FAQs

Free expression is a foundational value of our university that lies at the heart of its missions of discovery, research, and service. Johns Hopkins seeks to ensure the broadest possible protection for speech—even speech that might be offensive or hurtful to the listener—while maintaining a safe and secure campus that allows our students, faculty, and staff members to pursue their work. 

These principles are set out in the university’s Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom, a document written by a committee of faculty and students and approved by our board of trustees nearly a decade ago. The Statement underscoresthat “among the measures of an academic community is its success in creating a culture of active discussion and debate, one where its members open themselves to the views of others, even when those views are provocative or unfamiliar.”Therefore, the Statement affirms “the right to speak and create, to question and dissent, to participate in debate on and off campus, and to invite others to do the same, all without fear of restraint or penalty.”

The Statement also recognizes that “academic freedom is not unbounded.” For example, the Statement explains that academic freedom “does not guarantee the right to defame or threaten, to deface or harass, or to incite violence or infringe on privacy. And reasonable and viewpoint-neutral rules for the time, place, and manner of expression are a legitimate way to ensure the orderly conduct of the university.”

You can find the full Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom HERE. 

Your right to express yourself goes hand in hand with a set of responsibilities. 

In particular, you may not engage in conduct that materially interferes with the rights of others, disrupts the operations of the university, or creates health, safety, or welfare concerns, or that otherwise violates university policies and rules. 

This means, among other rules, that you may not engage in intimidation, threats, discrimination, harassment, or incitements to violence. You may not materially interfere with academic instruction or research or interfere with the other operations and activities of the university, or shout down or disrupt another speaker or activity. And you may not tamper with university property, obstruct the entrance or exit of buildings, or restrict the movement of others about campus. 

A fuller set of the policies and guidelines that apply to protests and other expressive activities can be found HERE.

No.  Johns Hopkins is a pluralistic community that embraces inclusion as integral to our institutional mission and our commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression. A rich diversity of people, experience, background, and thought is core to our university and to the critical inquiry and robust debate that fuel our excellence in research, education, and service. These values are essential to the well-being of a democratic society and to a university environment that allows each member of our community to feel valued, engaged, and empowered to succeed.

Our policies prohibit intimidation, threats, discrimination, harassment, or incitements to violence. 

You can find additional information on our harassment and discrimination policies at the Office of Institutional Equity website HERE.

More information on the relationship between expression and inclusion can be found in our Second Roadmap on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Johns Hopkins has a number of policies and guidelines to support members of our community in protest and demonstration. A brief set of guidelines for protests and demonstrations can be found on the reference guide and a fuller discussion can be found on the Student Affairs website.

No. The Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom recognizes that “academic freedom necessarily permits the expression of views that even the vast majority of the community may find misguided, ignorant, or offensive.” Further, our policies make clear that members of the community may not disrupt or interfere with the speech or acts of others. This means, for example, that you may not prevent a speaker from offering remarks, such as by means of shouts or other significant interruptions; deface or cover the signs of others; or restrict the movement of speakers or audience members or other members of the public. You also may not disrupt others’ participation in academic activities or the regular operations of the university. For more examples of what constitutes disruption or interference, check HERE.

No, encampments are not allowed on JHU campuses. Our policies are clear that you may not assemble tents or temporary structures on university property without prior approval. Sleeping or spending the night outdoors on university property also raises serious health and safety concerns for participants and the community as a whole. And open spaces on campus cannot be taken over by any individual or group to the exclusion of others without prior approval.

You may post flyers or posters for registered and approved events on designated bulletin boards. Flyers may not be affixed directly to buildings, doors, walls, or bathroom stalls. You may affix banners to buildings and other structures or objects only with prior approval from the university. Chalking on the Homewood campus is permitted with water-soluble chalk on the brick surfaces of Levering Plaza and the Breezeway and in front of the Hopkins Café. Students should check with their respective student affairs office for more specific guidance. 

You may carry placards, banners, and signs during a protest or demonstration so long as they are not dangerous to others, do not significantly impede the participation of others in usual university activities and operations, and otherwise adhere to university policies.

No. You may not materially interfere with the expression of others on campus. This means you may not deface or cover others’ posters or signs. 

There are a number of circumstances in which posters, banners, flyers, chalkings, or other messages on campus may be removed by the university. These include, but are not limited to:  

• When the poster, banner, flyer, or chalking is in violation of university policies, and guidelines, including when it is posted in prohibited areas, when the author failed to obtain permission to post in specific areas, or when prohibited content is included such as threats or harassment.  
• In the case of event-related messaging, after the event has taken place.
• Periodically as part of regular maintenance activities or when postings interfere with these regular maintenance activities.

If you see a sign or poster with content that raises a concern about harassment or intimidation, please report your concern to OIE. If the sign or poster includes a threat or concern for your safety or the safety of others, contact Public Safety.

Yes. All persons on campus, including Johns Hopkins University students and guests, indoors or outdoors, must comply promptly and completely with the requests of university staff acting in accordance with their duties, including, but not limited to, requests for identification.

All persons on our campuses—including guests—must comply with these policies and guidelines.

