Yellow Light School

University of Maryland - College Park

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: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Wallace D Loh
University of Maryland - College Park
Office of the President
1101 Main Administration Building
College Park, MD 20742
301-405-5803
president@umd.edu
Website: http://www.umd.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: University of Maryland Policy and Procedures on Sexual Harassment 12-13

For the purpose of this Campus policy, sexual harassment is defined as: (1) unwelcome sexual advances; or (2) unwelcome requests for sexual favors; or (3) other behavior of a sexual or gender-based nature where: ... Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's academic or work performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment.
[T]he following types of acts, if pervasive and continuous, are most likely to result in allegations of sexual harassment: unwelcome physical contact; sexual remarks about a person's clothing, body, or sexual relations; conversation of a sexual nature or similar jokes and stories; and the display of sexually explicit materials in the workplace or used, without defensible educational purpose, in the classroom.
In assessing whether a particular act constitutes sexual harassment forbidden under this policy, the standard shall be the perspective of a reasonable person within the College Park Campus community. The rules of common sense and reason shall prevail. Nothing in this policy limits expression protected under the First Amendment, campus freedom of expression, or similar policies.
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).

Green light: Community Living Handbook: Residence Hall Rules 12-13

Harassing or threatening any person so as to interfere with that person’s ability to sleep, study, or be present in one’s own room or residence hall.
Causing physical harm or a reasonable expectation of physical harm to any person.
View full policy (PDF, 165 KB).

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

Yellow light: Department of Residence Life: Our Multicultural Philosophy 12-13

It is our belief that any willful attempt to repress, undermine, or otherwise damage any person or group constitutes a legitimate threat to the health and welfare of our community. Such acts are inherently anti-intellectual and contradict the institutional goals of education and enlightenment. As such, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abuse, assault, verbal or written threats (direct or implied) will be addressed immediately, and dealt with seriously.
View full policy (PDF, 96 KB).

Yellow light: Community Living Handbook: Rights and Responsibilities 12-13

Uncivil behavior tears down the social structure of
the community, damages the dignity of the person who displays it, and threatens others’ sense of their rightful place in their homes on campus. Violations of rules that bring about abuse, harassment, or intended insult to others are taken seriously. Any student who commits such violations will be challenged through sanctioning to reconsider his or her behavior and engage constructively with others who were affected by it, and may be removed from the community.
View full policy (PDF, 42 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Yellow light: President's Commission on Ethnic Minority Issues: Racial, Religious, Ethnicity/National Origin, Sexual Orientation, or Disability Report (RRESD) Brochure 12-13

Why are RRESD harassment and intimidation wrong?

Incidents that are motivated by prejudice and hatred pose a unique danger to society. Such acts affect the fundamental rights of our community, not just the immediate victim. These incidents cause tension and may erupt into violence.

Examples:

* RRESD Slurs
* Computer/Phone Harassment
* Physical Attack
* Hate Symbols
* Hate Literature
* Verbal Abuse
* Destruction of Property
What are acts of Racial, Religious, Ethnicity/National Origin, Sexual Orientation or Disability (RRESD) harassment and intimidation?

Harassment and intimidation are acts of prejudice, hate, violence or intimidation directed against individuals, groups, or institutions because of race, religious, ethnicity/national origin, sexual orientation or disabilities. These incidents are intended to cause harm and may result in psychological or physical injury or property damage.
View full policy (PDF, 117 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Green light policy: University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources 12-13

Freedom of expression and an open environment to pursue scholarly inquiry and for sharing of information are encouraged, supported, and protected at the University of Maryland. These values lie at the core of our academic community. Censorship is not compatible with the tradition and goals of the university.
View full policy (PDF, 37 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in January 2013. 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.