Regents'
Rules and RegulationsRegents'
Rules and RegulationsSec. 6. Use of University Facilities. This Section applies only to property, buildings, and facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or component institutions that are maintained and used for programs and activities related to the role and mission of the U. T. System or component institutions.
6.1 The property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or component institutions are not open for assembly, speech, or other activities as are the public streets, sidewalks, and parks. The responsibility of the Board of Regents to operate and maintain an effective and efficient system of institutions of higher education requires that the time, place, and manner of assembly, speech, and other activities on the grounds and in the buildings and facilities of the U. T. System or component institutions be regulated. Acting pursuant to the general authority of Chapter 65 of the Texas Education Code and the specific authority of Chapter 51 of the Texas Education Code, the Board of Regents adopts and promulgates this Section relating to the use of buildings, grounds and facilities for purposes other than programs and activities related to the role and mission of the U. T. System or component institution.
6.2 No person, organization, group, association, or corporation may use property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or a component institution for any purpose other than in the course of the regular programs or activities related to the role and mission of the U. T. System or component institution, unless authorized by the Regents' Rules and Regulations. Any authorized use must be conducted in compliance with the provisions of the Regents' Rules and Regulations, the approved rules and regulations of the component institution, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
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6.7 Use of Property, Buildings, or Facilities by Students' Associations; Registered Student, Faculty, or Staff Organizations; or Officially Recognized Alumni Associations.--Subject to constitutional and statutory restrictions on the use of state property for religious or political purposes, a students' association; a registered student, faculty, or staff organization; or an officially recognized alumni association that qualifies under Subdivision 6.61(i) of this Section and whose fund-raising activities are dedicated to the benefit of the U. T. System or a component institution, may reserve and use buildings, grounds, and facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or component institution in compliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory time, place, and manner provisions of the approved regulations of the U. T. System and component institution. Such regulations shall specify the procedures under which such organizations may reserve the buildings, grounds, and facilities for their use. Such use must be for purposes permitted by the Regents' Rules and Regulations and be conducted in compliance with Subsection 6.61 and Subsection 6.62. Groups of students, faculty, or staff who are not registered or groups of alumni other than officially recognized alumni associations whose fund-raising activities are dedicated to the benefit of any component institution may not use the institution's buildings, facilities, or grounds.
6.71 A students' association, a registered student, faculty, or staff organization, or an alumni association may not reserve or use property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or a component institution for the purpose of engaging in any project or program with any association, organization, or corporation, or with any individual or group of individuals that are not registered.
6.72 Students, faculty, or staff, a students' association, or a registered student, faculty, or staff organization, with prior written authorization, may petition, post signs, set up booths, or peacefully demonstrate on property owned or controlled by the U. T. System or component institution.
6.73 No person, including a student or employee of a component institution, shall distribute any petition, handbill, object, or piece of literature; post or carry any sign, placard, or banner; or engage in speech or conduct on property or in buildings or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or a component institution if it is obscene, libelous, or directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.
6.8 Student Center or Student Union.--The use of student center or student union facilities of a component institution shall be subject to Regents' Rules and Regulations and to the approved rules and regulations of the component institution.
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6.(10) Special Use Facilities.--Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, the chief administrative officer of a component institution may designate specific facilities, such as special event centers, conference centers, concert halls, theaters, or auditoria, as Special Use Facilities. The chief administrative officer shall cause to be prepared and submitted for approval, as a part of the Handbook of Operating Procedures of the component institution, appropriate rules and regulations for the reservation and use of Special Use Facilities. The rules and regulations must restrict the reservation and use of such facilities in accordance with the following:
6.(10)1 Designation as a Special Use Facility shall not constitute the facility a public facility or forum that is open to use by individuals, groups, associations, or corporations on a first come, first served basis.
6.(10)2 Priority in the reservation and use of Special Use Facilities shall be given to programs and activities of the U. T. System or component institution that are in furtherance of and related to the educational, cultural, recreational, and athletic programs of the U. T. System or component institution.
