Yellow Light School

Texas State University - San Marcos

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: Fifth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Denise M Trauth
Texas State University - San Marcos
Office of the President
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
512-245-2121
President@txstate.edu
Website: http://www.txstate.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)

Green light: Prohibition of Sexual Harassment 10-11

[U]nwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment or academic environment.
In order to violate university policy, the conduct must be substantively and objectively offensive, severe, or pervasive.
Behaviors, if sufficiently offensive, severe, or pervasive, that may constitute sexual harassment include: ... gratuitous comments of a sexual nature such as explicit statements, questions, jokes, anecdotes or remarks of a sexual nature about a person's clothing or body; remarks about sexual activities or speculation about sexual experiences ....
View full policy (PDF, 86 KB).

Green light: Prohibition of Discrimination or Harassment Based on Race, Color, National Origin, Age, Sex, Religion, Disability or Sexual Orientation 10-11

"[H]arassment" means extreme or outrageous acts or communications that: a. are intended to harass, intimidate, or humiliate students, faculty, staff, or visitors on account of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or sexual orientation; and b. reasonably cause them to suffer severe emotional distress.
View full policy (PDF, 77 KB).

Yellow light: Department of Housing and Residential Life: Resident Rights and Responsibilities- Hazing and Harassment 10-11

It is against Texas State policy to harass or haze anyone. Harassment involves behavior towards a person that is unwanted.
View full policy (PDF, 49 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Department of Housing and Residential Life: Resident Rights and Responsibilities- Decorations 10-11

Items which interfere with the educational mission of the university are prohibited from hanging in hallways, outside of rooms and in windows. These include, but are not limited to abusive, indecent, profane or vulgar language; offensive materials determined to be harassing in nature or threatening to an individual or group; pornography; and illegal substances.
View full policy (PDF, 52 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Appropriate Use of Information Resources 10-11

When communicating with others via
university information resources
(e.g., e-mail), your communications
should reflect high ethical standards,
mutual respect, and civility.
This list, while not
complete, embodies the basis of what
constitutes illegal or unethical conduct: ... Political use:
using the university’s information
resources to affect the result of a local,
state, or national election or to achieve
any other political purpose.
View full policy (PDF, 146 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 October 2010. 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.