The College of William and Mary

Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more here.

Public or Private: Public
Federal Circuit: Fourth Circuit
Head of Institution: President Taylor Reveley
The College of William and Mary
Office of the President
P.O. Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187
757-221-1693
taylor@wm.edu
Website: http://www.wm.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)

Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct - Harassment or Threats 09-10

Conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive enough so as to threaten an individual or limit the ability of an individual to work, study, or participate in the activities of the College is prohibited.
View full policy (PDF, 27 KB).

Office of Equal Opportunity: Protections Against Discrimination 09-10

Regardless of whether or not it is motivated by discrimination, harassment violates William and Mary policy. The College defines harassment to include abusive conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to threaten an individual or limit the ability of the individual to work, study or participate in College activities. Often, harassment takes the form of hostile words and actions that create an abusive living, learning or work environment.
[S]exual harassment may consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests or behaviors toward an individual that interfere with the individual's activities at the College. ... # Sexual innuendo renders a classroom discussion so pervasively hostile that students reasonably and legitimately are unable to focus on the discussion. ... Residents of a dormitory repeat sexual taunts and repeatedly leer at members of the opposite sex, rendering the workplace dormitory hostile and intolerable.
View full policy (PDF, 234 KB).

Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct - Sexual Harassment 09-10

Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature can form the basis
of a sexual harassment claim if a reasonable person, similarly situated, would consider it so
unreasonable, severe or pervasive as to interfere with academic, educational, or employment
performance or participation in a College program or activity or residential environment.
Sexual harassment is prohibited at The College of William and Mary and in its programs,
activities, and functions. For the purpose of College policy, sexual harassment is defined as
unwelcome 1) sexual advances, or 2) requests for sexual favors, or 3) other behavior of a
sexual nature where: ... Such conduct unreasonably interferes with an individual's academic and/or work
performance, participation in College sponsored programs or activities, or creates an
intimidating, hostile or offensive working, educational, or residential environment
provided by the College.
View full policy (PDF, 35 KB).

Internet Usage Policies

Student Handbook: Student Code of Conduct - Computing Resources 09-10

The following activities are prohibited: ... Transmitting unsolicited messages that constitute obscenity, harassment or threats ....
View full policy (PDF, 33 KB).

Policies on Bias and Hate Speech

Bias Incident Reporting Website: What is a Bias Incident 09-10

A "bias incident" consists of harassment of a member of the William and Mary community, including racial or sexual harassment. The College defines harassment as abusive conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to threaten an individual or limit the ability of the individual to work, study, or participate in College activities.
View full policy (PDF, 51 KB).

Advertised Commitments to Free Expression

Student Handbook: Rights and Responsibilities 09-10

The members of the College community, as individuals, shall enjoy all rights, privileges, and
immunities guaranteed every citizen of the United States and the commonwealth of Virginia.
A. Among the basic rights are freedom of expression and belief, freedom of association and
peaceful assembly, and freedom from personal force and violence, threats of violence and
personal abuse.
View full policy (PDF, 28 KB).

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The speech codes and policies above were last fully checked via internet and other research means by FIRE in October 2009. 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.