Yellow Light School

University of North Carolina - Asheville

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: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Anne Ponder
University of North Carolina - Asheville
Office of the Chancellor
Phillips Hall, CPO # 1400
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804-8503
828-251-6500
chanoffice@unca.edu
Website: http://www.unca.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)

Green light: Student Handbook: Student Code of Community Standards- Specific Student Community Standards 12-13

Unlawful harassment
includes conduct that creates a hostile environment by meeting the following criteria:
It is:
a. directed toward a particular person or persons:
b. based upon the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual
orientation, gender-identity, creed, disability or veteran status;
c. unwelcome;
d. severe or pervasive;
e. objectively offensive;
f. so unreasonably interferes with the target person’s employment, academic
pursuits, or participation in University-sponsored activities as to effectively deny equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities
Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct has violated the Student Code of Community Standards and is subject to the Citizenship Education Process: ... Physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
View full policy (PDF, 276 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute "environmental sexual harassment" when such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment which unreasonably interferes with another's work, academic performance or privacy.
[T]here is no requirement that evidence of actual emotional or physiological harm be shown in order for environmental sexual harassment to be found to have occurred.
View full policy (PDF, 483 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Yellow light: Resident Student Handbook: Community Creed 12-13

In joining this learning community, I commit to a code of civilized behavior.

I will practice personal and academic integrity;

I will respect the dignity of all persons, including myself;

I will respect the rights of others;

I will not condone bigotry;

I will strive for the openness to learn from differences in people, ideas and opinions;

I will demonstrate concern for others, their feelings, and their need for conditions which support their work and development.

Allegiance to these ideals requires me to refrain from behaviors which threaten the freedom and respect every individual deserves.
View full policy (PDF, 63 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Policy on Space Scheduling and Use 12-13

Campus groups must schedule space with the appropriate coordinator at least two weeks before the event.
View full policy (PDF, 236 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Student Code of Community Standards- Preamble 12-13

The University embraces and strives to uphold the freedoms of expression
and speech guaranteed by The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution.
View full policy (PDF, 153 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.