California State University Time, Place and Manner Policy FAQs

​The California State University (CSU) is committed to free expression as an essential component of its educational mission. To support and achieve that mission, the CSU must maintain a learning environment without disruption, in accordance with the highest standards of institutional integrity, and with recognition of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of university community members and members of the public.

To provide consistency and clarity, the CSU has created systemwide standards to determine the “time, place and manner” in which activities may be conducted on university property. Individual universities have provided addenda to the policy that note the specific expectations on their respective campuses. The systemwide policy also recognizes a new requirement from the California State Legislature.

The full text of the CSU’s new systemwide Time, Place and Manner policy, hereafter referred to as the "systemwide policy" or the "policy" can be found at https://www.calstate.edu/tpm​.

General Questions

What is Time, Place and Manner?

The CSU has the authority to regulate the use of all university property and when, where and how it is used. The CSU has therefore established standards that set forth the “time, place and manner” in which all activities may be conducted on university property.

A “time, place and manner” policy allows the CSU to fulfill its educational mission by helping to maintain an environment where its operations and work can be safely conducted without disruption, in accordance with the highest standards of institutional integrity, and with recognition of the rights, privileges and responsibilities of university community members and members of the public.

The policy ensures that those who participate in lawful expressive activities are protected and do not disrupt university operations or infringe on the rights of others. The regulations also address how the university will respond to students, employees and non-affiliated persons who disrupt university activities by failing to comply with these requirements, and how the university will reasonably support students and employees who are affected by such activities.

How does a Time, Place and Manner policy relate to free speech?

The First Amendment prohibits the government from curtailing freedom of expression. The Supreme Court has, however, held that speech may be regulated in some circumstances, including under “time, place, and manner” regulations. At the California State University and all 23 universities, the time, place, and manner regulations reflect the values of encouraging diverse ideas, community engagement on campus, and academic freedom while also preserving legitimate government interests including campus safety.

What is “viewpoint and content neutrality”?

Viewpoint and content neutrality are terms often discussed in Time, Place and Manner policies. They refer to the concept that restrictions on time, place and manner apply across the board, without regard to the substance or the message. While the university may not generally limit the content or the viewpoints of what is expressed on university property, including at public assemblies, marches, protests and demonstrations, the University may limit where, when and how these activities take place through content and viewpoint neutral time, place and manner restrictions.

CSU Systemwide Policy

What is included in the CSU’s systemwide Time, Place and Manner policy?

The policy addresses the mandatory requirements of the “campus climate legislation,” including laying out the steps that will be taken to respond to “activities that threaten the safety of students, faculty or staff, and disrupt their ability to access the campus or buildings, the educational process or activities on campus.”

The policy also addresses how the university will respond to students, employees and non-affiliated persons who disrupt university activities by failing to comply with the time, place and manner requirements. It also addresses how to support those who are harmed by such activities.

While the requirements in the policy are not new and are already in place in many respects at each university and at the Chancellor’s Office, they are newly merged into a systemwide policy.

How will the CSU’s policy affect individual university Time, Place and Manner policies?

The systemwide policy will supersede all individual university policies. Each university prepared a campus-specific addendum to the systemwide policy that provides specific details of the requirements that will be enforced at each university, across its unique geography of buildings, quads, walkways, open areas, etc.

To whom will the CSU’s systemwide policy apply?

This interim policy governs the use of all university property throughout all CSU universities and the Chancellor’s Office. It applies to any person or group accessing or using university property, including all students, employees, auxiliaries, and members of the public. Any of these individuals or groups accessing or using university property must abide by applicable CSU policies and the law.

Furthermore, the policy applies to all forms of expressive activity conducted on university property and sets forth standards to ensure that any person or any group engaging in lawful expressive activities is protected and does not disrupt university operations or infringe on the rights of others, and vice versa.

