University of South Florida at Saint Petersburg

Location: , Florida
Website: http://www.usfsp.edu/home/
Type: Public
Federal Circuit: 11th Circuit

Tell University of South Florida at Saint Petersburg to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

University of South Florida at Saint Petersburg 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 here.

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

  • Policy USF6.0021: Student Code of Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    Harassment – Conduct which creates an unsafe, intimidating or hazardous situation that interferes with the ability of a USF System student or employee to study, work, or carry out USF System functions.

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  • Policy 0-004: Sexual Misconduct/Sexual Harassment (Including Sexual Violence)

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    A. The following actions are prohibited:

    1. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, by or between any faculty member, staff, or student, including individuals of the same sex, in all academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs of the University, whether those programs take place in University facilities, at a class or training program sponsored by the University at another location, or elsewhere.

    …

    6. Gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, non-verbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature.

    B. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:

    1. Requesting or coercing sexual intercourse or sexual favors, or attempting to or actually engaging in a sexual assault or sexual battery.
    2. Inappropriate and unwelcome sexual attention or touching, including–but not limited to–leering, patting, fondling, pinching, and attempted or actual kissing.
    3. Making actual or implied threats to impede or interfere with employment or educational opportunities or benefits for failing to agree to or engage in sexual activity.
    4. Making actual or implied promises of an employment or educational opportunity or benefit in exchange for sexual activity.
    5. Inferring or displaying favoritism that benefits or adversely affects another based on sexual involvement or a sexual relationship.
    6. Making sexually explicit or suggestive gestures or sounds.

    …

    Sexual Harassment (which includes sexual violence) is any of the conduct below:

    …

    Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: a. Submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual’s employment or educational experience; b. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or educational decisions affecting that individual; or c. Such conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive so as to alter the conditions of, or have the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with, an individual’s work or academic performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. This may include off-campus acts of sexual harassment, including sexual violence, that have effects on campus which may contribute to a sexually hostile environment.

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  • Policy 0-007: Diversity and Equal Opportunity- Discrimination and Harassment

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    A. The Following Actions Are Prohibited:

    1. Discrimination and/or harassment by any USF System employee or student against any individual(s) or group(s) within the USF System.

    …

    B. Examples of Prohibited Conduct Include, but Are Not Limited To:

    1. Unwelcome touching, impeding, or blocking movement based on any individual’s race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or veteran status.
    2. Continuing any of the conduct listed in the above examples after being told or being otherwise made aware that the conduct is unwelcome.
    3. Singling out or targeting an individual for different or adverse treatment with improper consideration of the individual’s race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or veteran status.

    » Read More

  • Dean of Students: Student Conduct- Student Rights

    Speech Code Category: Policies on Tolerance, Respect, and Civility
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    The right of respect for personal feelings, freedom from indignity, and to expect an education of the highest quality.

    » Read More

  • University Student Housing Guidebook: Posting Materials

    Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    Residents who are offended by materials posted in common areas of their rooms should contact their Resident Assistant immediately. Materials posted in the common areas such as posters, pictures, etc. must be agreed upon by suitemate(s). All RHO posting outside of the resident rooms will be done by a staff member of the building. Materials advertising campus or off campus activities, events, student groups, or meetings, must receive approval from the building Hall Director.

    » Read More

  • Dean of Students: What is Sexual Harassment?

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

    Verbal or physical  conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment is considered harassment.  Harassment can include “sexual harassment” or unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Both the victim and the harasser can be either a  woman or a man, and the victim and harasser can be same sex. For more information, visit the EEOC.

    EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

    • an instructor suggests that a higher grade might be given to a student if the student submits to sexual advances
    • a supervisor implicitly or explicitly threatens termination if a subordinate refuses the supervisor’s sexual advances
    • a student repeatedly follows an instructor around campus and sends sexually explicit messages to the instructor’s voicemail, email, or cell phone
    • a student or employee touches you in an unwelcome, sexual manner without your consent
    • a student employee repeatedly makes unwelcome comments about your body in person, or on the phone, or in any other way
    • a student or employee records you engaged in sexual activity without your consent
    • students in a residence hall repeatedly draw sexually explicit graffiti on the whiteboard on your door
    • a student or employee exposes their sexual organs to you without your consent and in an unwelcomed manner

    » Read More

Green Light Policies

  • Policy USF6.0021: Student Code of Conduct

    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: May 29, 2018

    Sexual Harassment – unwelcome conduct directed at a person based on the person’s gender or sexual orientation that is so sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, denies, or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational program and/or activities, and is based on power differentials (quid pro quo), the creation of a hostile environment or retaliation, which includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

    …

    Unwanted or Unwelcome Sexually Oriented Attention – unwanted or unwelcome sexually-oriented remarks or behaviors, that are so sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive, on the part of a person who knows or ought reasonably to know that such remarks or behavior unreasonably interferes with, denies, or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from the college’s educational program and/or activities.

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

  • USF St. Petersburg Student Newspaper Sparks Speech Code Debate

    December 4, 2014

    The University of South Florida St. Petersburg (USFSP) student newspaper The Crow’s Nest has been working hard to inform the campus community about why the university’s speech codes should be revised in order to protect students’ First Amendment rights. In response, students and administrators have debated the pros and cons of the speech codes. Now it’s time for the USFSP administration to take concrete steps to uphold freedom of speech on campus. The Crow’s Nest’s excellent coverage of the issue includes an editorial published in November, which argues that USFSP students cannot wait until they have personally been censored before […]

    » Read More