School Spotlight
University of California, Merced
Location:
Merced, California
Type:
Public
Speech Code Rating
University of California, Merced 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.
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Student Handbook: Campus Activities and Use of Facilities- Posting Regulations
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022All materials must be reviewed by the Office of Student Life prior to posting to ensure that the materials clearly indicate the name of the sponsoring organization(s), unit(s) or individual(s) and their contact information. Read MoreStudent Handbook: Code of Student Conduct- Grounds for Discipline and Sanctions
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022Harassment, defined as conduct that is so severe and/or pervasive, and objectively offensive, and that so substantially impairs a person’s access to University programs or activities that the person is effectively denied equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities. Read MoreUniversity of California: Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022Sexual Harassment is when: … unwelcome sexual or other sex-based conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it unreasonably denies, adversely limits, or interferes with a person’s participation in or benefit from the education, employment or other programs or activities of the University, and creat... Read MoreUniversity of California Campus Climate
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: August 16, 2022If you experience or observe behavior that is inconsistent with our Principles of Community, please report it. You may report in a variety of ways: Report anonymously or by name, via this Campus Climate page, by selecting the University of California campus where the incident occurred from the list to the right and... Read MoreAcceptable Use Policy
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022Mass messaging. Users shall not spam, or otherwise transmit inappropriate mass messages to newsgroups, bulletin boards, mailing lists, or individuals. Postings to electronic mailing lists, bulletin boards, and similar facilities must be consistent with the stated purpose of the facility. Read MoreStudent Handbook: Campus Activities and Use of Facilities- Grounds Open to the Public
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022On University grounds generally open to the public, all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, worship and distribution of literature incidental to the exercise of these freedoms; however, these activities must not interfere with the orderly operation of the ... Read MoreUniversity of California: Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment-DOE-Covered Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: August 16, 2022Conduct is DOE-Covered Conduct if all of the below are true: … The alleged conduct is DOE Sex-Based Misconduct, meaning it is any of the following: … unwelcome sexual or other sex-based conduct (as defined in Section II of the Policy) that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively ... Read More
FIRE surveyed roughly 44,000 students at 203 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. See the full report on FIRE’s 2022 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 32.38 |
Rankings / out of 203 colleges ranked |
|
| Overall Ranking | 181 |
| Openness | 24 |
| Tolerance (Liberals) | 85 |
| Tolerance (Conservatives) | 152 |
| Administrative Support | 94 |
| Comfort | 32 |
| Disruptive Conduct | 54 |
Administrative Behavior |
|
| Supported Scholars | 0 |
| Sanctioned Scholars | 3.75 |
| Successful Disinvitations | 1 |
Climate |
|
| Speech Climate | BELOW AVERAGE |
| Speech Code | YELLOW |
Zoom cancels another academic event with Leila Khaled, again raising questions about company’s role in the classroom
April 22, 2021
Last week, FIRE praised Zoom for its new policy addressing use of the company’s ubiquitous video-conferencing software in classrooms and describing new protections for academic freedom. It was a much-needed development, especially given universities’ broad reliance on Zoom during COVID-19. The policy affirmed that Zoom would only act on allegations of content violations that originate… Read more
University of California Schools Flout Student Speech Rights
November 29, 2011
While some University of California schools are facing scrutiny due to their handling of students’ exercises of free speech and civil disobedience, others in the system have unfinished business protecting students’ free speech rights in their policies. All eight of the UC universities reviewed by FIRE have “red light” or “yellow light” ratings for restricting campus… Read more