CCA is a community whose goal is to shape culture and society through the practice and critical study of art, architecture, design, and writing, and are passionate about exploring and expressing our ideas. Students and faculty are encouraged to challenge themselves, to inspire one another, and to make a meaningful impact in the world. We recognize the power of narrative as a tool for artists, designers, architects, and writers to translate the most pressing social, cultural, environmental, and economic issues of our time into their work. To support CCA’s mission and the ideals of a liberal arts education, we rely upon a longstanding commitment to open inquiry and the free exchange of ideas.

At times, our commitment to social thought and free expression is tested by our equally clear commitment to a safe, secure environment where all of us can teach, learn, and carry out our work in support of CCA’s mission. When respectful free expression is not consistently upheld within a college community, it is essential for us to take proactive steps toward clarifying our commitment to collegial discourse and restoring these principles. Understanding how our policies frame and govern the landscape of free expression is a critical step toward demonstrating our commitment.

The Task Force on Expression, Community, and Policy (the task force) analyzed the current landscape of free expression at California College of the Arts (CCA) and identified steps to clarify our principles, procedures, and policies related to various forms of college expression.

Over ten weeks, the task force participated in the critical activity of understanding how best to foster responsible expression in a passionate community where social justice practice and the critical study of ideas, art, architecture, design, and writing are core to CCA’s mission. Thanks to the students, faculty, and staff who contributed to our work by providing input individually and through our Campus Expression and Community Pulse Point Survey.

An Executive Summary was presented to the President's Cabinet and the Executive Council of the Faculty Senate on May 8, 2024 and is available (PDF) on this page as a "Resource". The full report will be published Summer 2024.

At the direction of President Howse and Provost Carland, the Task Force on Expression, Community & Policy will convene weekly, beginning in February 2024, with the following charge:

• Review CCA’s policies, statements, values, and resources that govern responsible expression and conduct expectations for students, faculty, and staff within core educational activities (i.e. courses, studio, projects, and exhibitions) and those activities that most support the CCA experience.
• Consult relevant scholarship, case studies, contemporary sources, and policy statements on these and related issues.
• Review examples of “time, place, and manner” policies to determine how CCA considers context within free expression.
• Gather and reflect on the input from faculty, staff, students, and trustee members through consultation with constituents--such as pulse surveys/organized forums.
• Coordinate and align the Task Force's review with any corresponding committee or policy stewardship work to determine where faculty, staff, and student distinctions exist.
• Address the following questions in our recommendations:
  1. How does CCA create or update its statements regarding academic freedom, freedom of expression, and/or college communication guidelines–such as social media, email lists, Zoom protocol, postings on campus, etc.? Where is there the greatest need for clarity?
  2. What policy and guidance language should we adopt regarding these and other associated concepts as a community?
  3. What alternatives to policy are needed in the CCA community?
  4. What are the designated processes (and who is responsible) for negotiating disagreements and restoring dialogue when creative, educational, or social harms have been expressed?

• Based on the collective consultation, provide recommendations for changes or additions to existing CCA statements or guidance.
• Recommend key principles, processes, and tools for ensuring creative inquiry and expression can flourish in the spirit of mutual respect. Articulate how these approaches and tools might provide practical guidance for a range of possible scenarios.
• Assist in shaping the communication and education to CCA faculty, students, and staff related to the Task Force efforts

The Task Force shall meet regularly and present its preliminary recommendations to the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate by the close of the 2024 spring semester.

Members of the Task Force represent a distribution of voices of Ranked Faculty, Staff, Administrators, and Students across academic and administrative divisions.

Tricia Brand, Convener, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Leigh Sata - Vice President for Operations and Capital Projects

George Sedano- Vice President, Student Affairs

Dominick Tracy - Associate Provost for Accreditation and Curricular Effectiveness

Rachel Berger- Associate Professor, Graphic Design | President of the Faculty Senate

Maxwell Leung - Associate Professor, Critical Studies, and Critical Ethnic Studies | Humanities & Sciences Division

Roon Kang - Associate Professor, Chair Graphic Design | Design Division

Jaime Austin - Director, Exhibitions and Public Programming

Jeannine Szamreta - Associate Vice President, Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Joyce Alcantara - Assistant Director, Marketing and Content Strategy

Suzanne Guevarra - Director of Human Resources

Megan Staub- Advancement & Events Associate

Mary Aymor Thuku - Executive Assistant to HR, Enrollment, Office of DEIB, and Provost Office/HR Coordinator

Katayoun Bahrami - Student Representative