Yellow Light School

University of North Carolina - Charlotte

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 Philip L Dubois
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223
704-687-2201
pdubois@email.uncc.edu
Website: http://www.uncc.edu

« Return to School Overview

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: Code of Student Responsibility: Conduct Rules and Regulations 12-13

No student shall engage in unlawful harassment leading to a hostile environment. 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; and
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.
View full policy (PDF, 1119 KB).

Green light: Interim Regulations on Student Sexual Misconduct Complaints 12-13

"Sexual harassment" means unwelcome conduct, based on sex or on gender stereotypes, which is so
severe, persistent or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with a person's University employment,
academic performance or participation in University programs or activities and creates a working,
learning, program or activity environment that a reasonable person would find intimidating, hostile or
offensive.
View full policy (PDF, 484 KB).

Green light: Code of Student Responsibility: Conduct Rules and Regulations 12-13

The following conduct, or an attempt to engage in the following conduct, is subject to disciplinary action ... inflicting severe mental or emotional distress upon a person through a course of conduct involving repeated harassment, intimidation, abuse, or disparagement.
View full policy (PDF, 1119 KB).

Green light: Code of Student Responsibility: Definitions 12-13

The term "sexual harassment" means engaging in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the other's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or academic environment.
View full policy (PDF, 1119 KB).

Yellow light: "Fighting Words" Harassment in the University Community 12-13

This Policy prohibits the face to face use of "fighting words" by a student, faculty member, or staff member to harass any person or persons on the University campus or other property under University control. "Fighting words" are those personally abusive epithets which, when directly addressed to any ordinary person are, in the context used and as a matter of common knowledge, inherently likely to provoke an immediate and violent reaction, whether or not they actually do so. Such expressions include, but are not limited to, those terms or gestures widely recognized to be derogatory references to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other personal characteristics.
View full policy (PDF, 82 KB).

Yellow light: Sexual Harassment Prevention Brochure 12-13

NON-VERBAL OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR:
*public display or sharing of pictures
or photographs of a sexual nature
*e-mails or websites of a sexual nature
*Love notes or letters
*suggestive comments
on memos
*Graffiti
*Gag Gifts (sex toys, games)
VERBAL OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR:
*sexual innuendos and comments
*whistling in a suggestive manner
*jokes about sex or gender in general
*spreading rumors about a the sexual activity
or performance of a student or employee
*sexual propositions, invitations, or other
pressures for sex
*implied or overt threats
View full policy (PDF, 798 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Resident Handbook: Posting Policy 12-13

Inappropriate or offensive notices will not
receive approval and will be removed if
found.
View full policy (PDF, 46 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Responsible Use of University Computing and Electronic Communication Resources 12-13

Respect the privacy and personal rights of others by ensuring that use of University computing and electronic communication resources does not constitute invasion of privacy, harassment, defamation, threats, intimidation, unwarranted annoyance or embarrassment, or discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
View full policy (PDF, 169 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Code of Student Responsibility: Purpose 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, 1119 KB).

Green light policy: Conduct at Speech Events 12-13

The transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding flourishes in an environment in which the broadest range of ideas and ideologies may be freely expressed, examined, and debated.
View full policy (PDF, 195 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.