Colorado Mesa University earns nation’s top free speech rating for colleges

• FIRE’s “green light” rating is held by only 56 universities nationwide
• CMU joins CU Boulder and Western Colorado University in holding FIRE’s top policy rating
• Going the extra mile: CMU also adopts the “Chicago Statement”

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., Sept. 30, 2020 — Colorado Mesa University has revised its policies on free expression to earn the highest free speech rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. 

FIRE, a national campus free speech organization, rates more than 470 institutions nationwide to determine whether their policies restrict student speech that is protected by the First Amendment. Almost 90% of colleges maintain policies that prohibit or chill protected expression.

The top, “green light” rating is held by only two other institutions in Colorado, and just 56 nationwide.

SEE HOW OTHER COLLEGES IN COLORADO STACK UP

“In working to protect student speech rights, CMU has proven itself to be a national leader when it comes to free expression,” said Mary Zoeller, FIRE policy reform senior program officer. “CMU not only ensured the university’s policies comply with the First Amendment, but also took a step to actively embrace free expression by adopting a resolution dedicating the institution to free inquiry. We look forward to continuing our partnership with CMU and we applaud the university for working so hard to ensure free speech and academic freedom is alive and well in Colorado.”

CMU earned FIRE’s green light rating after revising seven policies. These included a harassment policy, a computer use policy, a network use agreement, an email policy, a bias policy, a posting policy, and a sexual harassment policy.

“Being one of three campuses in Colorado that has adopted such clear and unambiguous policies will help us attract people to campus who have important messages, and who are interested in participating in difficult conversations about the future of our culture and campus,” said CMU President Tim Foster in a campus announcement made after the policy update was approved by the CMU Board of Trustees earlier in October.

Among the other colleges and universities in Colorado, the University of Colorado Boulder and Western Colorado University have already earned the green light rating. Seven institutions in the state earn FIRE’s “yellow light” rating, which denotes policies that, by virtue of their vague wording, could too easily be used to restrict protected expression. Adams State University and Fort Lewis College earn FIRE’s worst, “red light” rating, meaning the universities maintain policies that clearly and substantially restrict protected speech. 

The CMU Board of Trustees also adopted a “Resolution Concerning Free Speech, Expression and Academic Inquiry,” expressly endorsing the “Chicago Statement” and further indicating CMU’s commitment to the principles of free speech that are essential to the core purpose of a university. Only 76 institutions or faculty bodies have made this commitment. CMU is among 14 schools nationally that both earn a green light rating and have adopted a version of the Chicago Statement.

Public universities like CMU are legally bound by the First Amendment to protect student free speech rights, while private institutions are bound by promises of free speech found in their official policies.

To learn more about the state of free speech on college campuses around the country, see FIRE’s “Spotlight on Speech Codes 2020” report.

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of students and faculty members at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience — the essential qualities of liberty.

CONTACT:

Daniel Burnett, Director of Communications, FIRE: 215-717-3473; [email protected]

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