Kansas Board of Regents Approves Vague and Overbroad Social Media Policy
Cases
University of Kansas
Case Overview
In December 2013, the Kansas Board of Regents enacted a broad and vague system-wide speech code restricting 鈥渋mproper use of social media鈥 by faculty and staff, which included a provision authorizing punishment for expression considered 鈥渃ontrary to the best interest of the university,鈥 or that 鈥渋mpairs 鈥 harmony among co-workers.鈥 Joined by the ACLU of Kansas and the National Coalition Against Censorship, FIREwrote to the Board on December 20 to express its concerns with the policy. A faculty workgroup created by the Board proposed revisions that would have protected faculty speech rights while allowing universities to punish unprotected speech. Despite overwhelming support from Kansas faculty and a May 1, 2014, letter from FIREencouraging the Board to adopt the workgroup鈥檚 draft, the Board rejected the workgroup鈥檚 language in favor of its own revisions, which failed to address key provisions that continue to endanger faculty鈥檚 academic freedom and expressive rights.