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.
| INSTITUTION | RESPONSIBLE OFFICER(S) | TITLE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP STATE | Jeff Cathey | Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Student Engagement & Leadership | catheyjd@appstate.edu |
| APP STATE | Jamie Parson | Interim Chief Diversity Officer | andersonja2@appstate.edu |
| ECU | Paul Zigas | General Counsel and Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs | ZIGASP@ecu.edu |
| ECSU | Alyn Goodson | Vice Chancellor for Operations and General Counsel | agoodson@ecsu.edu |
| ECSU | Eric Poyner | Title IX Investigator/Case Manager | edpoyner@ecsu.edu |
| FSU | Wanda Jenkins | Vice Chancellor of Legal, Audit, Risk and Compliance and General Counsel | wljenkins@uncfsu.edu |
| FSU | Angel Powell | Associate General Counsel | bpowell3@uncfsu.edu |
| FSU | Regina Rudisill | Director of Student Conduct | rcrudisill01@uncfsu.edu |
| N.C. A&T | Melissa Jackson Holloway | Vice Chancellor and General Counsel | mjholloway@ncat.edu |
| NCCU | Joy Hartfield | Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students | jhartfield@nccu.edu |
| NC STATE | Warwick Arden | Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost | warwick_arden@ncsu.edu or provost@ncsu.edu |
| NC STATE | Brent McConkey | Associate General Counsel | brent_mcconkey@ncsu.edu |
| NC STATE | Lisa Zapata | Senior Associate Vice Chancellor | lisa_zapata@ncsu.edu |
| UNCA | John Dougherty | General Counsel | jdoughe2@unca.edu |
| UNC-CH | Katie Nolan | Executive Director, HR/EOC Strategy & Communication | kbnolan@unc.edu |
| UNC-CH | Jonathan Sauls | Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Success and Administration | jsauls@email.unc.edu |
| UNCC | Jesh Humphrey | Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and General Counsel | jesh.humphrey@charlotte.edu |
| UNCC | Sarah Edwards | Associate Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel | sarah.edwards@charlotte.edu |
| UNCG | Jerry Blakemore | Vice Chancellor for Institutional Integrity and General Counsel | j_blakem@uncg.edu |
| UNCP | Jeff Howard | VC for Student Affairs | jeffery.howard@uncp.edu |
| UNCSA | David Harrison | Vice Chancellor of Institutional Integrity and General Counsel | harrisondl@uncsa.edu |
| UNCW | John Scherer | General Counsel | schererj@uncw.edu |
| WCU | Shea Browning | General Counsel | srbrowning@email.wcu.edu |
| WSSU | Richard D. Davis | Director of External Relations | davisrd@wssu.edu |
| UNC SYSTEM | Andrew Tripp | Senior Vice President and General Counsel | attripp@northcarolina.edu |
Information current as of May 6, 2024.