VALDOSTA— Public colleges and universities are open to the public. 

At Valdosta State University, the public can go to the Student Union, Odum Library, lounge on the front lawn and so on, since it’s an open campus.

This is different at a private college or university, as a private institution can regulate access and rights on campus, such as the right to film on the property. 

For example, Emory University, a private institution, requires filling out a film request form prior to filming on its property. Many other private universities will require permission prior to filming and photography on its property, especially for commercial or advertising purposes. There may also be rules in regards to using aerial drones. 

Before entering, photographing or filming, a person should know a university’s policies. 

Jonathan Peters, Columbia Journal Review’s press freedom correspondent and media law professor, wrote on the topic of college campus access in a December 2015 article.

“Private schools generally, as the owner of their premises and buildings, have the legal right and obligation to control access to their campuses,” Peters wrote. “Students at these schools, unless they have rented the space they are using and thus enjoy tenancy rights, do not have the authority to bar journalists from campus spaces. But schools generally may bar journalists.”

At VSU, reporters and the public alike are welcome to go on campus.

“The Office of Communications is the primary point of contact for all media inquiries at Valdosta State University,” said Jessica Pope, VSU communications and media relations coordinator. “As a public institution, VSU welcomes the news media on campus.”

She said reporters should check in with the communications and media relations coordinator upon their arrival on campus or before contacting any faculty, staff or student on campus. This office is responsible for coordinating all interviews and photo shoots for reporters interested in covering university news and events.

The Office of Communications is available at (229) 333-2163 or communications@valdosta.edu.

Regarding the general public being on campus, VSU is part of the Valdosta-Lowndes County community and welcomes the public on campus, Pope said. 

Generally, members of the public come on campus to conduct research at Odum Library, to attend a guest lecture or special event that is open to the public, to shop in the VSU Bookstore or take a class at the Regional Center for Continuing Education. In those instances, they are checking in with the people in charge of these facilities and/or programs to ensure they feel welcome and their needs are being met, she said.

For access to athletic information and athlete interviews, Sports Information Director Matt Malone should be contacted at (229) 333-5903 or mwmalone@valdosta.edu.

However, for both private and public universities, disruptive persons may be asked to leave by the school, and if they do not leave, they would be trespassing.

The Student Press Law Center, splc.org, provides information on access on college campuses as well as vast resources for high school and college journalists. 

In regards to record access, the Clery Act was created to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics. This federal statute is codified as 20 U.S.C. § 1092.

According to the Clery Center website, “The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report to employees and students every Oct. 1. This ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety.

ASRs must also include policy statements regarding, but not limited to, crime reporting, campus facility security and access, law-enforcement authority, incidence of alcohol and drug use and the prevention of and response to sexual assault, domestic or dating violence and stalking.”

More information on the Clery Act is available at clerycenter.org. 

However, some educational records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. More information on this is available on the U.S. Department of Education website by searching FERPA.  

Kimberly Cannon is a Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.