The Catholic University of America

Undergraduate Non-Branch Campus

When a private university states clearly that it holds a certain set of values above a commitment to freedom of speech, FIRE does not rate that university.

Public or Private: Private
Special Status: Sectarian
Federal Circuit: DC Circuit
Head of Institution: President Very Reverend David M. O'Connell
The Catholic University of America
Office of the President
Nugent Hall
620 Michigan Ave. N.E.
Washington, DC 20064
202-319-5100
cua-president@cua.edu
Website: http://www.cua.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.

Policies on Diversity and Multiculturalism (Learn More)

No policies found.

Protected Group Harassment Policies (Learn More)

No policies found.

Sexual Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Code of Student Conduct 07-08
The following are examples of misconduct subject to disciplinary action:

[...]

Any unsolicited, offensive behavior that inappropriately asserts sexuality over status as a student or an employee; unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
a. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or academic admission or advancement;
b. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis (or threatened to be used as the basis) for employment actions or academic decisions or evaluations; or
c. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work, living, or learning environment.
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).

General Harassment Policies (Learn More)

Student Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Harassment 08-09
The following are examples of misconduct subject to disciplinary action:

[...]

Any actions, threats, gestures, and/or words directed toward another person which have the purpose or which tend to incite a breach of the peace, create a hostile environment, or cause emotional distress to that person because of the humiliating, degrading, intimidating, insulting, coercive, ridiculing, and/or alarming nature of the conduct. It frequently, but not always, involves a pattern of conduct.
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).

Policies on Tolerance, Respect, Sensitivity, Hate, and Hate Speech (Learn More)

No policies found.

Loyalty Oaths and Honor Codes (Learn More)

No policies found.

Mission Statements (Learn More)

Mission of University 07-08
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Freedom of Speech (Learn More)

Guidelines on Freedom of Expression and Dissent 07-08
Freedom of expression and dissent is protected by university policy for all members of the university community.
View full policy (PDF, 89 KB).

Other Speech Codes (Learn More)

Code of Student Conduct 07-08
Disorderly Conduct:

1. Acting in a manner to annoy, disturb, interfere with, obstruct or be offensive to another/others.
View full policy.
Information Technology Computer Ethics 07-08
Just as you would not want to receive abusive or harassing mail, you also must not send it. There are shared standards that define abusive, harassing and other terms. We must ask ourselves: “Would a reasonable, ethical person see this message as abusive?” If so, the message should not be sent.
The following are examples of conduct prohibited by this policy:
[...]
Viewing, sending or making available offensive explicit materials, unless such activity is appropriate for academic or work purposes. This includes materials which would tend to create a hostile environment.
View full policy.
Policy and Procedures for Presentations Sponsored By Registered Student Organizations 07-08
The Catholic University of America, as a private institution, is not required to provide a forum for advocates whose values are counter to those of the university or the Roman Catholic Church.
The university refuses to allow advocacy programs judged by the administration to be inconsistent with the university’s underlying value base and in so doing exercises its freedom as a private, value-based institution.
The university, operating within the framework of the foregoing, is committed to its various constituencies to avoid the following:

1. blasphemy: the act of expressing irreverence for God or those things held sacred;

2. pornography: explicit sex lacking any artistic merit, portrayed in a vulgar and exploitative manner;

[...]

4. advocacy: meaning the act of pleading for, supporting, inciting or recommending active espousal of (as opposed to scholarly and abstract discourses), examining or questioning the legal, academic or moral propriety of the subject under discussion, constituting a clear and present danger of:

a. the violent overthrow of the government of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

b. the destruction of, damage to, or the unlawful seizure or subversion of the university’s buildings or other property;

c. the disruption, impairment or interference with the university’s regularly scheduled classes or other educational functions;

d. coercion, threats, intimidations, blasphemy, defamation, physical harm or other invasions of the lawful rights of the members of the university community;

e. any campus disorder of a violent nature;

f. illegal acts constituting a deprivation of the civil or property rights of others.
View full policy.
Student Life Posting Policy 07-08
The Office of the University Center, Student Programs and Events (UCSPE) must authorize all materials before they may be posted on campus.
View full policy.

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 April 2008. 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.

Below, FIRE has excerpted policies affecting freedom of association and materials related to mandatory student orientations. Please note that the materials below this line do not affect a college or university's Speech Code Rating.

Mandatory Student Orientation Materials

No policies found.

Student Fee Policies Affecting Freedom of Association

No policies found.

Other Policies Restricting Freedom of Association

No policies found.