School Spotlight

North Dakota State University

Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Type: Public
Tell North Dakota State University to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

North Dakota State University has been given the speech code rating Yellow. 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

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 156- Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Complaint Procedures

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 16, 2021

    Harassment – A form of discrimination; unwelcome oral, written, graphic, or physical conduct, based on one or more of the protected classes (see 2.1.1) of an individual (or group), that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive so as to unreasonably interfere with their education, employment, or other p... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 162- Sexual and Gender-based Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, and Title IX Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 16, 2021

    Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Harassment and Sexual Misconduct. This policy prohibits sexual harassment, gender-based harassment and sexual misconduct by or against any student, employee or third party. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other unwanted conduct of a... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 601- Code of Student Conduct, Intimidation

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: October 8, 2021

    Intimidation or threats to an individual’s or group’s safety, safety of property, academic efforts, employment, or participation in University sponsored activities are prohibited. Threats are defined as statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful v... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 158- Acceptable Use of Electronic Communications Devices

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: August 18, 2021

    Examples of uses which NDSU considers to be unauthorized and unacceptable uses of NDSU provided electronic communications devices include but are not limited to: any activites that are prohibited by local, state, or federal laws, activities prohibited by NDSU or NDUS policy or procedures, activities prohibited by th... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 154- Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Assembly

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: October 8, 2021

    Open Public Forums – The generally accessible, open, outdoor areas of NDSU’s campus are considered open forums for free speech, subject to reasonable and constitutional time, place, and manner restrictions. If a group desires to have exclusive use of an open public forum, NDSU requires the group to obtain a re... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 156.1- Title IX Complaint Procedures

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: August 16, 2021

    m. Sexual Harassment. Conduct, on the basis of sex, constituting one (or more) of the following: … Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to NDSU’s educational program or activity; … Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 154- Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Assembly

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: October 8, 2021

    NDSU recognizes and supports the fundamental right of its students and others to free speech and expression under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the North Dakota Constitution. NDSU values and encourages the free exchange of ideas while maintaining the safety of the campus community and the... Read More

  • NDSU Policy Manual: Section 601- Code of Student Conduct, Other Acts of Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: October 8, 2021

    Any unwelcome action or any series of unwelcome actions that unreasonably interfere with an individual’s academic efforts, employment, safety, or participation in University sponsored activities is prohibited. Unless otherwise deemed to be Protected Conduct (as defined in NDSU Policy 154), such behavior is subject t... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • Records reveal North Dakota State University’s responses to reports of ‘bias’

    March 30, 2017

    Christian student groups were often reported to administrators, as were comments by a professor that a student perceived to be anti-Christian. Some university records demonstrated a willingness to defend First Amendment principles, yet others indicate that administrators were willing to intervene and investigate clearly protected political and religious speech. University gave FIRE “the records” we… Read more

  • MySpace Has Administrators in a Frenzy

    June 12, 2006

    FIRE has been reporting the continued crackdown on students’ expression on Internet sites like MySpace and Facebook. While these sites have given students a new forum to express themselves and communicate with friends, they have also opened a new medium for administrative overview of students’ personal opinions and activities.   When the message boards contain… Read more