The rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, to the U.S. Constitution including the right to freedom of speech, the right to the free exercise of religion, and the right peaceably to assemble are of the utmost importance, and the University System of Georgia (USG) is committed to protecting those rights. In the context of higher education, the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech includes both academic freedom and freedom of expression. USG and all of its institutions shall vigorously protect those freedoms.

USG and its institutions shall foster an environment where all members of the USG community are free to share ideas and opinions, even those that some may find offensive. Ideas and opinions should be openly and freely debated and discussed, both inside and outside of the classroom, without fear of suppression or reprisal. The USG community should promote intellectual debates, not close them off, and must uphold the values of civility and mutual respect while doing so.

While narrow restrictions to freedom of speech will apply for expression that violates the law or USG or institutional policies, freedom of expression protections are broad. Any necessary limitations will be enforced by USG or institutional administration. Individual members of the USG community shall not attempt to prevent or otherwise interfere with the free expression of others, no matter how objectionable they may find the expressed ideas or opinions.

Similarly, USG is strongly committed to protecting the academic freedom rights of faculty and students. Along with those rights comes an individual responsibility to fulfill obligations in the classroom, in research, and as public citizens.