As student organizations engage in campus dialogue, advocacy, events, and other forms of expression, student affairs professionals navigate an increasingly complex range of legal and institutional considerations. This briefing will bring together legal perspectives from the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) to explore how free speech and academic freedom considerations intersect with student organizations and what these issues mean for student affairs practice. Participants will gain timely insights into the legal landscape and considerations for supporting and advising student organizations during the fall semester.

Learning Outcomes:

After this briefing participants will be able to:

• Describe legal principles that shape student organization expression and activity on campus.
• Explain how free speech, academic freedom, institutional policies, and student organization rights and responsibilities intersect in practice.
• Distinguish the respective roles of student affairs professionals and campus counsel when navigating complex or contentious student organization issues.
• Identify practical considerations for advising student organizations, responding to controversial events or speakers, and applying institutional policies consistently.
• Apply relevant questions, considerations, and strategies when navigating student organization and campus speech issues on their campuses.