School Spotlight
Plymouth State University
Speech Code Rating
Student Rights and Code of Conduct: General Student Rights
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
Last updated: July 14, 2021Plymouth State University students, as individuals, enjoy the same rights that are guaranteed to every citizen of the United States and the State of New Hampshire. The University affirms the right of students to freedom of expression, conscience, political and religious belief, and peaceful assembly and association. Read MoreStudent Rights and Code of Conduct: Bias Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: July 14, 2021The University defines a “bias complaint” as “any report of a threat or act of harassment or intimidation – verbal, written or physical – which is personally directed against or targets a Plymouth State University community member because of that student’s age, color, disability, marital status, national or ethnic o... Read MoreStudent Rights and Code of Conduct: Freedom of Expression and Assembly
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: July 14, 2021To facilitate robust debate and the free exchange of ideas, the University has established high visibility areas on campus as “Speakers Corners” that may be used by any person, including non-students and other campus guests, for expressive activities and related conduct, including the distribution of literature. Thi... Read MoreStudent Rights and Code of Conduct: Harassment Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: July 14, 2021In the educational environment, for conduct to constitute harassment under this policy, it must include more than the mere expression of views, words, symbols, or thoughts that another person finds offensive. The conduct must be: (1) unwelcome; (2) discriminatory on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national ... Read MoreInformation Technology Services: Email Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: September 16, 2020This policy covers the use of any email sent from a PSU email address and also applies to vendors, and agents operating on behalf of the University. … Persons may not use email in violation of USNH or PSU policies, or local, state or federal laws. This includes, but is not limited to: … Stalking, harassm... Read More
Plymouth State University: Professors Penalized Over Participation in Criminal Proceeding
October 5, 2018
On July 31, 2018, Plymouth State University (PSU) punished two professors for their participation in a criminal proceeding.
FIRE’s speech code ratings are just that — speech code ratings
September 13, 2019
From time to time, FIRE gets questions about the manner in which we assign our speech code ratings to colleges and universities. These ratings, after all, are central to our Spotlight Database, which compiles information about student speech policies at more than 450 institutions, public and private, and is relied upon by many to gauge… Read more
The cost of censorship: Plymouth State to pay $350,000 for firing professor over witness testimony
April 30, 2019
PLYMOUTH, N.H., April 30, 2019 — Former Plymouth State University adjunct professor Nancy Strapko reached a settlement with the university after she was fired for testifying in a criminal proceeding. Plymouth State agreed to pay Strapko $350,000 to avoid a lawsuit over her firing. Earlier this year, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education listed Plymouth… Read more
10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2019
February 12, 2019
Every January, FIRE staffers convene to compile our list of the previous year’s worst colleges for free speech. Reviewing the lowlights of the year reminds each of us that campus censors can be pretty creative. Just when you think you’ve seen everything — and over FIRE’s 20-year history, we’ve seen a lot — some enterprising… Read more
FIRE calls on Plymouth State University to rescind faculty punishment over participation in criminal trial
September 13, 2018
Last week, FIRE wrote to Plymouth State University, calling on the university to reverse adverse actions taken against two PSU professors for participating in a criminal prosecution and offering support for a criminal defendant during her sentencing. This summer, PSU professor emeritus Michael Fischler and adjunct professor Nancy Strapko weighed in on the trial of… Read more
Plymouth State University Earns FIRE’s Highest Rating for Free Speech
September 12, 2014
PLYMOUTH, N.H., September 12, 2014—Plymouth State University (PSU) has eliminated all of its speech codes, earning the highest, “green light” rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). After working with FIRE to ensure its policies comply with the First Amendment, PSU has become the 20th institution nationwide—and the second institution in just… Read more