University Educational Programming

With free speech and the upcoming presidential elections in the national conversation, Cal Poly Humboldt is launching several educational initiatives that enhance the understanding of California State University’s interim Time, Place, and Manner (TPM) policy, Cal Poly Humboldt’s addendum to the policy, and the campus climate; support free speech activities and voter engagement; and align with the University’s educational goals. These programs and activities are supported by one-time funding from the CSU. 

Some programs are tailored for certain campus groups; others provide insight applicable to the campus community and the public. All activities are designed to create spaces where you can ask questions, understand policy, and provide feedback. 

For more information about the TPM policy, free speech, and more, go to humboldt.edu/free-speech.

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TPM Policy-specific Activities

Broad community access to TPM policy discussions that will build on Student Rights & Responsibilities sessions during Welcome Week and a TPM policy session for faculty and staff during Professional Development Day. 

TPM Lunch & Learn—for faculty and staff  
Because of the significant interest in the August TPM session included in campus Professional Development Day for faculty and staff, Cal Poly Humboldt sponsored a presentation of the policy information that included a Q&A session. (August)

TPM Session—for Associated Students (AS)
Cal Poly Humboldt leadership met with the AS Board in September to provide an overview of the TPM policy and free speech guidelines on campus, and to also discuss co-sponsorship of the student-focused Caffeine & Conversation event. (September)

TPM Caffeine & Conversation—for students 
A student-focused overview of the TPM policy and free speech guidelines on campus. Included a Q&A session. (Oct. 4)

Free Speech and Demonstrations Guide—for students  
Cal Poly Humboldt has updated a long-standing student resource guide to align with the CSUpolicy. The guide will be printed and distributed at various student activities. 

Free Speech Takeaway Card

A small-format handout for TPM policy/Free Speech campus sessions with a QR code that links to relevant information online. 

TPM Stakeholder Sessions—for key stakeholders
Sessions led by University leadership and offered to key stakeholder groups, such as the University Senate (session held in September). Any divisional leadership teams, student organizations, and college chairs meetings, and other groups interested in arranging a session are welcome to contact Chrissy Holliday, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, at chrissy.holliday@humboldt.edu. Sessions will include a Q&A. (Fall 2024 and Spring 2025)

Community Engagement Team (CET) and broad campus de-escalation training 

This training provides de-escalation, empathy, and engagement skills to members of the CET and other interested members of the campus community, as space allows. 

Civility/Collegiality  

Activities that support the University’s long-standing history of activism through respectful dialogue, mutual understanding, and constructive communication.  

Know Your Rights/Civility Day—for students

Civility Day is a newly-developing annual event designed by the Dean of Students Office in partnership with AS and local community college partner, College of the Redwoods. The event will provide a high-level overview of civil discourse, establish community standards among students, and create a Lumberjack Commitment Pledge.  (October)

Fostering Collegial Conversations: Speaker Series—for faculty and staff

Planned by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Center for Teaching & Learning, this speaker series continues conversations from the Fall 2024 Professional Development Day. Conversations revolve around campus healing through trauma-informed and restorative justice frameworks of civility. (Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5)

Spring Professional Development Day 2025—for faculty and staff

The Center for Teaching & Learning will lead an event intended to revisit common values and techniques for promoting respectful and constructive dialogue among colleagues. The event will work to rediscover each other as colleagues and re-envision a campus community that leads in times of challenge and change. 

Psychological First Aid During Crisis—for campus community

This training, provided by the Green Cross, focuses on empathy, relating in a healthy way, and self-regulation during high-stress situations and crises.

Elections/Voter Engagement

Opportunities to educate not only our campus community through watch parties for the presidential and vice presidential debates, but also local community members as the campus returns as a polling site this November.

Presidential Debate—for students  

A watch party for the presidential election debate with a discussion on political topics, as well as voter registration.  ( Sept. 10)

National Voter Registration Day—for students 

Cal Poly Humboldt giveaway for each student who registered on site, updated registration, or showed registration confirmation. (Sept. 17) 

VP Presidential Debate—for students

A watch party for the vice presidential election debate with a discussion on political topics, as well as voter registration. The Humboldt County Elections Commissioner also explained how local and mail-in voting functions. (Oct. 1)

Trivia Night! It’s a Political Party!—for students 

A competitive trivia night that was themed around voting and elections. (Oct. 3)

Effective Organizing

Effective Organizing Engagement—for students

Faculty and staff are planning efforts to engage students in conversations around effective organizing, including a wide spectrum of methods for achieving desired change and utilizing freedom of expression to draw attention to issues that our students care most about. Dates TBD.

Campus Safety & Law Enforcement-led Training     

Know Your Rights—for students

An opportunity where students can freely ask law enforcement questions about topics they feel are relevant, such as free speech, protesting, the legal system, campus tools and resources for reporting crimes. Dates TBD.

General Communication/Education Supports

Video Content Platform—for students

Implementation of GoodCourse, a video platform for educational content for our students and created by college students. Its use will be managed by Strategic Student Communications and the Dean of Students Office, with initial pilot use for topics including free speech, TPM policy, collegiality, and elections. Content topics will be expanded to other student-focused content, such as mental health, belonging, and more. The first short course, focused on TPM, launched Oct. 4.

Expanded Campus Impact

Expanded Campus Impact—for campus community

Students, faculty, and staff will be invited to submit proposals for small grants ($2,000 maximum) for educational initiatives that will expand the impact of our free speech and constructive dialogue efforts and allow for a more inclusive approach to these campus educational efforts. An application process will be announced soon. 

Tie-ins with Other Planned Campus Events

Additional programming focused on meaningful, constructive dialogue will be incorporated into long-standing programs and transformative campus events related to new students and social justice.

Orientation Presentation—for students

A pilot online course regarding TPM policy standards, and Freedom of Speech and expression for incoming students. (Spring 2025)

The Campus & Community Dialogue on Race—for campus and local community

Open to the public, CCDOR is an annual event for programs on racial justice and its intersections with all forms of oppression and resistance. Programs will create spaces and structures for reflection, analysis, dialogue, and positive strategies for change.  (Oct. 21-25)

Social Justice Summit—for campus and local community

The annual Social Justice Summit seeks to question and redefine societal narratives. It's dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of people of color, queer, disabled, and other intersectional communities, creating a safe and empathetic space for meaningful dialogue. (Spring 2025)