Rider University is committed to the free and open exchange of ideas and information, which is critical to creating and maintaining an engaged and knowledgeable University community – the hallmark of a vibrant educational environment. Part of this commitment, as enumerated in the University’s Strategic Plan, is engagement with the larger community.
While Rider is a private, residential college on private property, it welcomes the public and the media, to many of its events. The University’s starting position towards media is a presumption of openness. External media access, however, may be managed to protect the learning environment and members of the University community’s reasonable expectations of privacy on a residential campus. Please see the Rider Sports Communications Athletics-specific Media Policy.
Most events happening outdoors, and those announced as open to the public, are likewise open to external and student media. While some speakers or performers might place restrictions on recording or photography, in those instances the University will attempt to notify external media in advance. In contracts with speakers, performers or third parties, the University will request access for campus and student media, and if unsuccessful will attempt to notify campus and student media in advance.
External media requesting to cover events or report on other stories at Rider University must contact the Office of University Marketing & Communications for authorization. Decisions regarding external media access are the purview of University administrators, who, in consultation with Public Safety, may limit or preclude external media access to campus, including, but not limited to, during emergencies.
Student media are afforded the same editorial freedoms and privileges as external media. Campus access privileges that the Rider student body enjoys* should not be denied to the representatives of student media. The University’s starting position toward student media is a presumption of openness, in keeping with the educational, engaged learning and hands-on experiences provided to the University’s communication and journalism students.
Student media access may be restricted only in the following cases: private functions (limited attendance by invitation only); unfolding campus emergencies or safety-related incidents such as, but not limited to, fires, injuries, car accidents, structural hazards; and situations where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Representatives of student media seeking access for reporting purposes to closed educational forums (classrooms when class is in session; designated quiet-study areas; research labs) should seek permission from the appropriate professors or administrators in advance. Professors and administrators may contact the Office of University Marketing & Communications for guidance regarding appropriate access, or limits thereupon.
At campus events, the University can not guarantee privacy or anonymity.
Questions that arise regarding implementation of this media policy for external media should be directed to the Office of University Marketing & Communications. Questions specific to Athletics should be directed to the office of Sports Communication per the Rider Sports Communications Media Policy.
Questions that occur regarding implementation of this media policy for student and campus media should be directed to the Office of University Marketing & Communications. The Office of University Marketing & Communications shall collaborate with the designated representative of the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Media, in advance of rendering a decision when possible. Further consultation may occur with relevant club/organization advisors.
What constitutes “attendance by invitation only”:
An event “by invitation only” is separate and different from a publicly-advertised event. Invitations are sent to a specific list of people or to a specific group, not broadly. Department meetings, staff meetings, and such are envisioned as invitation-only. Event organizers who send invitations may limit attendance, but the organizer may choose to extend an invitation to campus media. If an event is invitation-only, then efforts must be made to ensure only invitees are in attendance.
There is no expectation of privacy or anonymity at University group events; in the age of social media there is always a risk that any participant may share information from the event. Confidentiality can not be guaranteed in any group events (confidential matters may be better suited to private meetings).
The policy should be distributed annually to the campus community.
*Conduct of all students is governed by the Student Code of Social Conduct