CWUP 1-30

Statement of Rights and Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

• 1-30-010 Authorization to Speak or Act on Behalf of the University
• 1-30-020 Policies Governing the Right of Dissent
• 1-30-030 Protection of Right of Peaceful Protest
• 1-30-040 Responsibility of Board to Assure Orderly Operation
• 1-30-050 Right of the University to Set Standards of Conduct
• 1-30-060 Rights of University Members as Citizens

CWUP 1-30-010 Authorization to Speak or Act on Behalf of the University

Members of the campus community have the right to identify themselves as members of the campus community and a concurrent obligation not to speak or act on behalf of the university without authorization. The university assumes no responsibility or liability for actions conducted in the name of the university without authorization.

The university has the right and the responsibility to prohibit persons from using its name, finances, or facilities for commercial, political, or unauthorized purposes.

The university also has the right and an obligation not to take a position as an institution in electoral politics or on public issues except on those issues which directly affect the freedom of its members, its financial support, or its educational function.

[Responsibility: Board of Trustees; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]

CWUP 1-30-020 Policies of Governing the Right of Dissent

Central Washington University is an educational institution; it is not a vehicle for political or social action. It appreciates and endorses the fundamental right of dissent, and fully protects and encourages the fair and reasonable exercise of this right by individuals within the university. Because the right of dissent is subject to abuse, the following policies are observed:

(1) Individuals associated with Central properly represent a wide variety of viewpoints and attitudes; the university fosters the free expression and interchange of differing views through oral and written discourse and logical persuasion.

(2) Dissent should be orderly and peaceful, and represent constructive alternatives reasonably presented. It is recognized that dissent is seldom expressed without emotion.

(3) Coercion, threats, demands, obscenity, vulgarity, obstructionism, and violence are not acceptable.

(4) Demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, or noisy protests which are designed or intended to or which do disrupt normal academic and institutional pursuits will not be permitted.

(5) Classes individually or collectively, and routine operations will not be suspended except for reasonable cause as determined under authority of the university president.

(6) Central administrators, faculty, other employees and students are expected to abide by these
standards of conduct in promoting their views, particularly dissent.

(7) Academic and administrative procedures of the university will protect individuals in their right of free expression, and provide for prompt and appropriate disciplinary action for those who abuse such rights.

[Responsibility: Board of Trustees; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President] 

CWUP 1-30-030 Protection of Right of Peaceful Protest

Because the rights of free speech and peaceable assembly are fundamental to the democratic process, Central Washington University supports rights of students and other members of the university community to express their views or peacefully protest against actions and opinions with which they may disagree.

The university also recognizes a concurrent obligation to maintain on the campus an atmosphere conducive to academic work, to preserve the dignity and seriousness of university ceremonies and public exercises, and to respect the private rights of all individuals.

The following regulations are intended to reconcile these objectives: campus demonstrations may be conducted in areas which are generally available to the public, providing such demonstrations: are conducted in an orderly manner; do not interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic; do not interfere with classes, scheduled meetings and ceremonies, or with other educational processes of the university; and are not held in a disruptive manner.

[Responsibility: President’s Division; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]

CWUP 1-30-040 Responsibility of Board to Assure Orderly Operation

The board of trustees has the responsibility to assure the orderly operation of the university and to take the appropriate action if individuals or groups violate the laws of the state and nation and the policies of the university.

[Responsibility: Board of Trustees; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]

CWUP 1-30-050 Right of the University to Set Standards of Conduct

The university has a right and a responsibility to set reasonable and explicit standards of conduct in order to safeguard the freedom to learn and provide for the safety of persons on the campus. The university must not, however, impose any unreasonable or arbitrary regulations which obstruct or infringe upon an individual's freedom to learn or an individual's right as a citizen. Members of the university community, in turn, have the right to be heard and considered at appropriate levels of the decision-making process about the development and content of policy matters of concern. As members of the university community, students and staff have the additional responsibility to respect the requirements for the search for truth and its presentation. Each member must support the freedom to learn and the freedom to conduct research and report the findings in the spirit of free inquiry.

Where a person stands charged with violation of a campus regulation, the institution must provide fair and equitable procedures to determine the validity of alleged violations. Members of the campus community should have the right of recourse if they believe their rights as citizens or as members of the campus community have been obstructed or denied.

[Responsibility: Board of Trustees; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]

CWUP 1-30-060 Rights of University Community Members as Citizens

Central Washington University recognizes a member of the university community to be no less a citizen than any other member of the American society. As citizens, members of the campus community enjoy the same basic rights and are bound by the same responsibilities to respect the rights of others, as are all citizens. Among the basic rights are freedom to learn; freedom of speech; freedom of peaceful assembly, association and protest; freedom of political beliefs; and freedom from personal force, violence, abuse or threats of the same.

As a citizen, each member of the campus community also has the right to organize his or her own life and behavior so long as it does not violate the laws or agreements voluntarily entered into, and does not interfere with the rights of others or the educational process. The university is not a sanctuary from the law and the university does not stand in loco parentis for its members.

Disciplinary action will be taken if an individual or a group disrupts the university or attempts to close the school or any of its units.

[Responsibility: Board of Trustees; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 06/2008; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]