Freedom of Expression (S-28)

Standard: S-28
Responsible Executive: Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
Responsible Office: Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
Date Issued: July 1, 2024
Date Last Revised: June 1, 2025

Contacts
Individuals and Entities Affected
Statement of Standard
Responsibilities
Definitions (defined terms are capitalized throughout the document)
Related Documents, Forms and Tools
History and Updates
Appendix

Contacts

Clarification of Standard

Vice President for Ethics and Compliance
765-494-5830 | vpec@purdue.edu

Individuals and Entities Affected

Faculty, staff, students and contractors of the University.

Statement of Standard

In 2015, Purdue University adopted a statement of Commitment to Freedom of Expression, which recognizes among other things the University’s “solemn responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it.”

The Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance (VPEC) oversees the University’s efforts to communicate to all faculty, staff, students and contractors the Commitment to Freedom of Expression and the rights and responsibilities associated with it. Additional areas, including human resources, academic affairs, and student life on each campus, may be tasked with assisting the VPEC in ensuring communication of this Commitment and related policies, regulations, and procedures via the website, handbooks, and student orientation programs.

Any employee, student, student organization, or contractor of Purdue University who materially and substantially disrupts the protected expressive activity of another employee, student, student organization, or contractor of the University may be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including expulsion (students), withdrawal of recognition (student organizations) or termination (employees and contractors). The Dean of Students is responsible for making determinations and imposing appropriate disciplinary action for students and student organizations with regard to conduct covered by this standard. The VPEC is responsible for advising the supervisor or other administrator on appropriate disciplinary action for conduct of others covered by this standard.

As an institution, Purdue guarantees all members of the University community the broadest possible latitude to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn. Fostering the ability of members of the University community to engage in debate and deliberation in an effective and responsible manner is an essential part of the University’s mission. Faculty and staff, individually and collectively, can and should express their views on all manner of issues using non-institutional platforms and channels. In accordance with state law, official institution, college, school, or department positions on political, moral or ideological issues may be established only when those issues affect the mission of the University and its values of free inquiry, free expression and intellectual diversity.

Responsibilities

Office of the VPEC

Administer this standard.

Office of the Dean of Students

Determine whether a student or a student organization has violated this standard and impose appropriate disciplinary action.

Faculty, Staff, Students and Contractors

Conduct themselves in accordance with the University’s Commitment to Freedom of Expression.

Definitions

All defined terms are capitalized throughout the document. Additional defined terms may be found in the central Policy Glossary.

Dean of Students
The individual on each campus that holds this title or is charged with similar duties.

History and Updates

June 1, 2025: Included language regarding the ability of university community members to engage in debate and deliberation. Added responsibility for Dean of Students. Removed interim status.

Appendix

There are no appendices to this standard.