Yellow Light School

Rhode Island 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: Public
Federal Circuit: First Circuit
Head of Institution: President Nancy Carriuolo
Rhode Island College
Office of the President
600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Roberts Hall 404
Providence, RI 02908
401-456-8101
ncarriuolo@ric.edu
Website: http://www.ric.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)

Yellow light: Illegal Harassment Policy 12-13

Sexual harassment is defined to include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Such conduct is prohibited when the behavior is directed to an individual because of his or her gender and ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with a person's academic or job performance or creating a sexually intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment.
View full policy (PDF, 58 KB).

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

Yellow light: Office of Student Life: Student Bill of Rights 12-13

Students shall be free to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. They shall always be free to support causes by orderly means (such as: assembly and petition) which do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of the institution. Such actions as disrupting class, damaging/defacing property, or racial/sexual attacks and illegal harassment will not be tolerated.
View full policy (PDF, 186 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Residence Hall Responsibilities 12-13

The Office of Residential Life & Housing expects that in all relationships with each other,
residents will be guided by a mutual concern for each other’s feelings, integrity, and the
need to live in an environment conducive to academic and personal achievement. These
interactions, whether between members of the same or opposite sex, between races, between
members of different sexual orientations, or between residents and staff, will be tempered
with sensitivity and a sense of responsibility towards others. Within each residential unit,
there shall be a commitment to actively promote racial and cultural understanding and to
deal honestly, openly, and equitably with all residents. It is expected that all residents will
respect each other’s privacy and will not subject others to indecent exposure, inappropriate
gestures, vulgarity, etc.
View full policy (PDF, 53 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: The Unity Center: Report Bias Incidents 12-13

All suspected or confirmed bias incidents will be viewed as serious by Rhode Island College and should be reported directly to The Office of Affirmative Action.
A BIAS-MOTIVATED INCIDENT, also known as a hate incident, is an act of conduct, speech, or expression to which a bias-motive is evident as a contributing factor (regardless of whether the act is criminal).
View full policy (PDF, 100 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Office of Student Life: Student Bill of Rights 12-13

All students on this campus possess and retain the inalienable rights granted them by the United States Constitution.
View full policy (PDF, 186 KB).

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