School Spotlight
University of Washington
Location:
Seattle, Washington
Type:
Public
Speech Code Rating
University of Washington 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.
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Executive Order No. 31: Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action
Speech Code Rating: Red
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: April 5, 2022This policy has the goal of promoting an environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. To facilitate that goal, the University retains the authority to discipline or take appropriate corrective action for any conduct that is deemed unacceptable or inappropriate, regardless of whether the c... Read MoreStudent Conduct Code: Prohibited Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 1, 2021Discriminatory harassment includes verbal, physical, electronic, or other conduct based on an individual’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, age, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or veteran status when one of the condition... Read MoreStudent Conduct Code: Prohibited Conduct
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 1, 2021Computer abuses include, but are not limited to: … Use of university computing facilities or resources to send intimidating, harassing, or threatening messages; … Harassment or bullying is language or conduct that is unwelcome and sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive such that it could reasonab... Read MoreHousing & Food Services: Resident Handbook- Bias-related Incidents
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: October 1, 2021Bias-related conduct is behavior that by intent, action and/or outcome may offend, harm or threaten to harm a person or group based on the perception of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic informat... Read More2020-2021 9-Month Housing Agreement
Speech Code Rating: Yellow
Speech Code Category: Bullying Policies
Last updated: October 1, 2021I will not participate in any action or situation involving physical or mental abuse, harassment, bullying, cyber-bullying, intimidation, hazing, pranks and/or other conduct that recklessly or intentionally endangers or threatens the health, safety or welfare of any person or results in damage to University property. Read MoreExecutive Order No. 70: Compliance with Education Department Sexual Harassment Regulations
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
Last updated: October 1, 2021EDFR Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment: EDFR hostile environment sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the University’s education program or activity; … Read MoreRSO Policy Guide: Handbill Distribution
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Posting and Distribution Policies
Last updated: October 1, 2021Non-commercial handbills, leaflets, and similar materials may be distributed by regularly enrolled students, and by University personnel in open areas per facility policy, and in meeting rooms that have been reserved for their use, so long as such distribution does not materially or substantially interfere with the ... Read MoreReporting Bias Incidents: Frequently asked questions
Speech Code Rating: Green
Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
Last updated: October 1, 2021For the purposes of the Bias Incident Advisory Committee, a bias incident is any discrimination or harassment against a member of the university community based on perception of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or exp... Read More
FIRE surveyed roughly 37,000 students at 154 colleges and universities about the climate for free speech at their institutions. In 2021, FIRE released rankings of those schools, based on a number of factors, including openness, tolerance, self-expression, administrative support for free speech, and campus policies, scoring overall speech climate on a scale from 0-100. See the full report on FIRE’s 2021 College Free Speech Rankings for more information.
Rankings / out of 154 colleges surveyed |
|
| Overall Ranking | 53 |
| Ideological Diversity | 124 |
Overall / out of a top score of 100 |
|
| Overall Score | 60.14 |
| Openness | 10.22 |
| Tolerance (Liberals) | 10.98 |
| Tolerance (Conservatives) | 7.13 |
| Administrative Support | 6.1 |
| Comfort | 16.07 |
| Disruptive Conduct | 9.64 |
| Speech Code | RED |
University of Washington: Restrictions on Land Acknowledgement Statements on Faculty Syllabi
January 11, 2022
In December 2021, Professor Stuart Reges at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science criticized the university’s land acknowledgment statement in an email to faculty, and included a modified statement he added to his syllabus. The director of the Allen School instructed Reges to remove the “inappropriate” and “offensive” statement from… Read more
University of Washington administrator doubles down on censorship and compelled speech in land acknowledgment debacle
January 13, 2022
Almost 48 hours after FIRE called out the University of Washington for its requirement that faculty syllabi include the university’s land acknowledgment on their syllabi or remain silent on this issue, the administrator who created the rule is already digging her institution a bigger First Amendment hole. In statements to media outlets, UW’s Paul G…. Read more
University of Washington: Professor created ‘toxic environment’ by deviating from university-approved language about Native American land
January 11, 2022
SEATTLE, Jan. 11, 2022 — If professors at the University of Washington want to include a statement of land acknowledgment on their syllabi, they must parrot the administration’s viewpoint or shut up. It has become increasingly common in academia to promote statements that formally recognize indigenous ties to the land occupied by a university, but… Read more
University of Washington settles security fee censorship lawsuit, agrees to change policy and pay $122,500 in legal fees
June 20, 2018
On June 14, the University of Washington settled with the UW College Republicans over a $17,000 security fee imposed on the students for scheduling a rally with the conservative group Patriot Prayer. The settlement requires UW to create a viewpoint-neutral security fee policy and dole out $122,500 to the College Republicans for attorneys’ fees. The… Read more
University of Washington School of Law professors release letter denouncing viewpoint-based security fees
April 30, 2018
Professors at the University of Washington School of Law recently released a letter criticizing their university’s attempt to impose a security fee on a student group for hosting a controversial speaker. The letter provides a compelling review of the legal and policy reasons why universities must not charge student groups viewpoint-based security costs for their… Read more
Student Government at U. of Washington Unanimously Passes Free Speech Resolution
December 4, 2013
On November 26, all 100 members of the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW), the university’s student government, voted for the passage of a resolution supporting students’ right of free speech. The unanimous resolution (PDF) reads in part: WHEREAS, roughly 1 in 6 of America’s top colleges have so-called “free speech zones,” defined here as… Read more
Do School Admins Need to Have a Thicker Skin for Discussion of Social Issues?
December 2, 2013
I have to admit, I am tempted to have the text of this blog entry consist of the word “yes” and then head home for the day. A thick skin seems so self-evidently critical to the functioning of a free and democratic society that it’s hard to believe people need to be reminded of it…. Read more