Title
Student Affairs: Office and Common Area Decoration Standards
Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide specific standards for decorations in office and common spaces in UNC Student Affairs.
Scope of Applicability
This standard applies to all departments, offices, and units in UNC Student Affairs.
Standards
The UNC Student Affairs mission statement provides that “we challenge and enable our students to become compassionate and responsible citizens and leaders by fostering an accessible, inclusive, culturally diverse living and learning campus environment.” As an organization, we are respectful, welcoming and inclusive to all. This commitment entails respect for individual beliefs and differences.
Individuals and departments planning and displaying decorations, including holidays, should ensure inclusiveness and respect consistent with the Student Affairs mission statement.
Units and individuals placing decorations in common areas and personal workspaces should be mindful of the University’s status as a public State institution. Displays in common areas and personal workspaces should reflect our core values in UNC Student Affairs by fostering an accessible, inclusive, and culturally diverse living and learning campus environment.
The following standards apply to common areas and personal workspaces in UNC Student Affairs:
Common Areas
- Given the University’s status as a public State institution, displays, including holiday displays, in our common areas may not endorse or promote a particular religion;
- If decorating in common areas is permitted by the department head, images used should be secular (for example, permitted decorations that represent winter holidays include images of Christmas trees, Kwanzaa symbols, Santa Claus, reindeer, and figures of Frosty the Snow Man, as courts have specifically determined that these are not religious symbols).
Personal Workspace
- If decorating in personal workspace is permitted by the department head, images should be secular (see above);
- Staff should use good judgment if decorating personal workspaces is permitted by the department head;
- Displays in personal workspace should reflect our mission in UNC Student Affairs by fostering an accessible, inclusive, and culturally diverse living and learning campus environment.
Exceptions
Questions or concerns should be referred to the department head or respective Associate Vice Chancellor for guidance.
University Policies and Resources
Contact Information
Primary Contacts
- Primary Contacts: Department heads in UNC Student Affairs.
- Secondary Contacts: Respective Associate Vice Chancellor for UNC Student Affairs.
Review Process
Reviewed by:
- FIRST working group
- Department heads in UNC Student Affairs
- Human Resource and Finance staff in UNC Student Affairs
- Senior Executive Team in UNC Student Affairs