The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC-H) supports the freedoms of speech and assembly, subject to its well-established right to regulate time, place, and manner to ensure that the activities do not intrude upon or interfere with its academic programs and administrative processes.
All speech and assembly activities must have prior approval of the senior executive in charge of the requested facility.
Students, faculty, or staff who are candidates for public office or who wish to campaign on behalf of a particular candidate or candidates may do so in accordance with all provisions of the Regents' Rules and Regulations.a
The UTHSC-H reserves the right to regulate the presentation of guest speakers on the campus who are not affiliated with the UTHSC-H (hereafter referred to as off-campus speakers).
Only registered student, faculty, and staff organizations may present off-campus speakers on the campus. The organization sponsoring the off-campus speaker has the responsibility of making clear the fact that the organization, not the UTHSC-H, is extending the invitation to speak, and that any views the speaker expresses are his or her own and not necessarily those of the UTHSC-H.
An off-campus speaker is subject to all provisions of federal, state, and local laws. When an off-campus speaker is paid from state funds for his or her speech, the facilities in which the speech is delivered will be open to the public, including members of the news media, who will be entitled to record, videotape, or telecast live portions of the speech. These provisions do not apply to classes, seminars, symposia, and conferences intended for students, faculty, staff, and invited guests. No person may in any way obstruct or lessen the opportunity for the audience to take the fullest advantage of the speech, including the opportunity to see and hear the speaker during the entire speech.
No person shall be permitted on the UTHSC-H campus to engage in speech, either orally or in writing, that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action or that is likely to incite or produce such action.
Sponsoring groups must submit a request for the use of a facility by an off-campus speaker to the Chief Operating Officer, who has been delegated the authority to approve such use by the president. The request must be submitted for approval at least 48 hours before the time the event is scheduled to occur.
aBoard of Regents, UT System, Rules and Regulations, Series 40501, Speech and Assembly.
Created 02/1991; Updated 4/03, 08/07