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SECTION F | STUDENT
- SECTION FA | Equal Education Opportunity
- SECTION FB | Admissions
- SECTION FC | Attendance
- SECTION FD | Tuition and Fees
- SECTION FE | Financial Aid
- SECTION FF | Student Welfare
- SECTION FF.1 | Campus Safety
- SECTION FF.2 | Mental Health
- SECTION FFA | Immunizations
- SECTION FFA.1 | Immunizations
- SECTION FFA.2 | International Students
- SECTION FFA.3 | Residence Life Requirement
- SECTION FFB | AIDS/HIV
- SECTION FFB.1 | AIDS/HIV
- SECTION FFC | Student Support Services
- SECTION FFC.1 | Student Support Services and Administrative Services
- SECTION FFC.2 | Veterans Services
- SECTION FFC.3 | Special Programs for Students with Disabilities
- SECTION FFC.4 | Pregnancy and Parenting Student
- SECTION FFD | Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
- SECTION FFD.1 | Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
- SECTION FFD.2 | Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner or Domestic/Dating Violence/Clery Reporting
- SECTION FFD.3 | Student Discrimination Grievance Procedure
- SECTION FFE | Sexual Misconduct Policy
- SECTION FG | Student Housing
- SECTION FH | Solicitation
- SECTION FI | Student Records
- SECTION FJ | Student Activities
- SECTION FK | Student Rights and Responsibilities
- SECTION FK.1 | Student Rights and Responsibilities
- SECTION FKA | Student Expression
- SECTION FKA.1 | Student Expression
- SECTION FKB | Student Conduct
- SECTION FKB.1 | Code of Student Conduct/Special Programs/Student Misconduct/Drug-Free Campus/Complicity
- SECTION FKB.2 | Disciplinary Procedures and Sanctions
- SECTION FKB.3 | Academic Integrity
- SECTION FKC | Student Complaints and Grievances
- SECTION FKC.1 | Student Grievance Procedures
- SECTION FKC.2 | Student-Instructor Conflict Resolution
- SECTION FKD | Grade Challenge
- SECTION FKD.1 | Grade Challenge
- SECTION FKD.2 | Program of Study Dismissal
SECTION FKA.1
STUDENT
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
STUDENT EXPRESSION
Procedure
FREE EXPRESSION AND PUBLIC ASSEMBLY PROVISIONS
Navarro College recognizes and supports the right of free expression and public assembly. This procedure informs members of the college community and the public about the guidelines for engaging in constitutionally protected speech and expression at Navarro College. It is intended to ensure the primary educational purpose of the college, which includes promoting debate and the sharing of information.
The College will protect the rights of freedom of speech, petition, and peaceful assembly as set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Navarro College maintains the right to regulate reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions concerning acts of expression and dissent. Neither acts that are disruptive to the normal operations of the college, including but not limited to classes and college business, nor acts that invade the rights of others will be tolerated. Faculty, staff, and students engaging in a disruptive activity may be subject to disciplinary action. Any participant in a disruptive activity may face criminal charges.
The Definition of antisemitism as adopted by the State of Texas in Section 448.001 of the Texas Government Code, is provided as follows: "Antisemitism" means a certain perception of Jews that may be expressed as hatred towards Jews.
Acts of antisemitism, disruption to the normal operations of the college (including classes and college business), harassment, or infringement upon the rights of others will not be tolerated. Faculty, staff, and students engaging in a disruptive or harassing activities may be subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion or dismissal. Participants in disruptive activities may also face criminal charges.
AREAS DESIGNATED FOR FREE SPEECH RESERVATIONS
The areas listed below are considered programmable space and are available on a first-come first-serve basis; however, college sponsored events have first priority on the use of campus and location grounds. Typically, use of the space will be assigned to the person or organization that requests the area first. Therefore, reservations should be made at least five (5) working days in advance of the event for scheduling purposes.
