Yellow Light School

University of Central Missouri

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: Eighth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Charles M Ambrose
University of Central Missouri
Office of the President
Administration Building, Room 202
Warrensburg, MO
Warrensburg, MO 64093
660--54-3-41
Website: http://www.ucmo.edu

« Return to School Overview

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: Discrimination and Harassment: Procedures for Reporting and Investigation Complaints 12-13

Harassment: Unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct based on age, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, handicap/disability or genetic information that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile campus environment. Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

* offensive jokes;
* slurs;
* epithets;
* name calling;
* physical assaults or threats;
* offensive touching;
* intimidation;
* ridicule;
* mockery;
* insults or put-downs;
* offensive objects or pictures;
* graffiti; or
* subjecting a person or persons of a protected class to repeated criticism or verbal abuse but not doing so to similarly situated non-class members.
View full policy (PDF, 113 KB).

Green light: Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

Harassing, harrying or repeatedly belittling or deriding another so as to
disrupt their academic performance and social interaction at the University.
View full policy (PDF, 88 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

Self-injurious or self-endangering behaviors or verbalizations of the same,
failure to engage in adequate self-care, and other behaviors or verbalizations
that are disruptive to the University environment.
View full policy (PDF, 88 KB).

Yellow light: Faculty Guide: Sexual Harassment Policy 12-13

Unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic or professional performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment, academic or living environment.
Sexual harassment may include actions such as the following: * Sex-oriented verbal "kidding" or abuse....
View full policy (PDF, 197 KB).

Free Speech Zones

Yellow light: Public Speech Activities Policy 12-13

For the purposes of this policy "public speech activities" may include demonstrations (individual or collective), picketing, distribution of leaflets/publications, sit-ins, marches, mass gatherings and all other similar gatherings.
Members of the university community, visitors and/or guests planning to hold or sponsor a public speech activity should provide the Office of Public Safety with notification of the desired time, location, expected attendance of the activity, the type of activity planned and at least 24 hours advance notice of the activity.
View full policy (PDF, 140 KB).

Posting Policies

Yellow light: Campus Posting Policy 12-13

The intent of this policy is to provide the University of Central Missouri students, faculty and staff with maximum opportunity and space to advertise approved events, products, services, etc. at designated locations throughout the campus on bulletin boards or similar devices. ... Offensive, obscene, inflammatory advertising, etc. will not be permitted or tolerated.
View full policy (PDF, 100 KB).

Yellow light: Student Handbook: Residence Hall Policies- Public Areas 11-12

Room windows facing the exterior of the building are considered public
space and must be free of offensive materials at all times.
View full policy (PDF, 88 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Yellow light: Email Regulations 12-13

The university's electronic communications system may not be used for individual
or group mailings of a solicitous/persuasive religious, commercial, or political nature.
View full policy (PDF, 337 KB).

Yellow light: Acceptable Use Guidelines 12-13

It is a violation of University policy to access the university's electronic information system when the purpose of such access is to convey misinformation, defamatory material, or intimidating, threatening, pornographic, discriminatory, or disruptive messages.
View full policy (PDF, 74 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: Student Handbook: Student Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

The University of Central Missouri considers freedom of inquiry and discussion
essential to a student’s educational development. Thus, the University recognizes
the right of all students to engage in discussion, to exchange thought and opinion,
and to speak, write, or print freely on any subject, in accordance with the
guarantees of Federal or State constitutions. This principle is the cornerstone of
education in a democracy.
View full policy (PDF, 88 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 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.