University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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: Seventh Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Robert Easter
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Swanlund Administration Building
601 E. John Street
Champaign, IL 61820
217-333-6290
reaster@illinois.edu
Website: http://www.uiuc.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)

Housing Hallmarks: Your Community - Sexual Harassment 10-11

Sexual harassment is defined by law and includes any unwanted sexual gesture, physical contact, or statement that is offensive, humiliating, or an interference with required tasks or career opportunities.
View full policy (PDF, 115 KB).

Housing Hallmarks: Your Community - Harassment 10-11

Residents may not engage in conduct that threatens or endangers the health, safety, or physical or psychological well-being of any person. This includes, but is not limited to, actions related to a person's race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, objectionable epithets, demeaning depictions or treatment, outrageous acts or communications that are intended to harass, intimidate, or humiliate, and threatened or actual abuse or harm.
View full policy (PDF, 115 KB).

Equal Opportunity and Access Policy and Procedures: Campus Conduct 10-11

A hostile environment is defined as an environment on campus that, through harassing conduct (e.g., physical, verbal, graphic or written) based on a person's protected status (e.g., sexual orientation, age, etc.), becomes sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent so as to interfere with or limit the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from a University program or activity. ... There are many types of behaviors that can be harassing. Some examples are using derogatory terms, insults, telling derogatory jokes, taunting and intimidating actions.
Sexual harassment is defined by law and includes requests for sexual favors, sexual advances or other sexual conduct when (1) submission is either explicitly or implicitly a condition affecting academic or employment decisions; (2) the behavior is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to create an intimidating, hostile or repugnant environment; or (3) the behavior persists despite objection by the person to whom the conduct is directed.
The following descriptions, while not all-inclusive, will help you understand behaviors that, if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment.

Unwanted sexual statements - sexual or "dirty" jokes, comments on physical attributes, spreading rumors about or rating others as to sexual activity or performance, talking about one's sexual activity in front of others, and displaying or distributing sexually explicit drawings, pictures and/or written material. Unwanted sexual statements can be made in person, in writing, electronically (email, instant messaging, blogs, web pages, etc.) and otherwise.
View full policy (PDF, 152 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Office of the Dean of Students: Acts of Intolerance- Reporting 10-11

It is important to report all acts of intolerance no matter how insignificant one might perceive an incident to be. ... Incidents that are seemingly minor initially -- name calling, homophobic graffiti, racist slurs -- can escalate into more serious incidents, including violence, if unaddressed.
View full policy (PDF, 116 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Student Code: Campus Expression 10-11

Discussion and expression of all views is permitted within the University subject only to requirements for the maintenance of order.
View full policy (PDF, 62 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 May 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.