NAVARRO COLLEGE - CORSICANA
1. Lawn area south of the Kenneth P. Walker Dining Hall. |
2. Lawn area north of Gibson Hall (across the street). |
3. Lawn area west of Caston Fine Arts Center (across the street). |
NAVARRO COLLEGE - MEXIA
1. Lawn area on the west central side of the south parking lot near the oak tree seating area. |
NAVARRO COLLEGE - MIDLOTHIAN
1. Center of patio on the eastern side of the building leaving free access to and from the Building 1 through the doors located at either end of the patio area. |
NAVARRO COLLEGE - WAXAHACHIE
1. Lawn area immediately east of the Administration Building |
2. Lawn area between WAXB & WAXC |
A free speech area may be reserved and made available for use between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a total of two (2) business days with no more than two (2) consecutive days in a calendar month if there are no scheduling conflicts and if space is available. If a specific violation of a significant college interest or college procedure violation occurs, the right to use of the free speech designated area will be revoked (e.g., disruptive event or invasion of others’ rights).
Individuals or groups wishing to use free speech areas should request use of the space through the Vice President of Student Success on the Corsicana campus or the Dean’s office at other locations. The “Free Speech and Public Assembly Organized Expression” activity form should be completed five (5) days prior to the proposed event. The college reserves the right to relocate any assembly at any time to ensure that the activity does not interfere with the normal operation of the college or interfere with the rights of others.
SPEAKERS
In view of the desire of the College to promote free speech, the free speech areas of the campus are open to speakers for whom official arrangements to speak have been made with the College, following the provisions of this procedure.
THE RIGHT TO DISSENT
The right to dissent is the complement of the right to speak, but these rights need not occupy the same forum at the same time. The speaker is entitled to communicate his/her message to the audience during his/her allotted time, and the audience is entitled to hear the message and see the speaker during that time. A dissenter must not substantially interfere with the speaker’s ability to communicate or the audience’s ability to hear and see the speaker. Likewise, the audience must respect the right to dissent.
PICKETING, SOLICITATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE
Picketing in an orderly manner or distributing literature within the free speech areas is acceptable with the appropriate activity form. Picketing is not permitted inside campus buildings or outside the free speech area. Non-commercial literature may be distributed only in the free speech areas.
POSTED AND PRINTED MATERIALS
No signs, posters or advertisements shall be nailed, tied, hung, written or otherwise affixed to any trees, bushes, buildings, walkways, posts, fences, or other college property. Approved materials may only be placed on designated bulletin boards. They must not cover previously posted material and should not extend beyond the edges of the bulletin board. Printed material must not exceed an overall size of 8½” x 11”. Defaced materials will be promptly removed.
SYMBOLIC PROTEST
During a presentation, individuals are permitted to display signs, gesture, wear symbolic clothing or in silent protest, provided that such actions do not disrupt the proceedings or impedes access. Disruptive activities include those that block the audience’s view, district from the presentation, incitie immediate breach of peace (including acts of antisemitism), threaten the welfare of others, or violate any college regulations or local, state, or federal laws.
MARCHES
Marches are permitted on Corsicana, Mexia, Midlothian, and Waxahachie locations. The appropriate activity form should be completed in order to prepare for and facilitate the safety of participants and bystanders. The activity form should outline expected attendance and planned parade/march route. The activity form should be submitted at least five (5) working days in advance of the event.
VOLUME
The volume of any sound equipment may not exceed 75 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet from the source of amplification in order to keep from interfering with any academic or other program taking place in nearby buildings.
CONDUCT AND MANNER OF FREE SPEECH AND PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
Those who schedule and/or participate in speech, expression, solicitation or public assembly activities on campus must not:
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EXPECTATIONS DURING FREE SPEECH AND PUBLIC ASSEMBLY
Additionally, those involved in any form of free expression on campus must adhere to the following restrictions:
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All applicable college policies and regulations, state and federal laws and municipal ordinances should be followed when engaging in activities on campus. Failure to do so may result in immediate removal from the campus and any other appropriate action by college officials and/or college police.
Approved: 2015
Updated: 2016, 2023, 2024
Reviewed: 2020, 2022