Free Speech at Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech upholds students’ fundamental right to free speech and is committed to giving students the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge, learn, and discuss any issue, subject only to limitations set forth in in state or federal law, and as reflected in Policy 007: Free Speech on Campus.
All Tennessee Tech polices can be accessed online through Policy Central.
Campus Free Speech Protection Act
In May 2017, the Campus Free Speech Protection Act was signed into law by the Tennessee State Legislature, which applies to all public institutions of higher education in the state.
The law states “it is not the proper role of an institution to attempt to shield individuals from free speech, including ideas and opinions they find offensive, unwise, immoral, indecent, disagreeable, conservative, liberal, traditional, radical, or wrong-headed.”
Further, the law emphasizes that while members of the campus community are free to state their own views and contest what others are saying, “they may not substantially obstruct or otherwise substantially interfere with the freedom of others to express views they reject or even loathe.”
In June 2017, Tennessee Tech’s Board of Trustees adopted a policy affirming principles of free speech on campus.
Tennessee Tech's Free Speech on Campus policy can be accessed through our Policy Central website.
- What speech is protected by the First Amendment?
- What speech is not protected by the First Amendment?
- Do students have to ask for approval to have an outdoor assembly?
- Can students pass out literature on campus (flyers, pamphlets, etc.)?
- Can students invite a guest speaker to campus?
- What about people who are not part of the Tennessee Tech community speaking on campus?
- Who can students contact for more information about Free Speech on campus?