Franklin & Marshall College is committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This Campus Access Policy outlines the guidelines for accessing and utilizing College facilities and resources. The policy aims to balance the needs of the College Community for safety, security and responsible stewardship of College resources with the need for open access and inclusivity.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all Franklin & Marshall College staff, faculty, and students, as well as visitors. This policy applies to College Property, with the exception of the Protest Tree.

III. Definitions

1. 1. College Property: All land, ground structures, facilities, and/or other physical property owned, controlled or operated by the College, including approved off-campus student housing facilities. Off-campus space that is rented or reserved for the purposes of College-sponsored events is considered to be controlled by the College.

   2. College Community: Students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees with valid College-issued identification.

   3. Posters: Any flyer, banner, hanging sign, electronic or lighting display projected on a surface or other document, including but not limited to advertisements, announcements, notices, or informational materials.

   4. Posting Sponsor: Employee, recognized student organization, administrative unit, department, assembly, or other entity that is currently affiliated with the College.

   5. Recognized Student Organizations: Student groups officially recognized by the College through the Office of Student Engagement.

   6. Solicitation: An active attempt to request money or support for, or participation in, groups/organizations, products, or services.

IV. Policy

1. 1. General Access
      

      Use of the College’s property is for the support of its teaching, research, service missions, administrative functions, and students’ campus life activities.  Although the College recognizes that it is a campus without gates or clearly defined boundaries and that members of the Lancaster community may traverse the grounds, access to College Property is granted at the sole discretion of the College and may be restricted or denied at any time for any reason deemed necessary by the College, including, but not limited to, maintaining safety and security, protecting property, and upholding the College's mission and values.  

      For that reason, most buildings are controlled by card access and are only accessible by members of the College Community. Unless specifically designated as "open to the public," all Franklin & Marshall College meetings, activities and events on campus are considered to be limited to participation by members of the College Community and are designated as private spaces.

      College Community members with valid F&M-issued IDs may access relevant campus facilities during open hours. To enhance security in its buildings, Franklin & Marshall College controls access to all buildings by limiting and controlling the use and function of both access cards and keys issued to members of the College Community as well as volunteers, contractors, outside vendors, and conference and camp participants.

      Any individual attending an event designated as "open to the public" must adhere to all College rules of conduct, all rules and conditions prescribed for that event, and state and federal law. Members of the public are not authorized to enter any building other than the building where the event is scheduled to occur. 

      Individuals on College Property may be required to provide identification establishing that the individual is a bona fide, currently registered student, staff, or faculty member at the institution, or has lawful activity to pursue at the College.

   2. Solicitation
      

      Only students, faculty, and staff may solicit on campus unless otherwise allowed by this policy.

      1. Students and recognized student organizations must request approval from the Office of Student Engagement to solicit or fundraise on campus.

      2. Faculty and staff should consult with their chair or supervisor, as appropriate, prior to engaging in any Solicitation unrelated to the educational mission of the College. Consideration should also be given to consultation with Advancement for activities intended to support College or departmental goals.

      3. Off-campus individuals or groups are permitted to solicit on campus only with co-sponsorship by an approved College organization or department or by contract.  Credit card marketing and Solicitation is expressly prohibited on College Property.

      4. Use of the College network and/or personal web pages to offer goods or services of a business or commercial nature is prohibited, pursuant to the College’s educational mission, unless prior permission has been granted by ITS for such use.

      5. Solicitations must not disrupt College activities or obstruct or impede entry to or exit from buildings, pedestrian movement, or vehicle traffic flow.

       

   3. Bulletin Boards, Postings/Display Spaces, and Displays
      

      The use of bulletin boards and similar posting/display spaces in centralized locations on the Franklin & Marshall College campus that are accessible to the public, such as those in the Steinman College Center, ASFC, and publicly accessible library spaces, are generally for the use of members of the College Community.  All bulletin boards and similar posting/display spaces in College buildings and on campus are intended for notices and other materials related to the mission and goals of the College, not for commercial advertisements.

      Bulletin boards and posting/display spaces that are locally controlled by and assigned to individual departments, labs, recognized student organizations, or residential living communities are subject to the rules of those respective groups that are not inconsistent with this policy.

      The general rules applicable to all bulletin boards and postings/display spaces are as follows:

      1. Posters that violate law or F&M policies are prohibited and may be removed.

      2. Posters advertising events must be removed by the Posting Sponsor within five days of the advertised date of any event or activity advertised on the poster.  

      3. Posters must only be affixed with materials that do not cause permanent damage to surfaces. For questions about appropriate materials please contact facilities@fandm.edu.

      4. Any posting that has been damaged, is deemed unreadable, or that remains posted after an event has occurred may be removed.

       

      Individuals are prohibited from removing/taking down a posting, unless they or a group they are associated with are responsible for the posting. If an individual believes that a posting violates this or other College policy, they should report the posting to the Office of Student Engagement. 

   4. Enforcement
      

      Any individual on College Property without permission may be asked to leave. The Department of Public Safety may enforce such requests and failure to leave campus when requested may result in further action by law enforcement, the issuance of a trespass notice, and/or other appropriate action.  

-----
Policy Maintained by: Office of General Counsel
Last Reviewed: February 26, 2025