University of Kansas

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: Tenth Circuit
Head of Institution: Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little
University of Kansas
1450 Jayhawk Blvd
230 Strong Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-3131
chancellor@ku.edu
Website: http://www.ku.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 Handbook: Policies and Procedures- Harassment, Sexual and Sexual Assault 11-12

Sexual harassment takes a variety of forms. Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, the following: ... such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. Repeated or unwanted sexual attention or sexual advances are forms of sexual harassment.
Examples of verbal or physical conduct that are prohibited include but are not limited to:
... a pattern of conduct intended to humiliate or cause discomfort, or both, including unwelcome comments of a sexual nature; unwelcome sexually explicit statements, questions, jokes, gestures, or anecdotes; unwelcome propositions of a sexual nature; unwelcome touching, patting, hugging, or brushing against a person's body or clothing; unwelcome remarks of a sexual nature, including remarks about a person's body or clothing; unwelcome remarks about sexual activity; showing, exposing to, or subjecting others to materials or media of a sexual nature.
View full policy (PDF, 825 KB).

Housing Handbook: Policies and Procedures- Harassment, Racial and Ethnic Harassment or Discrimination 11-12

Racial and ethnic harassment at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, includes, but is not limited to, racially or ethnically motivated: 1) behavior or conduct addressed directly to an individual(s) that threatens violence or property damage, or incites imminent lawless action; 2) behavior or conduct that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment for an individual or group; or 3) behavior or conduct that has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's or group's work, academic performance, living environment, personal safety, or participation in a university-sponsored activity; or 4) behavior or conduct that has the purpose or effect of threatening an individual's or group's employment or academic opportunities.
View full policy (PDF, 825 KB).

Housing Handbook: Policies and Procedures- Harassment, General 11-12

Anyone who directs any deliberate and/or intimidating gestures (verbal, written, or otherwise) toward another person, commits vandalism, defacement or damage to personal property, purposely humiliates another person, stalks another person, or makes degrading comments or prank phone calls, will face disciplinary action.
View full policy (PDF, 825 KB).

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

Housing Handbook: Policies and Procedures- Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct 11-12

Students should not engage in disruptive or disorderly conduct or harassing, lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression.
View full policy (PDF, 257 KB).

Posting Policies

Housing Handbook: Policies and Procedures- Dissemination of Information 11-12

Posting of materials is prohibited without approval by the Complex Director or the Department of Student Housing.
View full policy (PDF, 262 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

KU ResNet Responsible Use Agreement 11-12

As a user of electronic information resources and in consideration of the University's providing me electronic access and services, I agree to abide by the following: ... # The University encourages civil discourse, tolerance, and respect for all peoples, as outlined in the Chancellor's Ten Points for A Great University, http://www.chancellor.ku.edu/strategic/initiative_2001/Feb3tenpnt.html. Rude and harassing e-mail does not demonstrate this value.
View full policy (PDF, 1282 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Bill of Rights 11-12

Free inquiry, expression, and assembly are guaranteed to all students.
View full policy (PDF, 4211 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 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.