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A Reminder of University Policies

Dear members of the Northwestern community,

With the new academic year upon us, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the core of our mission — to create space for teaching and learning, where ideas flow freely, we learn from one another and push each other to create and discover.

This pursuit happens every day — all around us — in classrooms and labs, on stages and playing fields.

However, in our increasingly polarized world, at times we experience pain, confusion and challenging situations.

With that in mind, it’s important to know the policies listed below that facilitate healthy dialogue, respectful disagreement and the exchange of ideas so that we can do our best work as students, faculty and staff.

We encourage everyone to take the time to read through these documents fully.

Demonstration Policy

The Demonstration Policy includes requirements and guidance on how, when and where members of the community may protest or otherwise engage in expressive activity. The policy prohibits overnight demonstrations and limits activity that disrupts classes and other functions of the University, including prohibiting demonstrations at the Rock before 3 p.m. on weekdays and the use of amplified sound in that area before 5 p.m.

Display and Solicitation Policy

The Display and Solicitation Policy sets clear rules and requirements for on-campus displays, including flyers, banners, chalking and 3-D installations. The policy establishes designated areas for flyers, chalking and other displays and details when the University removes displays. This policy also prohibits the use of tents (with exceptions for University-sponsored events and for the purposes of guarding and painting the Rock), light displays and chalking on buildings. Signs that violate laws and other University policies are prohibited.

Handbooks and Student Code of Conduct

The Student Handbook, which contains the Student Code of Conduct (page 9), is updated each year. As a reminder, last year we made several policy changes, including: 

  • An Intimidation Standard that explicitly prohibits subjecting another person or group to abusive, demeaning, harassing, humiliating, intimidating, threatening or violent behavior that substantially affects the ability of the person or group to learn, work or live in the University environment. Examples of violations to this policy include physical threats, verbal or written communication to threaten violence, the use of symbols, words or graphics to threaten violence, acts of doxing, and abusive behavior toward a University official or agent acting in performance of their duties, among others. It also prohibits engaging in abusive, demeaning, harassing, humiliating, intimidating or threatening behavior that excludes a student from joining or participating in a student organization.
  • The Failure to Comply Standard includes specific examples and to make clear that students are required to comply with the requests, directives and instructions of University officials acting in performance of their duties. Under this policy, students must identify themselves, including removing face masks or coverings for purposes of identification when asked by an authorized University official who is addressing law or policy violations and health or safety concerns.
  • The Misuse of University Properties policy defines misuse, including unauthorized access to athletics fields and construction sites and attending or participating in an event in University spaces that violates the policies governing that space.
  • The Destruction of Property Standard defines what applies under this policy to include tampering with University property.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to review their respective handbooks. Each member of the Northwestern community is expected to interact with each other with respect and consideration.

Additional Policies

In addition to the policies above, we want to remind you about the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance (OCR) policies concerning discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct: 

Though there are sanctions for policy violations that range from a warning for minor offenses to suspension, expulsion or termination for major infractions, the goal of any policy is to help ensure we all have a shared understanding of our responsibilities, requirements and limitations.

Thank you for helping us all begin another successful year at Northwestern.