Where Ideas Flourish & Empathy Thrives
Santa Clara University is strongly committed to creating an environment and culture that fosters free speech and expression for all members of our community. As an institution of higher education, the boundaries of freedom to explore ideas must extend very far, and must include the freedom to express provocative or unpopular ideas, provided they don’t cross over into harassment, intimidation, or threats. Santa Clara University is our home—not a public square, but a place of welcome where we personally know and care for one another.
Julie Sullivan, President
Our Principles
Santa Clara University is dedicated to an uncompromising standard of academic excellence and an unwavering commitment to academic freedom, freedom of inquiry, and freedom of expression in the search for truth. Protecting freedom of speech and expression is a bedrock of what it means to be a university—a cherished space for unfettered intellectual inquiry and broad tolerance for ideas, even those we may not like. Our campus is a space that welcomes and is enriched by all perspectives and lived experiences. It is a space where we critically examine, debate, and dialogue across differences, and where all voices can and should be heard. We seek to understand the different perspectives, fears, faiths and lived experiences of others, not to change our own views, but to grow in our understanding of those who share our home.
Our Jesuit, Catholic tradition values authentic, constructive dialogue that respects the inherent dignity of each person; strives to assume good intentions; contributes to the common good; and, when disagreements persist, nonetheless holds the other in respect of our shared humanity.
Our university community is purposefully heterogeneous. Our responsibility is to make room for policies and issues to be debated, and to prevent the silencing of positions. We must do so in an environment that preserves our community’s right to access the full Santa Clara educational experience, and ensures civil discourse—that which does not harass, intimidate, threaten, or discriminate.
We abide by laws and regulations which prohibit discrimination and harassment, and also those reflecting our tax-exempt status, such as laws forbidding our direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns.
James M. Glaser, Provost and Executive Vice President
Resources
For All Broncos
- Expressive Activity Policies
Planning an Expressive Activity
- Form to request approval for a planned expressive activity (students) [pdf].
- Form to request approval for a planned expressive activity (faculty/staff) [pdf].
- Form to request amplified sound at an outdoor event.
For more, see the Center for Student Involvement’s information on Expressive Activity and Free Speech Policy and Sound Amplification Policy, and the Event Planning Office’s information on Expressive Activity and Free Speech and Outdoor Sound Amplification
- Engaging in Difficult Dialogues
- For situations where members of our community disagree or have varying opinions, the University offers opportunities to engage in difficult dialogues, community conversations, and restorative circles offered by different University units.
- The University Ombuds is a confidential resource for communication coaching; discussions of position and power dynamics; and conflict-resolution support.
- Our Shared Humanity
During Convocation 2024, President Julie Sullivan and Provost and Executive Vice President James M. Glaser discuss the University’s embrace and expectations for freedom of expression at Santa Clara University.
For Students
- Speakers and Expressive Activities
- SCU’s policies, requirements, and philosophy for bringing speakers to campus [pdf - pg30].
- SCU’s regulations regarding the time, place, and manner for public expressive activities [pdf - pg32].
For more information, see the Student Handbook [pdf]
For Staff
- Professional Responsibilities and Conduct
Santa Clara’s policies for staff are found in the Staff Policy Manual, which upholds University goals including to “create a learning environment that integrates rigorous inquiry, creative imagination, reflective engagement with society, and a commitment to fashioning a more humane and just world.”
- Standards and principles for staff professional responsibilities.
- Standards and principles for staff professional conduct.
For more information, see the Staff Policy Manual
For Faculty
- Academic Freedom, Speech, and Inquiry
Santa Clara’s policies on academic freedom, speech, and inquiry are contained in the Faculty Handbook, which has among its goals “an uncompromising standard of academic excellence and an unwavering commitment to academic freedom, freedom of inquiry, and freedom of expression in the search for truth.”
- Statement of principles on academic freedom and tenure with interpretive comments.
- Exceptions and policies for faculty of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.
- American Association of University Professors statement on professional ethics.
For more information, see the Faculty Handbook
Reporting Problematic Issues or Behaviors
Santa Clara has policies on campus to guide us in evaluating and responding to expressive activities. Faculty, staff, students may invoke these policies in reporting issues or behaviors that they perceive as problematic.
- University Equal Opportunity / Title IX Policy.
- EthicsPoint for confidential, secure reporting for discriminatory, harassing, or violent behavior.
- SCU form to report discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation.