Free Speech and First Amendment Protected Expressive Activities on Campuses

Free speech and First Amendment protected expressive activities at public postsecondary education institutions by students, administrators, faculty members, staff members, and invited guests are protected, pursuant to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) deems the free and open inquiry into all matters fundamental to the mission of higher education and is committed to the preservation of the lawful, free expression of ideas on all of its member campuses, subject only to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. All Bossier Parish Community College campuses shall allow and protect noncommercial expressive activities by any person lawfully present on campus property in accordance with all applicable laws and this Policy.

Protests and demonstrations that infringe upon the constitutional rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity by creating a substantial and material disruption to the functioning of the institution or to someone’s expressive activity in any location reserved for that expressive activity shall not be permitted. No conduct shall be deemed a material and substantial disruption that is protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution of Louisiana. Protected conduct includes but is not limited to lawful protests and counter-protests in the outdoor areas of campus generally accessible to members of the public except during times when these areas have been reserved in advance for other events or minor, brief, or fleeting nonviolent disruptions of events that are isolated and short in duration.

In accordance with Part XIV of Chapter 26 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and R.S. 17:3399.31(1), (2), and (5), 3399.32(A), 3399.33, the heading and introductory paragraph of R.S. 17:3399.34, and 3399.38 and to enact R.S. 17:3399.34(4), (5), and (6), 3399.39, 3399.40, and 3399.41, Bossier Parish Community College hereby adopts this policy on free speech and First Amendment protected expressive activities on all campuses (“Policy”). This Policy applies to all Bossier Parish Community College campuses. For the purposes of this Policy, the definition of key terms and other mandatory provisions shall remain consistent with those in Act 666 of 2018 and Act 727 of 2022, and Act 584 of 2024 codified at R.S. 17:3399:31 through 3399.41. Bossier Parish Community College will amend this Policy to reflect any subsequent changes to these statutes. In cases of any inconsistency, the statutory provisions shall supersede any such inconsistent provision in this Policy. The statutory provisions and this Policy shall supersede any inconsistent provision in an institution’s policy.

Bossier Parish Community College shall develop policies, regulations, and expectations of students regarding free speech and First Amendment protected expressive activities on campus that are consistent with this Part and the policies of its management board. The policies shall outline the rights of students, administrators, faculty, and staff.

Bossier Parish Community College shall adopt an institutional policy in accordance with all applicable laws and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Policy. The college’s policy must comply with applicable laws and regulations and must be amended to reflect any subsequent changes to laws and regulations or the LCTCS Policy. The college policy shall be forwarded to the LCTCS and the Louisiana Board of Regents (BoR).

Click here to download the entire Free Speech and First Amendment Protected Expressive Activities on Campuses PDF.