School Spotlight

San Jose State University

Location: San Jose, California
Type: Public
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Speech Code Rating

San Jose 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

  • Discrimination Incident Reporting Form

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    By reporting discrimination incidents, you are helping to maintain SJSU as an inclusive and safe campus environment. Once received, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity will review the information and may contact you for additional information. […] Type of complaint (classify as best you can... Read More

  • Student Conduct Code

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    Students are expected to be good citizens and to engage in responsible behaviors that reflect well upon their university, to be civil to one another and to others in the campus community, and contribute positively to student and university life. Read More

  • Information Technology Services: Student Email Usage Guidelines

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    Users are prohibited from using the system for any unethical purposes, including but not limited to plagiarism, pornography, violence, gambling, racism, harassment or any illegal activity. Read More

  • Student Organization Code of Conduct: Disorderly Conduct

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    (5) Disorderly Conduct (A) Any offensive or disorderly act or display which interferes with the rights of others, (B) Harassment, threats, physical abuse, intimidation or the threat of physical abuse, including bias-related incidents. (C) Excessive noise which is disruptive to the campus or surrounding community Read More

  • Student Conduct Code

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    Use of computing facilities and resources to send obscene or intimidating and abusive messages. Read More

  • Freedom of Speech and Artistic Expression

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Advertised Commitments to Free Expression
    Last updated: April 28, 2020

    San José State University formally reaffirms its commitment to freedom of speech and artistic expression through this presidential directive. Freedom of speech in this context will be taken to encompass all forms of communication and artistic expression as well as the freedom to listen, watch, protest, or otherwise ... Read More

  • ‘California Watch’: No Free Speech at California Colleges

    January 7, 2011

    Free speech is not safe at California colleges—not by a long shot. That’s what investigative reporter Erica Perez found in FIRE’s 2011 speech code report, as she wrote yesterday for California Watch: A new report from a national free speech advocacy organization found most of the four-year universities it surveyed had speech codes that substantially limit students’… Read more

  • Victory for Free Speech at San Jose State University: Administrators Lead the Way

    February 8, 2010

    There is good news today for students living in the residence halls at San Jose State University (SJSU). The housing department has revised several restrictive policies, including a previous FIRE Speech Code of the Month, thanks to the efforts of administrators seeking to protect the free speech rights of SJSU students. In April 2009, FIRE… Read more

  • Speech Code of the Month: San Jose State University

    April 1, 2009

    FIRE announces its Speech Code of the Month for April 2009: San Jose State University (SJSU). SJSU’s housing department maintains a policy on “harassment and/or assault” which provides: Any form of activity, whether covert or overt, that creates a significantly uncomfortable, threatening, or harassing environment for any UHS resident or guest will be handled judicially… Read more

  • California Court Misses the Point on Freedom of Conscience

    August 17, 2006

    On Monday, a federal court in California issued what I find to be a disturbing opinion addressing the freedom of conscience of an education student at San Jose State University (SJSU). Plaintiff Stephen M. Head is an education student at SJSU who self-identifies as “libertarian or conservative” and as a Christian. He filed a pro… Read more