School Spotlight

University of North Florida

Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Type: Public
Thank University of North Florida for its commitment to free speech.

Speech Code Rating

University of North Florida has been given the speech code rating Green. Green light institutions are those colleges and universities whose policies nominally protect free speech. Read more
This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech. This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech. This school has adopted the chicago statement for free speech.

  • Policies and Regulations: Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Regulation

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    “Harassment” means unwelcome conduct toward an individual based on their protected class that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive as to deny or limit a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the University’s educational programs or activities, or substantially interfe... Read More

  • Resident Handbook: Decorations

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    Residents are encouraged to be respectful of roommates and community members when decorating. In the event of a resident complaint over a roommate’s decoration, HRL Staff will attempt to accommodate both parties and help to avoid conflict. Read More

  • Resident Handbook: Disorderly/Disruptive Behavior

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    Disorderly and/or disruptive behavior includes: physical abuse, intimidation, inappropriate behavior or a pattern of behavior (either in a succession of closely related disruptive acts or a series of actions over a period of time) which disregards the rights of individuals, animals, the community, causes physical da... Read More

  • Resident Handbook: Harassment/Endangerment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    Behavior and actions that create an unreasonably intimidating, hostile, and/or offensive living, educational, or work environment for another person or group is not permitted. Behavior and/or actions that intimidate, threaten, or harm the health, safety, or welfare of another person, group, or animal is not permitted. Read More

  • Policies and Regulations: Distribution of Printed Material

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    The distribution of printed material, defined as newspapers, handbills, leaflets, pamphlets, magazines, and printed paper(s) is permitted on campus only as described in this regulation and at reasonable times, places, and in reasonable manners consistent with the educational mission of the University, the uninterrup... Read More

  • Policies and Regulations: Sexual Misconduct and Title IX Sexual Harassment- Title IX Sexual Harassment

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    “Title IX Sexual Harassment” means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following: … Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, and pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s educ... Read More

  • Policies and Regulations: Freedom of Expression in Outdoor Areas of Campus

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: July 23, 2021

    C. “Outdoor areas of campus” means generally accessible areas of the University’s campus in which members of the campus community are commonly allowed, including grassy areas, walkways, or other similar common areas. The term does not include outdoor areas of campus to which access is restricted. O... Read More
At present, FIRE has not been publicly involved in any cases at this school.

  • University of North Florida Earns FIRE’s Highest Rating for Free Speech

    September 10, 2015

    JACKSONVILLE, Fla., September 10, 2015—The University of North Florida (UNF) has eliminated all of its unconstitutional speech codes, earning the highest, “green light” rating for free speech from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). With assistance from FIRE, UNF has joined a prestigious group of colleges and universities that have reformed their policies… Read more

  • Florida Highway Patrol Officer Admits He Stole Copies of U. North Florida Student Paper

    July 29, 2013

    Thousands of copies of the UNF Spinnaker, the University of North Florida’s (UNF’s) student newspaper, were reported missing last month, and university police have identified one of the men responsible: Florida Highway Patrol officer and UNF graduate Steven Coppola. The issue Coppola confessed to removing from newsstands contained a story detailing the arrest of a… Read more

  • Questions Surround Funding Freeze of UNF Student Paper

    March 29, 2011

    The racy cover photo from the latest issue of the University of North Florida (UNF) student newspaper, the Spinnaker, has caused a stir at the UNF campus and made some waves in the press. Chief among the media outlets to cover the matter is the Florida Times-Union, where Kate Howard has written a good summary… Read more

  • CFN Conference Attendee Takes the Spirit Back to Campus at University of North Florida

    October 11, 2010

    University of North Florida (UNF) student and 2010 CFN Conference attendee Edgar Aroutiounian recently published an op-ed in his school’s newspaper, The Spinnaker, exposing UNF’s speech policies. In the op-ed (page 9 of PDF file), Edgar does a great job of discussing the importance of allowing unbridled discourse at a public university such as UNF… Read more