Policy 1: University of Colorado Self-Governance, Guiding Principles and Freedom of Expression

The University of Colorado shall preserve the principle of self-governance.  As such, the University of Colorado shall oppose efforts to abolish or limit the constitutional authority of the Board of Regents to govern or enact policy for the university.​

History:

• Adopted:  January 13, 1968.
• Revised:  April 5, 2018.
• Last Reviewed:  April 5, 2018.

Article 1, Part B of the Laws of the Regents establishes the mission of the University of Colorado. Consistent with the legal obligations and responsibilities of the University of Colorado community, the university will:

1. Encourage and provide access to the university for all qualified students within the university’s capacity.
2. Maintain a commitment to excellence.
3. Promote and uphold the principles of ethics, integrity, transparency, and accountability.
4. Be conscientious stewards of the university’s human, physical, financial, information, and natural resources.
5. Ensure policies, programs, procedures and practices encourage, honor, and respect teaching, learning, and academic culture.
6. Ensure policies, programs, procedures and practices promote a continuing commitment to building a community of faculty, students, and staff in which diversity is a fundamental value. Such policies, programs and procedures will also serve to ensure the rich interchange of ideas in the pursuit of truth and learning, including diversity of political, geographic, cultural, intellectual, and philosophical perspectives.
7. Encourage and support innovation and entrepreneurship at all levels of the university including research and creative activities.
8. Strive to meet the needs of the State of Colorado, including health care, technology, work force training, and civic literacy.
9. Ensure that the university is an economic, social, and cultural catalyst.
10. Support and encourage collaboration amongst departments and campuses, and between the university and other educational institutions to improve our communities.
11. Provide an outstanding, respectful, and responsive living, learning, teaching, and working environment.
12. Focus on meaningful measurable results.

History:

• Approved February 11, 2010.
• Revised:  June 24, 2010; April 5, 2018.
• Last Reviewed:  April 5, 2018.
• Non-substantive Changes:  January 2024.

Moved to Policy 8.A: Principles of Ethical Behavior.

History:

• Adopted: February 11, 2010.
• Revised: September 17, 2013; June 18, 2020, moved to Policy 8.A: Principles of Ethical Behavior.

1.D.1 As required by Regent Law, the University of Colorado shall protect the freedom of expression of its students, faculty, and staff on campus and in its programs and activities.

1.D.2 This policy addresses speech that occurs on University of Colorado campuses, but not speech occurring in the course of research or in the classroom instructional environment. Speech in research and teaching is governed by regent articles 5.B and 7.C.

1.D.3 Use of University Grounds, Buildings and Facilities:

(A) No campus shall designate any area as a free speech zone or otherwise limit free expression to a predetermined and designated area of campus. Generally accessible outdoor areas on the campuses shall be available to members of the university community for free expression in accordance with campus policies authorized by this section.

(B) The president of the university shall adopt, in accordance with university policy and applicable external law, regulations and procedures governing the use of university grounds, buildings, and facilities not located upon any university campus.

(C) The chancellor of each campus shall adopt, in accordance with university policy and applicable external law, regulations and procedures governing the use of university grounds, buildings and facilities on that campus.​

(1) The use of university grounds, buildings, and facilities shall be limited to members of the university community, except as the use by others is specifically authorized under regulations adopted in accordance with university policy and applicable law.​

(2) The use of university grounds, buildings, and facilities may be subject to requirements that govern the time, place, and manner of expression, including scheduling requirements, but all such requirements must be:

(a) Reasonable;
(b) Justified without reference to the content of the expression;
(c) Narrowly tailored to protect the university environment, prevent disruption of university activities, or serve another significant university interest;
(d) Leave open ample alternate channels for communication of the information or message.

(3) The use of university grounds, buildings, and facilities by members of the university community may be conditioned upon the payment of reasonable expenses incurred by the campus in hosting an event. Any such fees shall be determined based upon the campus’s good faith estimate, based upon the application of objective criteria, of the actual expenses it shall incur in hosting an event. In no instance shall a campus assess any such expenses in a manner that is based upon disapproval of the substantive message that the speaker expresses.

(4) Nothing in this section grants members of the university community the right to materially disrupt previously scheduled or reserved activities occurring on university grounds, buildings, and facilities.

(D) Freedom of Expression by University of Colorado Faculty

(1) When engaged in teaching and research, faculty enjoy the associated rights and observe the associated responsibilities of academic freedom as expressed in regent policy 5.B. 

(2) University faculty are members of our communities and members of a learned profession. When university faculty speak or write as citizens, not in furtherance of their university duties or in the course and scope of their university employment, on matters of political, academic, artistic, or social concern, the university shall not censor their expression, initiate disciplinary action against them, or otherwise subject the faculty members to adverse employment actions because it disapproves of the substance of their expression. 

(3) When university faculty speak or write in their personal capacities, not in furtherance of their university duties or in the course and scope of their university employment, they must make every effort to indicate that their expression is their own and does not represent the opinion or position of the university.

(4) The freedom of expression recognized in this section does not grant university faculty the right to refuse to perform official duties, to materially disrupt the university environment or university activities, or to disregard the standards of ethical conduct as expressed in article 8, part B of the Laws of the Regents or regent policy 8.A.

(E) Freedom of Expression by University of Colorado Staff

(1) All staff of the university are members of our communities. When staff of the university speak or write in their personal capacities, not in furtherance of their university duties or in the course and scope of their university employment, on matters of political, academic, artistic, or social concern, the university shall not censor their expression, initiate disciplinary action against them, or otherwise subject the staff members to adverse employment actions because it disapproves of the substance of their expression.

(2) When staff of the university speak or write as citizens, they must make every effort to indicate that their expression is their own and does not represent the opinion or position of the university. 

(3) The freedom of expression recognized in this section does not grant staff of the university the right to refuse to perform official duties, to materially disrupt the university environment or university activities, or to disregard the standards of ethical conduct as expressed in article 8, part B of the Laws of the Regents or regent policy 8.A.

(F) Freedom of Expression by University Students

(1) When engaged in educational activities, university students enjoy the associated rights and observe the associated responsibilities of academic freedom as expressed in article 7, part C of the Laws of the Regents.

(2) University students  are members of our communities.  When university students speak or write in their personal capacities on matters of political, academic, artistic, or social concern, not in furtherance of their studies or in the course of their academic duties, the university shall not censor their expression, initiate disciplinary action against them, or otherwise subject the students to adverse academic actions because it disapproves of the substance of their expression.

(3) The freedom of expression recognized in this section does not grant university students the right to materially disrupt the university environment or university activities or to disregard the standards of conduct as promulgated under article 7, part C of the Laws of the Regents.

• Adopted:  September 14, 2018.
• Revised:  N/A.
• Last Reviewed:  September 14, 2018.