TO: Sonoma State Employees
FR: Chandra Holte, AVP for Human Resources and Diane Guido, AVP for Faculty Affairs and Success
Welcome to the start of a new academic year. The Office of the Chancellor has created systemwide standards to determine the “time, place, and manner” in which free speech activities may be conducted on university property. Individual universities have provided Addenda to the policy that identify the specific time, place and manner regulations for their respective campus. Sonoma State’s addendum can be viewed here: https://www.sonoma.edu/time-
The CSU is committed to fostering an inclusive CSU community. As a part of this commitment, we uphold freedom of speech and expression as essential to our educational mission. Institutions of higher education have a special obligation to encourage and support the free expression of ideas, values, and opinions, even where they may be unpopular or controversial. Freedom of expression, however, coexists with other rights such as the need to preserve public order and safety and to maintain the ability of the CSU to fulfill its educational mission. The exercise of freedom of expression and assembly rights must still comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, as well as university policies.
The Office of the Chancellor has created a systemwide website that serves as a hub of information on these matters. This website includes all CSU campus-based policies and resources meant to foster healthy discourse and bring together community members with different viewpoints, as well as educational activities and programs that support the balance of free speech activities, our educational mission and campus safety.
If you have further questions, staff may reach out to Chandra Holte (chandra.holte@sonoma.edu) and faculty to Diane Guido (diane.guido@sonoma.edu).