Harvey Mudd College
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: | Private | |
| Federal Circuit: | Ninth Circuit | |
| Head of Institution: | President Maria Klawe Harvey Mudd College 301 E. 12th Street Kingston Hall Room 201 Claremont, CA 91711 909-621-8120 klawe@hmc.edu |
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| Website: | http://www.hmc.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)
Student Handbook: Intercampus Sexual Harassment Policy 10-11
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature made by someone from or in
the work or education setting against a person of the same or opposite sex
constitute sexual harassment under any of the following conditions:
...
The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the
individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive work or education environment.
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature made by someone from or in
the work or education setting against a person of the same or opposite sex
constitute sexual harassment under any of the following conditions:
...
The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the
individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive work or education environment.
V. Additional State Law Requirements
In addition to violating the policies of the colleges, sexual harassment in employment violates the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, specifically Government Code Sections 12940 (a), (h) and (i).
The California Fair Employment and Housing Commission regulations define sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This definition includes many forms of offensive behavior and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same or opposite sex as the harasser; the following is a partial list:
* Unwanted sexual advances.
* Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
* Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances.
* Visual conduct: leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons or posters.
* Verbal conduct: making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs and jokes.
* Verbal sexual advances or propositions.
* Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive, or obscene letters, notes or invitations.
View full policy (PDF, 108 KB).
In addition to violating the policies of the colleges, sexual harassment in employment violates the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, specifically Government Code Sections 12940 (a), (h) and (i).
The California Fair Employment and Housing Commission regulations define sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This definition includes many forms of offensive behavior and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same or opposite sex as the harasser; the following is a partial list:
* Unwanted sexual advances.
* Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
* Making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances.
* Visual conduct: leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons or posters.
* Verbal conduct: making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs and jokes.
* Verbal sexual advances or propositions.
* Verbal abuse of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive, or obscene letters, notes or invitations.
Student Handbook: Discriminatory Harassment Policy 10-11
Discriminatory Harassment is defined as behavior that creates an offensive, demeaning, intimidating, or hostile environment. Discriminatory harassment must meet the following criteria:
* The conduct is related to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification or characteristic protected by law
* The conduct is unwanted or unwelcome
* The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with or otherwise unreasonably adversely affecting an individual's employment, educational opportunity, work performance, or organizational participation.
* The conduct is related to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation or any other classification or characteristic protected by law
* The conduct is unwanted or unwelcome
* The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with or otherwise unreasonably adversely affecting an individual's employment, educational opportunity, work performance, or organizational participation.
Examples of discriminatory harassment may include:
1. Verbal conduct: objectionable epithets, racial slurs, "jokes," name calling
...
3. Visual conduct: demeaning depictions (pictures, objects, posters, video, audio, or broadcast material) in a public place
4. Treatment: unfavorable treatment of individuals because of belonging to a particular group
1. Verbal conduct: objectionable epithets, racial slurs, "jokes," name calling
...
3. Visual conduct: demeaning depictions (pictures, objects, posters, video, audio, or broadcast material) in a public place
4. Treatment: unfavorable treatment of individuals because of belonging to a particular group
Sexually harassing conduct must meet the following criteria:
* The conduct is sexual in nature
* The conduct is unwanted or unwelcome
* The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with or otherwise unreasonably adversely affecting an individual’s employment, educational opportunity, work performance, or organizational participation
* The conduct is sexual in nature
* The conduct is unwanted or unwelcome
* The conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with or otherwise unreasonably adversely affecting an individual’s employment, educational opportunity, work performance, or organizational participation
Examples of hostile environment sexual harassment may include:
...
c. Verbal conduct: abusive language of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, or sexually descriptive words used to describe an individual
d. Visual conduct: leering, making sexual gestures, displaying suggestive objects, pictures, posters, or video, audio or broadcast material of a sexual nature in a public place
View full policy (PDF, 109 KB).
...
c. Verbal conduct: abusive language of a sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual’s body, or sexually descriptive words used to describe an individual
d. Visual conduct: leering, making sexual gestures, displaying suggestive objects, pictures, posters, or video, audio or broadcast material of a sexual nature in a public place
Posting Policies
Student Handbook: Publicity Posting Policy 10-11
Publicity may not contain any reference to alcohol, drugs or violence.
While it is not the intention of the HMC student body to post offensive posters, it may happen from time to time due to the difference in personal taste, opinion, or background. If a poster is thought to be offensive, it may be removed using the guidelines stated below. Moreover, any poster that does not meet the requirements listed under "Content" may also be removed under these guidelines. Elections posters are not exempt from this policy.
View full policy (PDF, 83 KB).
Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Student Handbook: Communication Protocol for Bias-Related Incidents 10-11
Each school and CUC shall create and/or follow an established internal policy to communicate information regarding the incident.
Bias related incidents are expressions of hostility against another person (or group) because of that person's (or group's) race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, disability, gender or sexual orientation, or because the perpetrator perceives that the other person (or group) has one or more of those characteristics. As used in this Protocol, the term "bias related incident" is limited to conduct that violates one or more of The Claremont Colleges' disciplinary codes and which is not protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or by analogous provisions of state law.
View full policy (PDF, 108 KB).
Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Student Handbook: Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities 10-11
It is the intent of the College to
develop in its students the capacity for critical judgement and to encourage the independent
and sustained search for truth. As an indispensable condition for this search,
it is the policy of the College to secure and to respect freedom to teach and freedom to
learn in the classroom, the laboratory and the extracurricular opportunities provided to
the students.
develop in its students the capacity for critical judgement and to encourage the independent
and sustained search for truth. As an indispensable condition for this search,
it is the policy of the College to secure and to respect freedom to teach and freedom to
learn in the classroom, the laboratory and the extracurricular opportunities provided to
the students.
Students and student organizations shall be free to discuss all questions,
to express opinions publicly or privately, and to support causes by
orderly means insofar as such actions do not obstruct or disrupt the
regular and essential operations of the college.
View full policy (PDF, 108 KB).
to express opinions publicly or privately, and to support causes by
orderly means insofar as such actions do not obstruct or disrupt the
regular and essential operations of the college.
Student Handbook: Demonstrations at the Claremont Colleges 10-11
The undergraduate Claremont Colleges, Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College together with Claremont Graduate University, Keck Graduate Institute and Claremont University Consortium (CUC) are all member institutions of "The Claremont Colleges." Each of these member institutions respects the rights of free speech and peaceable assembly, and supports their exercise.
View full policy (PDF, 83 KB).
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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in February 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.
