Posting Policy

This policy outlines the expectations when individuals or groups seek to post on campus and in the residence halls. This policy covers posting items such as advertisements, flyers, announcements, posters, etc. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, students should contact Student Life (studentlife@risd.edu), and all other Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) community members should contact Campus Services (campusservices@risd.edu).

This policy applies to all RISD staff, faculty, students and student organizations.

RISD supports posting for campus-related events and students, faculty, and staff to express themselves freely. RISD expects all students, faculty, and staff to conduct their discourse in alignment with the Nondiscrimination Policy & Procedures, Respect in the Workplace Policy, and Code of Student Conduct. This policy is not intended to alter any provision of any collective bargaining agreement. The College does not seek to limit or change the content of postings but to ensure that all postings comply with RISD policies and standards of conduct. RISD takes pride in our facilities and we expect all members of the community to treat them with respect.

Approval & Sponsorship

In order to be posted on RISD property, final designs for all postings must be approved by a sponsoring RISD department and must include the following information:

• name of the sponsoring department
• contact information
• anticipated posting date and/or event date, if applicable

Posting

• As determined by individual departments, flyers and announcements may be posted in designated spaces, including bulletin boards and poster cases.
• Flyers and announcements must NOT be posted in stairwells, stairwell doors, or glass doors. All postings found in these areas will be removed immediately to comply with fire codes.
• Postings must not obstruct exit signs, exit doors, or fire systems due to fire code concerns.
• Painter’s tape is the only approved adhesive for posting on RISD property. Posting with adhesives or materials such as glue or duct tape that damage surfaces is prohibited.

Safety & Removal

• By noon on the first Monday of the month, all postings will be removed and disposed of by RISD Facilities staff. Postings with no visible dates will be removed according to the facilities schedule above.
• Sponsoring departments and facilities services are not responsible for returning posters or flyers, nor are they responsible for maintaining posters or flyers once posted.
• Sponsoring groups are responsible for removing their postings once the event has passed.
• Any materials lacking the name of a sponsoring group will be removed and discarded.

Postings that display threats, obscenity, false advertising, defamation, invasion of privacy, unlawful harassment, or that violate RISD’s policies, rules, or codes of conduct are prohibited and will be removed. Any costs associated with the removal will be billed to the sponsoring department or individual.

Additional guidelines for posting in Residence Halls

• All flyers to be posted in residence halls must be taken to the Residence Life Office at 30 Waterman for approval and posting. Flier distribution will be the responsibility of the Residence Life staff.
• Students, faculty, staff and student organizations should allow 7 business days (Monday - Friday) prior to their event for posting. Event flyers that are within 7 business days will not be distributed since there is no guarantee that they will be posted in time for the event.
• Fliers received and approved before Wednesday at 12 pm each week will be posted in the Residence Halls by 10 pm on Wednesday nights. Posters received after 12 pm on Wednesday will be posted by the following Wednesday by 10 pm.
• Non-RISD flyers or announcements may only be posted in the residence halls with the permission of the Residence Life Office.

Posting on RISD Beach Wall

• Use of the RISD Beach Wall is overseen by Campus Services and requires a reservation.
• Banners and other postings can be mounted using tape or rope.
• Use of chalk, markers, paint or other adhesives directly on the brick surface is prohibited.

Use of spray chalk, spray paint or other forms of paint, or other similar media that may damage College property is strictly prohibited. Please see the Spray of Applied Materials Policy.

Policy Sanctions

RISD faculty, staff, and students who engage in activities that violate this policy will be referred to the appropriate office for corrective action. Violating this policy may result in consequences, including possible expulsion of students or termination of employees. While these outcomes are not guaranteed, they represent the most severe actions that could be taken.

Additionally, RISD reserves the right to review alleged violations of this policy in conjunction with other appropriate offices and under other applicable College policies and procedures, including but not limited to those listed under Related Policies.

• Respect in the Workplace Policy
• Campus Protests and Demonstrations Policy
• Spray of Applied Materials (Adhesives, Paint, Finishes, Fixatives) Policy
• Nondiscrimination Policy & Procedures 2023-24

This policy was created on: 8/4/2014

This policy was last reviewed/modified on: 9/16/2024

Next scheduled review: 9/16/2026

Issuing Office

Environmental Health and Safety

Responsible Officer

Vice President, Campus Services

Individuals/offices required for review and changes

Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration

Vice President, Student Life

Manager, Environmental Health and Safety