The current exception to the interim policy is for union represented employees. The existing Time, Place and Manner policy will continue to apply to union represented employees until the unions have completed bargaining. The systemwide Time, Place and Manner policy will apply to all employees following the conclusion of bargaining.

How will this policy affect free speech?

Through its new systemwide policy, the CSU will ensure that individuals and groups are afforded wide latitude in lawfully exercising the right of free expression and that their constitutionally protected right to free expression is not abridged.

The CSU promotes tolerance of differing points of view and respects the rights of others to express themselves. While someone may find certain expressions or materials to be offensive or even insulting, the appropriate way to counteract such expression is through discourse, criticism, and the expression of contrary points of view. Free speech is allowed and supported as long as it does not violate the law or university policies and procedures. The CSU’s Academic Freedom Policy, which sets forth the definition of academic freedom, is incorporated into this policy.

The exercise of freedom of expression and assembly rights must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, and university policies, including CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy.

Freedom of expression, however, is not an absolute right. It coexists with other rights and the need for public order and safety. Illegal activity not protected by the First Amendment and not permitted by this policy includes – but is not limited to – unlawful discrimination, harassment, vandalism, property damage, trespass, occupation of a building or facility, refusal to disperse in violation of the law or policy or the promotion or incitement of actual or imminent violence or harm.

Members of the university community should understand that causing discomfort or causing offense is not a basis for the CSU to limit free expression. While there will always be disagreements over what may constitute acceptable or appropriate comment, there can be no question, particularly in a university setting, that freedom of expression, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, is a cherished and protected right.

Permitted and Prohibited Activities

What activities are prohibited?

The following activities and items are prohibited under the CSU’s systemwide policy:

• Disruption or interference with the speech of others (or engaging in “heckler’s veto”)
• Camping, overnight demonstrations, or overnight loitering
• Unauthorized temporary or permanent structures, walls, barriers, barricades, furniture, or other objects
• Unauthorized commercial vehicles, moving vans or trucks, carts, carriages, trailers, wagons, or other vehicles of conveyance
• Entering campuses during non-public (“closed”) hours
• Disguises or concealment of identity
• Firearms or weapons
• Fires or fireworks
• Explosive materials
• Ambushing or lying in wait
• Shooting of arrows, missiles, or projectiles
• Chemical sprays, gas masks, body armor, shields, or laser pointers
• Human urination or defecation outside designated facilities
• Unauthorized climbing, scaling, or rappelling university structures

What does it mean when a building or space is labeled as public, limited, or non-public?

For purposes of the policy, a public area is university property that is available for public assembly, marches, demonstrations, protests and debate. Right of access and equality of access are provided in these areas, so long as activities are lawful and do not disrupt university operations. Content-based restrictions are prohibited, but reasonable time, place and manner regulations will be applied. Spontaneous activities may take place in public areas without pre-scheduling or reservations.

A limited area is university property that is available to the public but due to business operations, safety concerns, or other important university interests, is not open for purposes of assembling, marching, demonstrating or protesting. Activities in these areas may require scheduling and reservations with the university, and are available on a limited basis, subject to campus regulations that are narrowly tailored to address the University's legitimate business interests.

Except for areas designated as public areas and limited areas, all remaining university property, including the interiors of all buildings and facilities, are not open to the public.

Campus-specific policies and additional information are available in each campus addendum. Please visit https://www.calstate.edu/tpm to review a campus-specific policy.

Is chalking permitted? Are there restrictions on other kinds of signage?

Each university has an addendum that provides additional information regarding chalking and signage. Please visit https://www.calstate.edu/tpm to review a campus-specific policy.

Am I no longer allowed to wear a mask or face covering on campus?

No, choosing to wear a mask or face covering while on university property continues to be allowed. This is a personal choice that may be for a variety of reasons, including religious or health related reasons. Those who choose to wear masks or face coverings who are complying with university policies and applicable laws are permitted to do so.

