University of Tampa: Students Barred from Associating with Unrecognized Groups

In August 2026, the University of Tampa adopted a new policy prohibiting students from promoting or affiliating with organizations that operate without university recognition. That month, UTampa ordered two unaffiliated fraternity chapters to stop recruiting students or conducting organizational activities with them. On September 11, FIRE wrote UTampa explaining that freedom of association protects students’ right to associate with organizations unaffiliated with their university. We called on the university to rescind or narrow its policy to protect the expressive rights it promises students. In response to our letter, UTampa rescinded the restrictions on September 22.