Canvassing at CU Boulder

"Canvassing" means sharing a non-commercial message with the public and/or CU affiliates. For example, holding a sign, collecting petition signatures, or handing out flyers or literature. Canvassing activities must comply with the CUUF Appendix on Canvassing. 

General Guidelines:  

  1. Canvassing can’t obstruct or disrupt entrance or egress to any facility or outdoor space, or obstruct or disrupt the flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 
  1. To avoid trash and as part of CU’s sustainability goals, canvassers can’t leave literature, fliers, samples, promotional items, coupons or any other tangible items behind or unattended anywhere on campus. 

Non-affiliate Guidelines:  

“Non-Affiliate” means a person who is not a CU Boulder student or employee.  

Non-Affiliates who wish to engage in canvassing must schedule their intended activity as an event or conduct their activity in the Dalton Trumbo Fountain Court. The instructions on how to do this are found in Section VII.7 of the CUUF Procedures.  

Dalton Trumbo Fountain Court - In recognition of its namesake, free speech and civil rights advocate Dalton Trumbo, the Dalton Trumbo Fountain Court (“Fountain Court”) area provides a space for the free expression of ideas on campus by allowing for public non-commercial discussion and public expression without scheduling between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. as long as another event is not scheduled during those times. 

Chalking may not be used to promote organizations or events that are not affiliated with CU Boulder. 

Free-Standing Signs may be placed only by a non-affiliate who has been granted the authority through an existing University Contract. 

Tabling on campus as a non-affiliate: 

For people without a formal university affiliation, you will need to secure sponsorship from one of our recognized student organizations (RSO). We encourage you to align yourself with an RSO that shares your organization’s mission. Please contact the student(s) listed on the website and ask if they are an organization administrator/org admin for their RSO.  

An org admin is required for a contract to be executed. When completing the contract, you will be prompted to enter the RSO representative’s name and email address. Click the link here for a list of active RSOs. 

Products that are in competition with the CU Book Store and the University Memorial Center (UMC) food/beverage vendors are not allowed inside or directly outside of the UMC. For activities that use outside food/beverages to distribute, the reservation location will be outside, south of the Visual Arts Complex (VAC). 

Cost: $100 per day for non-university groups. 

Student Guidelines: 
Publicly accessible outdoor spaces constitute a Student Forum. Therefore: 

  1. Students may engage in unscheduled canvassing on sidewalks, and in other publicly accessible outdoor areas not otherwise scheduled for an event, as long as they maintain a 25-foot distance from building entrances and from areas scheduled for events. 
  1. Students engaged in canvassing may not use tables, displays or any other temporary structure, permanent structure or framework. 
  1. The use of amplified sound for unscheduled canvassing is only permitted in the Dalton Trumbo fountain area Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. – 1p.m., and during specified times during nights and weekends. 

Tabling on campus as a student: 

  1. Tabling on campus needs to be scheduled through the scheduling authority, typically Events, Planning & Catering. To do so, click here.  

Postering on campus as a student: 

  1. Postering in outdoor spaces is generally not permitted, with the exception of the Ekeley Kiosk. Postering in buildings must follow the guidance set by that building proctor. The list of building proctors can be found here.  

Freedom of Speech  

CU Boulder welcomes a variety of ideas and perspectives with the understanding that they will be shared, discussed and debated, and could be ignored, embraced or rejected. Speech is not protected when it constitutes discrimination or harassment targeted at an individual or defined group of individuals based on protected-class identity:  

  • Discrimination occurs when an individual suffers an adverse consequence––such as being deprived of a resource, opportunity or benefit such as failure to be hired or denial of admission to an academic program––on the basis of protected class.  
  • Harassment is defined by unwelcome verbal or physical conduct related to one’s protected class that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work or academic performance, or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational environment. 

For more information, click here: Free Expression | University of Colorado Boulder