The University’s mission includes the transmission and advancement of knowledge and understanding, the pursuit of which is dependent upon the ability of our faculty and students to remain free to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new maturity and understanding. The University supports and encourages freedom of inquiry for faculty members and students, to the end that they may responsibly pursue these goals through teaching, learning, research, discussion, and publication, free from internal or external restraints that would unreasonably restrict their academic endeavors. The University has explicitly stated that faculty and students of the University share the responsibility for maintaining an environment in which academic freedom flourishes and in which the rights of each member of the academic community are respected. Academic freedom has indeed been acknowledged by the Supreme Court as “of transcendent value to all of us” and “a special concern of the First Amendment, which does not tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom.”

Pursuant to the Restore/Preserve Campus Free Speech Act, the chair of the Board of Governors has designated the Board’s Committee on University Governance as the statutorily mandated Committee on Free Expression.

Resources

2022-23 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University. (approved on September 13, 2023)

2021-22 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University. (approved on September 21, 2022)

2020-21 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University (approved on September 15, 2021)

2019-20 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University (approved on September 17, 2020)

2018-19 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University (approved on September 19, 2019)

2017-18 Report on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University (approved on September 12, 2018)

UNC Policy 1300.8 (Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University of North Carolina)

Chapter 600 of The Code (Freedom and Responsibility in the University Community)

Restore/Preserve Campus Free Speech Act (G.S. 116-300)

Article I, Section 14 of the North Carolina Constitution, Freedom of speech and press.  Freedom of speech and of the press are two of the great bulwarks of liberty and therefore shall never be restrained, but every person shall be held responsible for their abuse.

Responsible Officers Across the UNC System

Each UNC constituent institution must identify officer(s) and/or offices or departments with responsibilities for ensuring compliance with the law and UNC policy, and for answering any related questions or concerns from students, faculty members, staff employees, or others.

INSTITUTIONRESPONSIBLE OFFICER(S)TITLEEMAIL
APP STATEJeff CatheyAssistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Student Engagement & Leadershipcatheyjd@appstate.edu
APP STATEJamie ParsonInterim Chief Diversity Officerandersonja2@appstate.edu
ECUPaul ZigasGeneral Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal AffairsZIGASP@ecu.edu
ECSUAlyn GoodsonVice Chancellor for Operations and General Counselagoodson@ecsu.edu
ECSUEric PoynerTitle IX Investigator/Case Manageredpoyner@ecsu.edu
FSUWanda JenkinsVice Chancellor of Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance and General Counselwljenkins@uncfsu.edu
FSUAngel PowellAssociate General Counselbpowell3@uncfsu.edu
FSURegina RudisillDirector of Student Conductrcrudisill01@uncfsu.edu
N.C. A&TMelissa Jackson HollowayVice Chancellor and General Counselmjholloway@ncat.edu
NCCUJoy HartfieldAssistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Studentsjhartfield@nccu.edu
NC STATEWarwick ArdenExecutive Vice Chancellor and Provostwarwick_arden@ncsu.edu or
provost@ncsu.edu
NC STATEBrent McConkeyAssociate General Counselbrent_mcconkey@ncsu.edu
NC STATELisa ZapataSenior Associate Vice Chancellorlisa_zapata@ncsu.edu
UNCAJohn DoughertyGeneral Counseljdoughe2@unca.edu
UNC-CHKatie NolanExecutive Director, HR/EOC Strategy & Communicationkbnolan@unc.edu
UNC-CHJonathan SaulsSenior Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Success and Administrationjsauls@email.unc.edu
UNCCJesh HumphreyVice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and General Counseljesh.humphrey@charlotte.edu
UNCCSarah EdwardsAssociate Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counselsarah.edwards@charlotte.edu
UNCGJerry BlakemoreVice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and General Counselj_blakem@uncg.edu
UNCPJeff HowardVC for Student Affairsjeffery.howard@uncp.edu
UNCSADavid HarrisonVice Chancellor of Institutional Integrity and General Counselharrisondl@uncsa.edu
UNCWJohn SchererGeneral Counselschererj@uncw.edu
WCUShea BrowningGeneral Counselsrbrowning@email.wcu.edu
WSSURichard D. DavisDirector of External Relationsdavisrd@wssu.edu
UNC SYSTEMAndrew TrippSenior Vice President and General Counselattripp@northcarolina.edu

Information current as of May 6, 2024.