University of California, Irvine

A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Ninth Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Michael V Drake
University of California, Irvine
The Chancellor's Office
Irvine, CA 92697-1900
949-824-5111
chancellor@uci.edu
Website: http://www.uci.edu

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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)

Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline 10-11

When employed by the University of California, and acting within the course and scope of that employment, students are subject to the University of California Policy on Sexual Harassment. Otherwise, Section 102.09, above, is the applicable standard for harassment by students.
Sexual, racial, and other forms of harassment, defined as follows:
Harassment is defined as conduct that is so severe and/or pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so substantially impairs a person’s access to University programs or activities, that the person is effectively denied equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities on the basis of his or her race, color, national or ethnic origin, alienage, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veterans status, physical or mental disability, or perceived membership in any of these classifications.
View full policy (PDF, 106 KB).

Undergraduate Housing Handbook and Planner: Harassment 10-11

Student Housing will not tolerate any form of harassment. Harassment is the use, display, or other
demonstration of words, gestures, imagery, or physical materials, or the engagement in any form of
bodily conduct. This includes but it not limited to harassment on the basis of race, color, national or
ethnic origin, alienage, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, that has
the effect of creating a hostile and intimidating environment sufficiently severe or pervasive to
substantially impair a reasonable person's participation in University programs or activities, or use of
University facilities.
View full policy (PDF, 404 KB).

Undergraduate Housing Handbook and Planner: Sexual, Racial, and Other Forms of Harassment 10-11

Harassment is defined as conduct so severe and /or pervasive, objectively offensive, and that so
substantially impairs a person’s access to University programs or activities, that the person is
effectively denied equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities on the basis of their
race, color, national or ethnic origin, alienage, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
marital status, veterans status, physical or mental disability, or perceived membership in any of these
classifications.
View full policy (PDF, 357 KB).

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

Undergraduate Housing Handbook and Planner: Principles of Community 10-11

[E]veryone who chooses to live in, work in, or visit our residential communities must
understand that we will not tolerate any form of bigotry, harassment, intimidation, threat, or abuse,
whether verbal or written, physical or psychological, direct or implied. Alcohol or substance abuse,
ignorance, or humorous intent will not be accepted as an excuse. We will respond to such behavior
in a manner consistent with our educational mission and our policies for behavior on campus and in
housing.
View full policy (PDF, 250 KB).

Undergraduate Housing Handbook and Planner: Student Rights 10-11

As a resident, you have the right to: ... Be free from all forms of intimidation including verbal, physical and/or emotional harm.
View full policy (PDF, 321 KB).

Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience (Learn More)

Principles of Community 10-11

Our legacy for an increasingly multi­cultural academic community and for a learning climate free from expressions of bigotry is drawn from the United States and California Constitutions and from the charter of the University of California, which protects diversity and reaffirms our commitment to the protection of lawful free speech. Affirmation of that freedom is an effective way of ensuring that acts of bigotry and abusive behavior will not go unchallenged within the University. Tolerance, civility and mutual respect for diversity of background, gender, ethnicity, race, and religion is as crucial within our campus community as is tolerance, civility and mutual respect for diversity of political beliefs, sexual orientation, and physical abilities.
All who work, live, study, and teach at UCI are here by choice and, as part of that choice, should be committed to these Principles of Community which are an integral part of the guidelines by which the University community can successfully conduct its affairs.
View full policy (PDF, 56 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Computer and Network Use Policy 10-11

Examples of misuse include, but are not limited to: ... Using computers, electronic mail or any other form of computer network based communication to act abusively toward others or to provoke a violent reaction, such as stalking, acts of bigotry, threats of violence, or other hostile or intimidating "fighting words." Such words include those terms widely recognized to victimize or stigmatize individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, and other protected characteristics.
View full policy (PDF, 86 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

University of California Campus Climate 10-11

If you experience or observe behavior that is inconsistent with our Principles of Community, please report it.

You may report in a variety of ways:

*Report anonymously or by name, via this Campus Climate page, by selecting the University of California campus where the incident occurred from the list to the right and clicking "Continue".
* Report anonymously to an appropriate campus office, based on the nature of the incident. Please refer to the website for the campus where the incident occurred.
* Report anonymously via your campus' Bias Reporting page, by selecting your campus from the Local Bias Reporting menu above. If your campus does not appear on this list, there is no local reporting form available. Please use this form, instead.
* File a report with your Campus Police Department, via the Campus Police menu above.
Expressions of Bias: A general communication not directed toward a particular individual, which disparages a group of people on the basis of some characteristic ....
Hate Speech: Hate speech is any speech, gesture or conduct, writing, or display that may incite violence or prejudicial action against someone based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, gender, gender identity, ethnicity ....
View full policy (PDF, 83 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Policy on Speech and Advocacy 10-11

The University is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship.
View full policy (PDF, 37 KB).

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