6.(10)3 As a lower priority, the rules and regulations may provide for reservation and use of Special Use Facilities by individuals, groups, associations, or corporations without the necessity of joint sponsorship by the U. T. System or component institution. Rates must be charged for the use of the Special Use Facility that, at a minimum, ensure recovery of that part of the operating cost of the facility attributable directly or indirectly to such use. If the user charges those attending an event any admission or registration fee, or accepts donations from those in attendance, the component institution shall require the user to make a complete account of all funds collected and of the actual cost of the event. If the funds collected exceed the actual cost of the event, the user shall be required to remit such excess funds to the component institution as an additional charge for the use of the Special Use Facility.
6.(10)4 Subject to all constitutional and statutory provisions relating to the use of state property or funds for religious or political purposes, and subject to Subsection 6.(10)3, Special Use Facilities may be made available for religious and political conferences or conventions. Religious organizations applying for use of a Special Use Facility must submit written evidence from the Internal Revenue Service that the organization has been granted an exemption from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Political organizations applying for use of a Special Use Facility must present written evidence that the organization had candidates for either federal, state, district, or local offices listed on the ballot at the last general election.
6.(10)5 The rules and regulations applicable to a Special Use Facility may provide for the rental of space for display of advertising and the display of samples of merchandise in designated areas inside the Facility that have been approved by the chief administrative officer of the component institution or his or her delegate, and for advertising by displays on an electronic scoreboard or message center inside the Facility or on the Facility's outdoor electronic marquee or message center. Such rules and regulations may further provide for the sale of advertising space on ticket envelopes for events sponsored by the Facility and in any publication of the Facility distributed in connection with a sponsored event or announcing future sponsored events.
Sec. 7. Speech and Assembly.
7.1 The freedoms of speech and assembly are basic and essential to intellectual development. However, these activities are subject to the well-established right of colleges and universities to regulate time, place, and manner so that the activities do not intrude upon or interfere with the academic programs and administrative processes of the System or the component institutions. Each component institution may designate one or more appropriate areas on the campus where students may assemble and engage in speech activities without prior administrative approval. In other areas on the campus, all speech and assembly activities must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the rules and regulations of the component institution.
Students, faculty or staff who are candidates for public office or who wish to campaign on behalf of a particular candidate or candidates may engage in conduct in behalf of such candidacy in the areas designated pursuant to this Subsection or in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 7.2 of this Chapter relating to off-campus speakers.
7.2 Off-Campus Speakers.--The Board has and reserves the right to regulate the presentation of guest speakers on the campus who are unaffiliated with the System or any component institution thereof (hereafter referred to as off-campus speakers).
7.21 Only registered student organizations, faculty or staff organizations, System-owned dormitories, and Student Government may present off-campus speakers on the campus.
7.22 The organization sponsoring an off-campus speaker has the responsibility of making clear the fact that the organization, not the institution, is extending the invitation to speak and that any views the speaker may express are his or her own and not necessarily those of the System or of any component institution.
7.23 An off-campus speaker is subject to all provisions of federal, state and/or local laws.
7.24 Registered student organizations, faculty or staff organizations, University-owned dormitories, and the students' association may be permitted the use of System-owned facilities to present off-campus speakers on campus pursuant to the facilities use regulations of the System and the institution.
7.25 An application for the use of any facility of the System or a component institution must be made to the chief administrative officer, or his or her delegate, at least forty-eight hours before the time the event is scheduled to take place.
7.26 No person shall be permitted on any campus of the System to engage in speech, either orally or in writing, that is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.
7.27 No off-campus speaker who is to be paid from state funds as consideration for his or her speech shall be permitted to speak on the campus of any component institution of the System unless the university facility in which the speech is to be delivered will be open to the public, including members of the news media, who will be entitled to record, videotape, or telecast live portions of the speech. The provisions of this subdivision do not apply to classes, seminars, symposia, and conferences intended for the use and benefit of students, faculty, staff and invited guests. No person may in any way obstruct or lessen in any way the opportunity for the audience to take the fullest advantage of the speech, including the opportunity to see and hear the speaker during the entire speech.
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