University of Alabama at Birmingham

Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Website: http://www.uab.edu
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 11th Circuit

Tell University of Alabama at Birmingham to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

University of Alabama at Birmingham has been given the speech code rating Red. A red light university has at least one policy that both clearly and substantially restricts freedom of speech. Read more here.

At present, FIRE has not been involved in any cases at this school.

Red Light Policies

Yellow Light Policies

  • Residence Hall Handbook: The UAB Inclusive Campus Commitment

    Speech Code Category: Policies Restricting Freedom of Conscience
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    I will strive to build an inclusive community at UAB. I believe that every student, faculty member, and staff member has the right to be treated with dignity, respect and self-worth. I will work to ensure that my behavior and my actions do not harass or make fun of anyone due to their race, gender, culture, faith, class, sexual orientation, disability, or any other difference. Although I know I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, I believe that it is my responsibility to act in a manner free of bias, exclusion, and discrimination. I believe I have the power to build an inclusive UAB!

    » Read More

  • Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    Discriminatory Harassment of a Non-Sexual Nature

    The same principles related to sexual harassment also apply to harassment on the basis of any characteristic that is protected by law.  Thus, UAB’s policy prohibits discriminatory harassment of a non-sexual nature, which includes verbal, physical, or graphic conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability unrelated to job performance, veteran status, genetic or family medical history, or other status protected by applicable law and that

    • Has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment, educational, or living environment; or

    • Has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or a student’s academic performance.

    UAB also adopts these principles with regard to discrimination or discriminatory harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

    » Read More

  • Residence Life Handbook: Respect for Persons

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    2.  The Office of Student Housing and Residence Life respects and celebrates the diversity of its residents. Acts of intolerance and/or harassment due to race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, religion, disability, or sexual orientation are neither appropriate nor tolerated.

    3.  Residents will refrain from harassment and verbal abuse of other residents, which includes, but is not limited, to harassment and verbal abuse through the internet.

    » Read More

  • Residence Life Handbook: Harassment

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    Harassment is defined as an attempt made to threaten another person(s) physically, emotionally or mentally by using verbal language, or electronic communication, including, but not limited to, text messaging and social networking sites.

    » Read More

  • Student Conduct Code: Harassment/Endangerment

    Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies, Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    iii.    Harassment/Endangerment.  Harassment is defined as any unwelcome verbal or physical conduct that, because of its severity and/or persistence, interferes significantly with a student’s work or education, or adversely affects a student’s living condition.

    » Read More

  • Student Affairs Policy VII-028: On-Campus Student Demonstrations

    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    Student demonstrations on the UAB campus, which by their nature may interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or other activities, shall require prior notification to the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee at least 48 hours in advance of the event.

    » Read More

Green Light Policies

  • Title IX Student Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: September 11, 2018

    Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise, when the conditions outlined in (1) and/or (2), below, are present. …

    2. Such conduct creates a hostile environment.  A “hostile environment” exists when the conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, limits, or deprives an individual from participating in or benefitting from the University’s education or employment programs and/or activities.  Conduct must be deemed severe, persistent, or pervasive from both a subjective and an objective perspective.

    …

    A hostile environment can be created by persistent or pervasive conduct or by a single or isolated incident, if sufficiently severe.  The more severe the conduct, the less need there is to show a repetitive series of incidents to prove a hostile environment, particularly if the conduct is physical.  A single incident of Sexual Assault, for example, may be sufficiently severe to constitute a hostile environment.  In contrast, the perceived offensiveness of a single verbal or written expression, standing alone, is typically not sufficient to constitute a hostile environment. 

    » Read More

  • Troy art student sues after nude photos banned

    November 1, 2005

    An art student sued Troy University on Monday, saying the school violated his free speech rights by censoring his artwork and implementing a campus speech code that unconstitutionally restricts speech. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, contends Troy officials removed portions of Blake Dews’ artwork because it featured female nudity. The university issued a statement defending its decision on Dews’ art. ”The photographs in question displayed male full frontal nudity and the university did not consider the photographs to be consistent with our community ‘s standards,” the statement said. ”This is a matter now under litigation and […]

    » Read More
At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.