Policy 6-408: Student Media and Student Media Council

1. Purpose and Scope

   1. Purpose: This Policy (i) sets forth principles for oversight and operation of the University’s student media outlets, and (ii) establishes the Student Media Council to oversee funding and operation of such student media outlets, in accord with further regulations to be approved by the Board of Trustees.

   2. Scope: This Policy applies to all student media outlets (as defined here) and to all students or other University personnel involved in any of the activities of any such student media outlet. In particular it applies to the editors, managers, and staff of any student media outlet listed in the definition below.

2. Definitions

   1. ”Student Media” refers to any University-wide student media outlet, and any products, related services and business functions of any such student media outlet, which is supported entirely or in part by student media production fees. It includes the following media outlets as defined by Council Policy and Procedure.

3. Policy

   1. General Regulations

      Students who are involved in student media activities (as defined here) are required to comply with the Student Code Policy 6-400, and the rules, regulations, and laws governing the University.

   2. Student Media

      The student media shall be free of illegal censorship. Editors, managers, and other employees of student media outlets shall not be dismissed or suspended solely because of student, faculty, administration, alumni, or community disapproval of content or editorial policy; provided, however, that sanctions may be imposed on editors, managers, and other employees of student media outlets by the Student Media Council in accordance with previously established written policies, procedures, and implementing guidelines previously approved by the Board of Trustees and in effect at the time the cause for imposition of such sanctions occurred.

   3. Student Media Council

      The Student Media Council (“Council”) is hereby established. Its members shall be appointed by the University’s Board of Trustees and the Council shall report to and be overseen by the Board. Further description of the membership structure and authority and functions of the Council shall be provided in a supplemental rule(s) approved by the Board and disseminated to the University community.

      [See current version of Supplemental rule on Student Media Council Policy & Procedures]

      Such supplemental rule(s) shall be consistent with the following principles and requirements:

      • The Council shall oversee all University-wide student media outlets, related services, and business functions supported entirely or in part by student media fees.

      • The Council shall have authority, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, to establish general policies and procedures regarding editorial, production, marketing, promotional, advertising, and business operations of student media outlets, as well as the makeup and operations of the Council itself. Such policies and procedures shall comply with applicable University Regulations and laws and ensure the protection of academic, creative, and journalistic freedom.

        • The Council is committed to innovation, open governance, and the primacy of student involvement.

        • The Council shall have the custody of, and administrative authority over, budgeted funds allocated to publications, broadcasts, and strategic communication agencies within its jurisdiction and shall have the responsibility to account to the Board of Trustees for the expenditure of such funds and for the audit and control of their financial accounts.

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          [Note: Parts IV-VII of this Regulation (and all other University Regulations) are Regulations Resource Information – the contents of which are not approved by the Academic Senate or Board of Trustees, and are to be updated from time to time as determined appropriate by the cognizant Policy Officer and the Institutional Policy Committee, as per Policy 1-001 and Rule 1-001.]

4. Rules, Procedures, Guidelines, Forms and other Related Resources

   1. Rules

      Student Media Council Policies and Procedures Supplemental Rule (approved by Board of Trustees December 2009)

   2. Procedures

   3. Guidelines

   4. Forms

   5. Other related resources materials:

5. References

   Policy 1-007 University Speech Policy

6. Contacts

   The designated contact officials for this Policy are

   1. Policy Owner (primary contact person for questions and advice): Liaison to the Board of Trustees.

   2. Policy Officers: Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences.

      See University Rule 1-001 for information about the roles and authority of policy owners and policy officers.

7. History

Renumbering: The contents of this Policy 6-408 prior to May 7, 2018 were housed within Policy 6-401, which in turn prior to the September 2008 system-wide renumbering of University Policies had been known as PPM 8-11, and earlier as University Regulations Chapter XI.

Current Version Revision 0:

Approved by the Academic Senate: April 30, 2018

Approved by the Board of Trustees: May 8, 2018

Legislative History Revision 0

Earlier versions: Because the contents of this Policy 6-408 were formerly housed within Policy 6-401, earlier history for this Policy is found in the repository of history documents for Policy 6-401. However, for convenience, the following information is also shown here, including a revision of that Policy 6-401 which occurred in 2009, which directly affected the contents which later were moved here to become Policy 6-408.

Policy 6-401 Revision 2, effective dates 5/17/2009 to May 7, 2018

Background information for Revision 2.

Policy 6-401 Revision 1: Effective dates April 9, 1990 to May 16. 2009.