Scope: This policy applies to all Regis University students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Purpose: This policy affirms the University’s commitment to freedom of expression and academic freedom as specified in the Faculty Handbooks and establishes our expectations regarding civil and respectful discourse within the traditions of its mission and Jesuit, Catholic heritage as articulated in the President’s Statement of Principles.
Relationship to Other Policies: Nothing in this speech and expression policy supersedes or substitutes for the Faculty Handbooks, the Student Handbook (www.regis.edu/studenthandbook), or the University Nondiscrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy (www.regis.edu/titleIX).
Policy Statement: Regis University is committed to a free and open exchange of ideas and recognizes the rights of community members to assemble peaceably, to express their views, and to challenge competing viewpoints as long as any speech, expression, event or activity does not limit the freedom of others; incite violence; provoke hatred; damage or deface University property; or impede the student body, faculty and staff in the performance of their work, education or scheduled activities. The University may regulate the time, place and manner of expression to preserve order within the University community, protect and preserve institutional property, and provide a secure environment for all individuals to exercise freedom of expression. Because free and open inquiry and debate are essential to the core educational and intellectual mission of our institution, all members of the University community share in the responsibility for maintaining civil and respectful discourse to encourage the unfettered exploration of ideas.
Community Standards: Regis University expects each community member and event participant to abide by the following standards:
- Respect the rights and human dignity of others.
- Ensure that your actions maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning and personal development.
- Respect the University's traditions of academic freedom, including honesty, freedom of expression, open inquiry, and civil and respectful exchange of ideas.
- Respect the different backgrounds, religious traditions, and identities of others.
- Cultivate a community in which assistance is offered to others in need of support, guidance, or friendship.
- Obey federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
- Abide by the directives of University authorities and adhere to University policies, procedures and regulations.
Prohibited Speech and Expression: The University prohibits expression that violates the law, constitutes an immediate threat, conflicts with or opposes the University's mission or Catholic character, or violates the University’s Nondiscrimination & Sexual Misconduct Policy or standards of the Student Code of Conduct. Examples include the following:
- Bias-related Speech and Expression, such as epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, threats, intimidation or hostile acts of communication that relate to actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information or any classification protected by our laws and policies are prohibited and may violate the Student Code of Conduct or Regis University Nondiscrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy. *Please review these policies in detail at regis.edu/studenthandbook and www.regis.edu/University/Policies-Procedures. The University reserves the right to manage such incidents through the Bias Incident Response process. A bias incident may be reported via the website for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence at www.regis.edu/diversity. Please review the website for details.
- Political Candidates: The University is prohibited from participating or intervening, directly or indirectly, in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office at any level; from supporting particular candidates, or political parties. Fundraising, leafleting, rallies or tabling of any kind is prohibited for/by any political candidate, political entity or organization. Before making any invitation to a sitting politician to speak on campus, please consult with the office of legal counsel.
Event/Activity Guidelines: Regis University strives to provide a safe community environment for university-sponsored events that foster learning and spiritual growth in the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care for the whole person. These guidelines provide a framework for factulty, staff and students to offer co-and extra-curricular events on campus in support of our institutional mission. The guidelines do not apply to faculty members in the teaching of their classes nor to speakers invited by faculty members to make a presentation that occurs in the closed forum of a scheduled course. A faculty member inviting a speaker to campus must get the Academic Dean’s approval in advance of the event.
The guidelines pertain specifically to speakers and events opened to larger audiences, including other members of the University community or the general public. Accordingly, only Regis University academic departments, administrative offices, and officially recognized student organizations (sponsoring organizations) may submit a request to reserve a table or space to sponsor an event, speaker, or demonstration on Regis University campuses. Requests must be submitted to the Student Affairs Office of Conferences and Events, Monday through Friday, in a timeframe sufficient to appropriately plan for an event. The required timeframe may vary by type of event. Submission of a request is not a guarantee of approval or a reservation. The sponsoring organization or individual will receive a confirmation if a request is approved and an explanation if a request is denied. Regis University, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to deny, alter, or cancel an event. Sponsoring organizations and individuals are invited to consult with Student Affairs staff to ensure that their event reflects the University’s Catholic, Jesuit standards and values. If a request is denied, the requestor may appeal in writing to the Vice President of Student Affairs or his/her appointed designee. Appeals must be submitted within 24-hours of the denial and may affect the date/time of the request if approved following an appeal. In the event that the University, in its sole discretion, elects to incur additional costs for security related to an event, the sponsoring organization will be responsible any security expenses incurred.
In addition to the limitations and conditions enumerated above, the University has specific terms for the following kinds of events.