Maintaining the Marketplace of Ideas
Universities play a unique role in the discovery, expansion, and dissemination of knowledge by fostering scientific exploration, free inquiry, and a robust exchange of ideas. Free speech is the cornerstone of this pursuit of knowledge and safeguarding an open environment for free expression is paramount to Utah State University fulfilling its mission and principles of community.
Institutional Neutrality
As a modern land-grant university, USU’s role is to serve as a catalyst for discourse and engagement that enhances our communities. This is best achieved when the institution maintains a position of neutrality, where faculty and students are empowered to explore their own beliefs, opinions, and personal values and are encouraged to engage in conversations that transcend differences.
Under USU Policy 541, only the President and their designees may speak on behalf of USU. For institutional statements, USU has adopted a position of neutrality. Learn more about USU’s role during social and political events on the president’s website.
Additionally, in compliance with HB 261 (Equal Opportunity Initiatives), USU will not take a position on the following topics:
- anti-racism
- bias
- critical race theory
- implicit bias
- intersectionality
- prohibited discriminatory practices
- racial privilege.
This limitation applies to all employees in their role representing the university, colleges, divisions, departments, programs, committees or other sub-units. For more guidance on these topics, please see the HB 261 guidance and guidance on institutional neutrality and speech from the Utah System of Higher Education.
Important to Note
Separation of Personal and Institutional Speech
Employees are free to express personal views in private spaces and through personal communication channels. However, they should not use official university resources (email, social media, etc.) to share personal opinions or endorse political or social movements.
Institutional vs. Private Spaces
Signs banners and posters can only be posted in designated spaces on campus (such as kiosks and community bulletin boards). Posting materials on building exteriors, windows, and externally facing doors is not permitted (with the exception for posting office hours and other strictly operational information). Individuals can express personal views in private spaces, for example faculty offices or dorm rooms.
Academic Freedom
Academic freedom allows faculty and students to explore and engage with a wide range of ideas, including sensitive or controversial topics, in their teaching, research, and discussions. Institutional neutrality does not limit faculty or students in their academic work. While the institution itself does not take a stance, academic inquiry remains open and driven by intellectual curiosity.
What Institutional Neutrality Means for Employees
As a member of the university, you may express personal viewpoints, but the university as an institution must remain neutral. This neutrality extends to the university's public communications, events, and visual displays.
Communications and Public Statements
When speaking in any public or professional capacity, university employees must separate their personal views from institutional speech. If expressing personal opinions in public forums, employees should clarify that their statements are not on behalf of the university.
- Example: If a staff member attends a public forum and shares a political opinion, they might add: “These views are my own and do not represent my employer’s position.”
Similarly, all official university communications, including emails, social media, and publications, should be neutral and free of political or social endorsements. Personal opinions should not be expressed using university resources or platforms.
- Example: A professor should avoid using their university email to share personal political opinions with a broader audience.
Visual and Symbolic Expression
Signs, notices, posters, or banners may only be posted on university spaces specifically designated for public postings. Postings in or adjacent to student housing must comply with USU’s Student Housing regulations. No sign, poster, paint, stickers or other written messages may be placed, affixed, or applied to any University surface (except for those designated for public posting), including, but not limited to, walls, windows, floors, doors, light posts, or any other surface. This restriction is subject to a narrow exception that permits the posting of signage conveying strictly operational information, such as offices hours, on office windows and doors.
This policy maintains aesthetic standards on campus and upholds USU’s commitment to institutional neutrality.
- Example: A university office should not display a political candidate’s campaign sign in the hallway or on exterior-facing windows.
Employees are free to display personal items, such as posters or logos, within their private office or cubicle space.
Events and Speakers
When hosting or facilitating events, the university’s role is to provide a neutral platform for discussion, not to promote or endorse specific viewpoints. This ensures that the campus remains a space for diverse perspectives to be explored openly. While it is encouraged to bring in diverse viewpoints, the institution itself does not endorse any specific perspective presented at these events.
- Example: If a student organization hosts a discussion on different religious beliefs, the university provides a space for speakers to share their perspectives. The university remains neutral, allowing for open dialogue without endorsing any particular religious viewpoint. The aim is to allow diverse perspectives to be explored without the institution taking a stance on the beliefs discussed.
Support for Student Organizations
The university provides equal access and support to all student organizations, regardless of their political or social views. This policy fosters an inclusive environment where a wide range of ideas can be expressed. Student groups may express their viewpoints; however, the university itself does not align with or endorse any group’s views.
- Example: Both conservative and progressive student clubs can organize rallies or discussions on campus, and they will receive the same institutional support, such as access to venues or resources.
Academic Freedom
Institutional neutrality does not limit academic freedom. Faculty members are encouraged to explore a wide range of ideas and debates in their teaching, research, and scholarship, as long as these discussions align with legitimate academic objectives.
- Example: A professor may assign students to write argumentative essays on current social debates, fostering critical thinking without the institution taking a stance on the issues discussed.
Institution Statements on Social and Political Issues
An institution may publicly express its views on issues that directly, significantly, or specifically impact its mission, role, or pedagogical objectives, such as education, research, service, or academic freedom. This includes matters related to:
- Institutional operations: The functioning of the institution itself.
- Campus safety: The security and well-being of the campus community.
- State holidays: Recognition of state holidays as prescribed by Utah law. For non-state holidays, the institution may repost communications from the Governor's Office or Board of Higher Education.
- Rule of law: Commitment to the rule of law, including freedom of expression.
- Policy and legislation: Policies or legislation that affect one of the institution's core missions.
- Community expression: Addressing instances of community members' protected expression that may create a hostile environment based on race, color, or national origin.
When events arise that do not directly, significantly, or specifically affect the institution's mission, role, or pedagogical objectives, the institution may choose to comment to reaffirm its commitment to civility, nondiscrimination, and diversity of viewpoints. This may include:
- Safety concerns: Addressing events or activities that make members of the institution's community feel unsafe.
- Significant impact: Responding to events or activities that have a substantial impact on the institution's community.
- Personal tragedies: Offering condolences or support in response to the death of a current or former student, faculty member, or staff member.
First Amendment Protection
This limitation does not restrict academic freedom and therefore does not apply to curriculum and classroom discussions, provided the topics are relevant to the subject of the course. This limitation also does not restrict the First Amendment rights of individuals in their personal capacity. Employees should explicitly differentiate personal expression from their institutional speech.
USU values and encourages community and civic engagement and supports individuals’ active participation in public affairs during their personal time and with their personal resources.