or through social networking sites, e-mail, and texting.
View full policy (PDF, 355 KB).

Yellow light: Office of Diversity and Inclusion: Complaint Procedure for Review of Allegations of Unlawful Discrimination/Harassment 12-13

Sexual Harassment in the Educational Setting is defined as:
Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a
sexual nature. Sexual harassment of a student denies or limits, on the basis of sex, the
student’s ability to participate in or to receive benefits, services, or opportunities in the
educational institution’s program.
View full policy (PDF, 549 KB).

Green light: Office of Diversity and Inclusion: Complaint Procedure for Review of Allegations of Unlawful Discrimination/Harassment 12-13

Harassment based on race, color, age, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation
or other protected characteristics is oral, written, graphic or physical conduct relating to an
individual's protected characteristics that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so
as to interfere with or limit the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the
educational institution’s programs or activities.
View full policy (PDF, 549 KB).

Green light: Community Rights and Responsibilities: Prohibited Conduct- Harassment 12-13

Conduct that is so pervasive or severe that it effectively denies the individual reasonable access to University resources or opportunities.
View full policy (PDF, 548 KB).

Green light: Community Rights and Responsibilities: Prohibited Conduct- Sexual Harassment 12-13

Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to effectively alter or deny the individual reasonable access to University resources or that such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile or sexually offensive environment for learning, working or living on campus.
View full policy (PDF, 548 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Principles for a Just Community 12-13

In a just community, the dignity of the individual and respect for diversity
are fundamental. Members of a just community are committed to raising
awareness of common ground and to the principles of respect, integrity,
innovation, openness, justice and responsibility.
View full policy (PDF, 23 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Planning Protest Activity: A Guide for Student Organizations 12-13

Contact Student Involvement & Leadership in Campus Center 130 a minimum of 5 business days prior to the
proposed date and time to complete an event registration form. A professional staff member will contact you
within 24 hours to discuss the proposed event. Full disclosure regarding the nature of the program is essential in
order to approve your activity. Once your event registration form is reviewed, a professional staff member will notify you of the approval of the
event as well as the time, place and manner in which the event will be held.
In the event that the proposed activity is planned in direct response to a current event, Student Involvement &
Leadership realizes that it may not be possible to submit a request five business days in advance. In such cases,
the event organizer should meet as soon as possible with a liaison in Student Involvement & Leadership in order
to coordinate the protest activity.
View full policy (PDF, 183 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Responsible Use of Information Technology 12-13

As in other aspects of behavior in campus life, civility is expected at all times.
The University expects all users to respect the Principles for a Just Community when communicating via the University information technology facilities.
View full policy (PDF, 617 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Community Rights and Responsibilities: Appendix A- Rules and Regulations for the Maintenance of Public Order 12-13

Free inquiry and free expression are indispensable to the objectives of a higher educational institution.
View full policy (PDF, 617 KB).

NOTE: You must have Adobe Acrobat installed to view policies in PDF format.

The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in August 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.