Free Speech at NOVA

NOVA Supports Your Right to Free Speech

Northern Virginia Community College is committed to the free exchange of ideas and activities by its faculty, staff, and students.

The U.S. Constitution protects many forms of “expressive activity,” and in accordance, NOVA has developed a series of policies to protect the rights of its students, faculty, and staff. These policies provide guidance on permitted campus locations for expressive activity, as well as detail certain forms of restricted behavior and activities. NOVA policy also addresses visitors wishing to use campus facilities to engage in expressive activities. The links below will direct you to NOVA’s speech and expression policies.

Expressive Activity Policy

What is Expressive Activity?

The term “expressive activity” includes meetings and other group activities of students and student organizations, speeches, performances, demonstrations, rallies, vigils, the distribution of literature, and many other forms of expression protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Learn About the Expressive Activity Policy

Report an Incident

NOVA encourages you to reach out to our designated officials to report an incident that you believe has disrupted your right to protected speech. The link to submit a report is below. If, after referring to NOVA’s policies and the below commonly asked questions, you are unsure whether such an event has taken place, please submit a question below.

Submit a Report