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Activism and free expression play important roles in the personal, academic and leadership development of all campus community members. 

CU Boulder approaches free expression as a way for Buffs to engage in meaningful conversations without disrupting university teaching, research and administrative functions. Free expression cannot violate campus policies, regent law and policy, or state and federal laws. 

We do this by employing a philosophy of educate, engage and enforce. 

Educate

Education is the foundation of the philosophy. CU Boulder educates the campus community about the policies and regulations on a regular basis. When it comes to sharing viewpoints on campus, it’s important to know the time, place and manner restrictions that are outlined in the Campus Use of University Facilities Policy. 

CU Boulder’s Division of Student Affairs regularly meets and encourages engagement with student groups to ensure both that their voices are heard and they have a clear understanding of the laws and policies that govern the university.

CU Boulder’s Student Engagement Response Team (SERT), housed in the Division of Student Affairs, supports awareness of campus policies, impacts to CU’s academic mission and the Student Code of Conduct when events intersect with free speech on campus. SERT’s goal is to help ensure educational and successful events that follow campus policies, while also allowing voices to be heard.

Our campus also educates through:

• Messaging to students and families before arriving at CU through newsletters and events
• Meetings with resident advisors
• Articles and information shared through various campus channels such as newsletters, e-memos and social accounts
• Ongoing newsletter communication with Recognized Student Organizations and Registered Social Greek Organizations regarding policies and procedures
• In-person meetings with student leaders, including RSOs and RGSOs
• Signage including digital signs on campus and door hangers off campus

Engage

When activity persists in violation of campus policy, regent law and policy, state law or federal law, CU Boulder engages with individuals and groups to re-communicate expectations and communicate possible consequences to policy or law violations. 

Engagement reinforces education and provides direction to correct behavior, clarify enforcement mechanisms and end behavior that poses an immediate threat to the safety and welfare of our community members and may include: 

• Clear communication around the policies or laws being violated and the Student Code of Conduct processes that may follow
• Policy reminder emails/conversations for first-time violations
• Conversations with student organizations
• Resident advisor conversations with students who reside in residence halls
• Emails reminding student organizations of policies

University officials use the lowest level of intervention necessary under the circumstances to allow for peaceful protest that does not unduly interfere with other campus activities.

Enforce

When educational and engagement efforts fall short of ensuring the safety of campus community members and the preservation of the university’s academic mission, the university moves into the enforcement phase. The policies that guide this work are enforced uniformly and consistently.

CU Boulder has established processes, including Student Conduct Resolution, to address incidents when students or student organizations are alleged to have violated university policy. This process allows students the opportunity to respond to alleged violations before the university determines responsibility. If found responsible, there may be negative impacts to a student’s or student organization’s status at the university.

Actions that may initiate a referral to the student conduct resolution process may include but are not limited to:

• Activities that disrupt university teaching, research or administrative functions, including amplified sound that may cause interference or disruption to university operations
• Any display of posters not pre-approved by Events Planning & Catering or posted outside of generally accessible open outdoor spaces
• Any use of tables, displays or other temporary structures that have not been pre-approved through the Event Management Form (EMF) process
• Setting up tents or camping on university property

Enforcement may be conducted in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs and the Division of Public Safety, which includes the CU Boulder Police Department. If conduct is found to be in violation of city, state or federal law, CUPD and/or other law enforcement agencies may investigate. 

CU Boulder policies are designed to permit free expression while also maintaining campus operations and preserving the campus’s essential purpose as an educational forum. The educate, engage, enforce philosophy is essential to ensuring our campus community can express their First Amendment right while also not disrupting our academic mission.