Freedom of Access to the University

Although the University is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), it is nonsectarian in its admission practices and welcomes qualified students who reflect a wide range of economic, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

University facilities are open to all students and their guests. To maintain University-community relationships the following guidelines are established:

·         Millikin University facilities are first for the members of the academic community and second for their guests and visitors.

·         Persons utilizing University facilities are expected to obey all University regulations and local, state and federal laws.

·         On request, identification shall be shown to authorized University officials. If such a request is refused, all appropriate action will be taken, including possible detention, removal or ban from campus

Freedom of Association

Students bring to the campus a variety of interests previously acquired, and they develop many new interests as members of the academic community. They are free to organize and join associations to promote their common interests consistent with the publicly stated policies of the University.

a.     Affiliation with an extramural organization should not of itself disqualify a student organization from institutional recognition. At the same time, all actions of a student organization should be determined by vote of only those persons who hold bona fide membership in the University community.

b.      Campus organizations, including those affiliated with an extramural organization should be open to all students without respect to race, creed, sexual orientation or national origin. Students and student organizations will be free to examine all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly or privately. They also will be free to support causes by an orderly means that do not disrupt the regular and essential operation of the University. It should be clearly understood by both the academic and larger community that in their public expressions, students or student organizations speak only for themselves.

Freedom of Expression

The professor in the classroom and in conference should encourage free discussions, inquiry and expression.  Students should be evaluated solely on the basis of their academic performance, not on their opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students are responsible for learning thoroughly the content of any course of study, but they will be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion

Solicitation and Demonstration by Non-University Affiliated Individuals, Groups, or Organizations

For purposes of this policy:

Solicitation is defined as offering for sale, barter, or gratuitously goods, materials, or services.  Solicitation also includes asking for donations, attempting to obtain members, or seeking support for an organization/group by request, persuasion, or entreaty.

Harassment is defined as behaviors or actions which annoy, intimidate, impede the progress of, have the effect of provoking anger, or otherwise interfering with the rights of members of the Millikin University campus community and their guests.

Non-University affiliated is defined as individuals, groups or organizations with no recognized relationship or connection to Millikin University.

a.     Non-University affiliated: Individuals, Groups, or Organizations not affiliated with Millikin University may not engage in demonstrations, distribute literature, advertise or otherwise solicit customers, seek donations, or make sales on campus without written authorization from the Dean of Student Development (or designee.)  The written authorization shall be available to present to a member of the Millikin University Department of Safety and Security or other University official upon request, during the time the individual or group is on campus.

b.     Commercial Sales: Non-University affiliated businesses may conduct solicitations and sales only with authorization from the Dean of Student Development (or designee).  A recognized University student, faculty, or staff organization must request authorization for such activities. The authorization, when given, will be subject to such limitations as the Dean of Student Development (or designee) may prescribe.

c.     Charitable, Political, or Religious Demonstrations and Solicitations:  
As a general rule, representatives of off-campus political, religious or charitable groups will not be permitted to engage in demonstrations or solicit on campus. However, individuals acting on behalf of candidates for public office or of bona fide political, charitable, or religious organizations may obtain permission to demonstrate and/or sell or distribute their political, religious or charitable literature under the following guidelines:

1.     Authorization from the Dean of Student Development (or designee) during normal University business hours at least four business days prior to the event.

2.     If authorized, public demonstrations and/or sale or distribution of political, religious, or charitable literature may be restricted to certain locations designated by the Dean of Student Development (or designee).

3.     As a general rule, demonstrations and/or the sale or distribution of political and religious literature will be allowed during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.

4.     The number of non-University affiliated persons who, at any time, will be authorized to demonstrate and/or sell or distribute literature for any particular political candidate or religious group will generally be limited to two at any one location and to six on the campus as a whole. The number of times which non-University affiliated persons will be permitted to demonstrate and/or sell or distribute literature will generally be limited to four times per month.  In special situations, such as an approaching election, more frequent visits may be authorized by the Dean of Student Development (or designee).

5.     The total number of people demonstrating and/or distributing or selling literature at any one time will be limited.  When several non-University affiliated groups wish to demonstrate and/or sell or distribute literature at the same time or in the same location, in accordance with general University policy, preference in use of campus facilities will be given to members of the University Community.  In acting on requests from non-University affiliated members of political, charitable, or religious groups and representatives of candidates, the individual or groups sponsored by members of the University community will be given preference.

6.     Harassment of members of the University community by those demonstrating and/or selling or distributing literature or any activity/behavior outside the specific permission given by the Dean of Student Development will be cause for the immediate revocation of the authority to demonstrate and/or for the sale or distribution of literature.  Upon revocation, such persons will be required to leave the campus in a timely and reasonable fashion.  If such persons fail to leave the campus as requested, the University reserves the right to take legal action to remove such persons from the campus.

Decisions regarding requests under these guidelines will take into account any special circumstances relating to University activities or events, and the burden that authorization to demonstrate and/or sell or distribute literature may place on the University’s Department of Safety and Security and administrative staff.