Anyone who is engaged in activities that are in violation of university policy, however, will need to provide their identification when asked to do so by a university official, and they may not use a mask or face covering in order to attempt to hide or disguise their identity from the university official. The policy clarifies that no person, while on university property, shall refuse to identify themselves to university officials who are acting in the performance of their duties in situations where it is determined that assistance or intervention is needed. Failure to provide one's identification in this circumstance is itself a violation of university policy. 

Violations of the Policy

What happens if a person violates this policy?

Each member of the university community is expected to follow and comply with this policy and the applicable campus addendum.

The university’s first approach will be to inform and educate individuals of the policy.

Students who are alleged to be in violation of this policy will first be informed of the policy and their rights and will be provided alternatives to continue to engage in the activity in compliance with university policies, except in the event of imminent harm or emergency.

Student behavior that is not consistent with the ​​Student Conduct Code is addressed through an educational process that is designed to promote safety and good citizenship and, when necessary, impose appropriate sanctions. The procedure for all student conduct violations is set forth in CSU’s Student Conduct Process​. Sanctions may include restitution, educational and remedial sanctions, denial of access to Campus or persons, disciplinary probation, loss of financial aid, suspension, and expulsion, and can include multiple sanctions.

Employees charged with violating a time, place and manner policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination, in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement for represented employees, or the applicable standards for non-represented employees.

If a violation persists or is repeated, or if the activity or assembly poses an imminent danger to public safety or university property, those involved in the activity may be subject to arrest or other criminal and civil consequences, Code of Conduct disciplinary measures for students, discipline for employees, and subsequent legal action.

Those who are not affiliated with the university who violate the policy will be held accountable to the full extent of the university’s authority under existing laws, regulations and university policies.

How will the university protect individuals who feel they have been harmed by what another considers free speech?

Free speech rights include protection for those individuals who express words of viewpoints that may cause discomfort for some individuals hearing or seeing these words or viewpoints. As long as these speech activities comply with time, place and manner regulations and do not violate the law or CSU policies, the university will protect the First Amendment rights of the speaker.

Individuals or groups who believe they have been subjected to harassing speech or conduct that is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies their ability to participate in or benefit from the university’s programs or activities should report their concerns to the university’s official charged with enforcing the CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. The university will assess the matter and will provide reasonable supportive resources to affected students and employees.

Whether harassing speech or conduct creates a hostile environment will be determined from the totality of the circumstances. Relevant factors for consideration may include, but are not limited to, the context, nature, scope, frequency, duration, and location of the harassment based on race, color, or national origin, as well as the identity, number, age, and relationships of the persons involved. The less pervasive the harassing conduct, the more severe it must be to establish an unlawful hostile environment. For example, in most cases, a single isolated incident would not be sufficient to establish a policy or legal violation. However, in some cases, a hostile environment requiring appropriate responsive action may result from a single severe incident.

Even if the activity is deemed protected speech and does not violate CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy, or applicable laws, university officials will always try to work with individuals or groups to provide reasonable supportive services and resources. In those circumstances, although there may be no sanction or action taken against the individuals engaged in the protected speech activity, reasonable supportive and other measures will be provided to students and employees hurt, harmed or offended by the speech or expressive activity.

University-Specific Questions

Does the Chancellor’s Office have a centralized location where I can review the Time, Place, and Manner policy and all campus addenda to the policy?

Yes, the Chancellor’s Office has created a centralized webpage that includes the systemwide policy and all campus addenda and resources for students, faculty, staff on free speech activities. The link to the website is https://www.calstate.edu/tpm.

I am a student at a CSU campus. Where can I find more information on how to plan an event and not be in violation of the Time, Place, and Manner policy?

You may view the CSU Time, Place and Manner policy and individual university addenda at https://www.calstate.edu/tpm.

I have reviewed the systemwide policy. If I have additional questions about the system or campus policy, who do I contact?

You may find campus contacts for Time, Place and Manner policies in each campus and the CO addendum at https://www.calstate.edu/tpm. You may also contact [email protected].