Students, faculty, and staff members are responsible for informing their guests of university guidelines and policies. Students, faculty, and staff members are accountable for the actions of their guests in accordance with university policies.

Uninvited guests or others who have no direct affiliation with the university do not enjoy the same rights of access, demonstration, or other activity.

The failure to abide by these rules may result in disciplinary and/or legal action, including suspension from the university and citation for trespassing. 

Johns Hopkins University’s commitment to free expression and academic freedom extends to social media. At the same time, university policies prohibiting speech that threatens the health and safety of our community, incites violence, or constitutes threats or harassment directed at a specific person or group (including threats based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, disability, age, or other protected status) also apply to social media. Social media use that implicates these policies may be subject to investigation and, where appropriate, disciplinary sanctions.  

Yes, you may be filmed or photographed in any public or open spaces on campus. For many years, the university has used security cameras and photography to help keep our community and campus safe. Camera footage and/or photographs are reviewed by Public Safety, law enforcement, or other university personnel (such as Student Affairs or legal counsel) as needed, including in the context of serious student conduct or policy violations. Video footage is stored and automatically overwritten based on the university’s storage capacity, with a target retention period of up to 31 days and extended retention as needed for investigations.

Once it is fully staffed, the Johns Hopkins Police Department (JHPD) will play a supportive role in safeguarding rights to free expression. JHPD officers may be tasked with safeguarding demonstrators, preventing disruptions, and maintaining separation between demonstrators and counterdemonstrators. They will also be required to promptly address any reports of threats or harassment against individuals participating in protected expressive activities. JHPD may also intervene in the event of civil disturbance or unrest, disruption of institutional functions, or when necessary to ensure the health, safety, or welfare of demonstrators or others.

Note: Johns Hopkins is in the process of recruiting and training JHPD officers and will be introducing and orienting them to JHU campuses and communities over the course of the next year. 

Please contact Leadership Engagement & Experiential Development (LEED) on the Homewood campus or the appropriate student affairs office if you have any questions about these policies or rules. 

If you ever experience discrimination or harassment, witness someone else as a target, or hear of plans to cause harm to others, please reach out via the SPEAK2US hotline, or contact the Office of Institutional Equity at oie@jhu.edu or 410-516-8075 or the Office of Public Safety at 667-208-1200. OIE has a team of professionals trained in assessing and investigating potential violations of the university’s policies on harassment and discrimination, including a Title IX coordinator for matters involving sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, and a Title VI coordinator for matters involving discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia.

All reports are taken seriously. Your report can be anonymous, but it is important to share as much detailed information as possible to fully investigate and address each incident.

In addition, Johns Hopkins has a number of resources available to support the well-being of individuals experiencing expression they may find upsetting or objectionable:

Faculty and Staff 

• Any faculty or staff member in need of support or resources can contact the Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP). The JHEAP can be accessed in a variety of ways:
  • Phone, 24/7: 888-978-1262 
  • Online (with 24/7 chat): www.myccaonline.com, Company Code: JHEAP  
  • Mobile App: CCA@YourService | Access Code: JHEAP 
• Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can speak with a mental health professional to provide an assessment, in-the-moment support, and connect to services when it’s most convenient for you. In addition, counseling services are available in the modality that works best for you, including video, telephonic, or in-person sessions. In-person visits are available both on-site in eligible work locations and in the community that is convenient to your home or work. 

Students and Learners 

• The well-being website serves as a portal for all health and well-being resources across the university for students and trainees. 
• If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, contact the Behavioral Health Crisis Support Team at 410-516-WELL (9355) to speak with a crisis support clinician.  
• 24/7 counseling is also available through TalkNow. Visit timelycare.com/jhu and use your Hopkins email to log in. 
• Student Outreach and Support helps students manage physical and mental health concerns, personal and family emergencies, financial issues, and other obstacles that may arise during their college experience. The office can be reached at studentaffairs.jhu.edu/sos, studentoutreach@jhu.edu and 410-516-7857. 
• Religious and Spiritual Life promotes and supports spiritual development, theological reflections, religious tolerance, and social awareness among students, faculty, and staff within our Johns Hopkins community. It can be reached at 410-516-1880. 
• The Office of International Services (OIS) can be reached at  ois.jhu.edu.

Johns Hopkins University staff are expected to follow university rules, policies, and guidelines, including those that govern the use of campus grounds and facilities; those prohibiting disruption of university activities or activities that cause health, safety, or welfare concerns; and those prohibiting threat, harassment, or intimidation of others. Johns Hopkins University is also committed to free expression, and, during nonworking hours (or while on approved leave), staff may participate in or support campus protest activities so long as those activities and the staff person’s conduct does not violate university policies or interfere with the staff member’s job responsibilities.

JHU’s policies, rules, and guidelines regarding free expression, protest, and demonstration apply to bargaining unit employees on the same basis as other employees and students so long as they do not conflict with the terms of the relevant CBA. If a specific term in a CBA conflicts with any portion(s) of a JHU policy, rule, or guideline, the provision(s) of the CBA will control to the extent of any conflict.