University of North Carolina - Wilmington

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 Gary L Miller
University of North Carolina - Wilmington
Alderman Hall
Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-962-3000
chancellor@uncw.edu
Website: http://www.uncw.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)

Code of Student Life: Harassment Prevention Policy 10-11

Hostile environment harassment consists of unwelcome conduct when:

1. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work, academic performance, or living environment; or

2. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working, learning or living environment.
View full policy (PDF, 915 KB).

Code of Student Life: Student Conduct and Appeals- Offenses 10-11

Discriminates against another student through behavior of a biased or prejudiced nature related to one's personal characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, sex, religion, handicap, age or sexual orientation. ... Sexually harasses any other student, male or female, by making repeated and unwelcome sex-related comments, sexual overtures, or physical behaviors which interfere or are intended to interfere with another person's work or study.
Harasses, abuses or threatens another by means other than the use or
threatened use of physical force, including, but not limited to,
stalking, phone and e-mail communication, that includes one or
more of the following: speech or action that in and of itself inflicts
injury or tends to incite a disruption, or causes substantial
disruption, or reasonably causes fear of great harm, or that interferes
with the educational environment or disrupts university programs;
speech or actions that interfere with ingress and/or egress on
campus or in any off-campus university programs or events; and/or
speech or actions which are obscene, including but not limited to
sexual displays which appeal to prurient interest, violate community
standards and have no redeeming cultural, artistic, scientific or
literary value.
View full policy (PDF, 2405 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility (Learn More)

Guide for On-Campus Living: The Residence Hall Bill of Rights 10-11

The right to feel secure against physical or emotional harm ... Violating the rights of other students may result in disciplinary actions and/or reassignment to another location.
View full policy.

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Code of Student Life: Seahawk Respect Compact 10-11

We promote the right of every person to participate in
the free exchange of thoughts and opinions within a
climate of civility and mutual respect.
Therefore, we expect members of the campus community
to honor these principles as fundamental to our ongoing
efforts to increase access to and inclusion in a community
that nurtures learning and growth for all.
View full policy (PDF, 190 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Code of Student Life: Use of University Facilities 10-11

Any peaceful assembly, protest or demonstration where 50 or more
people are expected to participate must be registered with the Office of the Dean of Students prior to the event.
No posters or publicly distributed materials shall contain obscene, vulgar or libelous material, nor should any material be distributed which contains information in violation of any federal, state or local law or seeks unauthorized solicitation.
View full policy (PDF, 3061 KB).

Posting Policies

Guide for On Campus Living: Posting Policy 10-11

No items will be approved which advocate alcohol/drug use or inappropriate behavior.
All publicity must be approved by a Director-level staff member in the HRL office prior to posting: Item should be delivered to the HRL office a minimum of a week before the event.

Internet Usage Policies

Harassment, Threats, Stalking, and Similar Activities 10-11

Users may not use
electronic communication to harass, stalk, or threaten others, or in
similar ways create an atmosphere which unreasonably interferes
with the education or employment experience. Generally,
communication that contains abusive, offensive or intimidating
language and is repeated, unsolicited, unwanted or unwelcome may
constitute harassment. This would include, but not be limited to,
posting, transmitting or originating any unlawful, threatening,
abusive, hostile, fraudulent or defamatory communication ....
View full policy (PDF, 401 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Code of Student Life: Freedom and Responsibility in the University Community 10-11

The University of North Carolina is dedicated to the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding. Academic freedom is essential to the achievement of these purposes. The university therefore supports and encourages freedom of inquiry for faculty members and students, to the end that they responsibly pursue these goals through teaching, learning, research, discussion and publication, free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors.
View full policy (PDF, 968 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in August 2011. 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.