Free Expression and a Safe, Inclusive Campus: Your Rights and Responsibilities

Dear UCI Community,

As we begin a new academic year, we reaffirm our commitment to free expression and maintaining a safe, inclusive environment. UC Irvine values the exchange of diverse ideas as central to learning and engagement. With this freedom comes the responsibility to respect others, maintain civil discourse, and avoid disrupting university activities. These responsibilities are essential because they create the conditions for more speech and open dialogue, enabling an opportunity for every voice to be heard, even when opinions differ. Our policies are what make this vibrant exchange of ideas possible.

Your Rights and Responsibilities
Students, faculty, and staff all play a role in supporting free expression and fostering a respectful campus climate. Key expectations include:

• Respect for Diverse Viewpoints: Engage in open dialogue respectfully, avoiding actions that harm or silence others.
• Non-disruption of Activities: Free expression must not interfere with learning, teaching, or research. Demonstrations must comply with time, place, and manner regulations.
• Conduct and Disciplinary Actions: Familiarize yourself with the university's conduct standards and the consequences for violations.
• Complaint Resolution: Understand the process for resolving complaints, ensuring concerns are addressed fairly.

Resources and Policies
Visit the Campus Climate Policies & Resources Hub for:

• Key policies, including Time, Place, and Manner regulations, the Student Code of Conduct, and complaint resolution.
• Clear explanations of the consequences for policy violations and the range of disciplinary actions for non-compliance.
• Resources to foster healthy discourse, educational programs, campus safety, and mental health support to help you navigate challenges.

We encourage you to explore these resources and help maintain a campus that values both free expression and community.

Thank you for fostering a respectful and inclusive campus.

Sincerely,

Ramona Agrela
Vice Chancellor & Chief Human Resources Officer

Willie L. Banks Jr., Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs

Gillian Hayes, Ph.D.
Vice Provost, Academic Personnel
Robert A. and Barbara L. Kleist Professor of Informatics