School Spotlight

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Type: Public
Tell West Chester University of Pennsylvania to revise its speech policies by filling out this form.

Speech Code Rating

West Chester University of Pennsylvania 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

  • West Chester University Policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources and Systems

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Internet Usage Policies
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    The following rules must be observed: a. Never use your account to infringe upon the rights of another person. b. Never access, possess, or distribute electronic materials containing computer worms or viruses, electronic chain mail, and advertisements for commercial enterprises. c. Never access, possess, or distribu... Read More

  • Office of Social Equity: Sexual Misconduct Policy

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome, harassing conduct of a sexual nature or harassment based on a person’s gender or gender stereotype. For the purposes of this definition, the harassment is evaluated to determine whether or not the conduct is sufficiently severe or pervasive as to deny or limit a person’s ab... Read More

  • Office of Social Equity: Campus Climate Intervention Team

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Policies on Bias and Hate Speech
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    The Campus Climate Intervention Team (CCIT) was established in the fall of 1991 to foster an institution-wide climate free from acts of intolerance and to establish protocol for responding to and monitoring acts of intolerance should they occur.  The CCIT meets up to four times per year. … Acts of intolerance ... Read More

  • Guide to Residential Living: Community Member Expectations

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies, Posting and Distribution Policies
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    Your enjoyment of life on campus will depend to a large extent on the thoughtful consideration that you show your community members. Listed below are your basic rights, expectations, privileges, and responsibilities … 8. You have the right to be free from intimidation, physical or emotional harm Read More

  • Office of Social Equity: What is Sexual Misconduct?

    Speech Code Rating: Yellow
    Speech Code Category: Harassment Policies
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other harassing conduct of a sexual nature whether intentional or not. Sexual harassment occurs when: … The unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive as to substantially limit... Read More

  • Ram’s Eye View Student Handbook: Noncommercial Literature Distribution/Nonsponsored Presentations or Demonstrations

    Speech Code Rating: Green
    Speech Code Category: Protest and Demonstration Policies
    Last updated: April 3, 2020

    A. On University property (outside of buildings) generally open to the public, persons may exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free expression including distribution of noncommercial literature incidental to the exercise of these rights and nonsponsored presentations or demonstrations B. Noncommercia... Read More

  • Pennsylvania House of Representatives Select Committee on Student Academic Freedom

    September 19, 2005

    The Pennsylvania House of Representatives brought together a committee to examine allegations that Pennsylvania’s public universities were plagued by liberal ideology and indoctrination. David A. French, at the time president of FIRE, served as a legal adviser to the panel. FIRE released FIRE Report on the First Amendment Responsibilities of Pennsylvania State-Funded Colleges and Universities,… Read more

  • FIRE Q&A at West Chester University Wednesday

    February 28, 2012

    Tomorrow, February 29, FIRE’s own Peter Bonilla, Assistant Director of the Individual Rights Defense Program, will be visiting West Chester University for an event sponsored by the WCU Students For Liberty. The club is hosting a screening of the film Indoctrinate U, followed by a Q&A session featuring Peter and WCU Professor Chris Stangl: WCU… Read more

  • ‘The Bulletin’ on Speech Code Report

    December 21, 2007

    Philadelphia newspaper The Bulletin has an article about FIRE’s 2007 speech codes report, Spotlight on Speech Codes 2007: The State of Free Speech on our Nation’s Campuses. The article focuses on Philadelphia-area schools in particular, noting that both Drexel University and West Chester University get poor, “red light” ratings for suppressing student speech. Drexel, Torch… Read more