Institutional neutrality preserves campus freedom of expression and intellectual diversity. When a university remains neutral and abstains from declaring a collective opinion on political and social issues, it frees students and faculty to develop and articulate their own individual ideas and opinions.
New York, NY
On September 11, 2024, President Laura Rosenbury announced Barnard’s adoption of institutional neutrality on a new website. As the site explains, “this commitment to institutional neutrality is particularly important when there is robust debate and a wide range of positions within the Barnard community.”
Claremont, CA
On February 25, 2023, the Claremont McKenna College Board of Trustees endorsed the Kalven Report, building on its Statement in Support of Institutional Nonpartisanship adopted on December 6, 2018.
Worcester, MA
In early 2024, President Vincent Rougeau of The College of the Holy Cross published Our Statement on Statements, in which he announced that, “Holy Cross will no longer comment, as an institution, on matters or events that are not directly connected to our work and identity as an academic institution.”
Boston, MA
On August 8, 2024, Emerson College committed to institutional neutrality. Its new Policy on Institutional Neutrality and Mutual Respect states, “Emerson College and its operating units will not take official positions or issue statements on complex geopolitical issues, nor will Emerson College consider political pressure in allocating resources or selecting strategic partners.”
Portland, OR
On January 13, 1978, the Reed College Board of Trustees adopted a policy on Academic Freedom & Institutional Political Neutrality, developing an earlier statement on political neutrality approved by the faculty on April 19, 1971.
Columbus, OH
On August 16, 2023, The Ohio State University Board of Trustees adopted its Philosophy on Institutional and Leadership Statements in Support of the Chicago Principles, which places limitations on institutional statements concerning social or political action.
West Lafayette, IN
On June 7, 2024, the Purdue University Board of Trustees approved a Statement of Policy on Institutional Neutrality, which commits the university to the principles of institutional neutrality.
AL
On Sept. 5, 2024, the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees passed a resolution committing the System to institutional neutrality, stating, “to safeguard the freedom of speech and expression for members of the System community, the System itself must remain neutral on political and social issues unless the issue directly affects any aspect of the System’s core operations.”
Chicago, IL
In November 1967, a University of Chicago faculty committee, under the chairmanship of Harry Kalven, Jr., published the Report on the University’s Role in Political and Social Action, which advocates for institutional neutrality.
Ann Arbor, MI
On October 17, 2024, the University of Michigan Board of Regents adopted Bylaw 14.08 establishing a policy of institutional neutrality. About the new policy, Regent Sarah Hubbard explained, “It says the experts and scholars should be the ones engaged in public debate and discourse. They should move knowledge and fields forward. It’s not up to chairs, deans or administrators to make those arguments on behalf of the university.”
NC
On July 14, 2023, North Carolina Senate Bill 195 became law. It amended North Carolina General Statutes Annotated § 116-300, adding a new institutional neutrality requirement to the free expression policy that must be promulgated by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
• Appalachian State University: On June 23, 2023, the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution on the Affirmation of Freedom of Speech at Appalachian State University, which protects institutional neutrality.
• East Carolina University: On February 3, 2023, the East Carolina University Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution on the Affirmation of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech, which protects institutional neutrality.
• Elizabeth City State University: On October 16, 2023, the Elizabeth City State University Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution on the Affirmation of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech, which protects institutional neutrality.
• North Carolina State University: On April 26, 2024, the North Carolina State University Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution on the Reaffirmation of Academic Freedom, Freedom of Speech, and Institutional Neutrality, which protects institutional neutrality.
• UNC–Charlotte: On February 15, 2024, the University of North Carolina–Charlotte Board of Trustees adopted an Affirmation of Institutional Neutrality, which protects institutional neutrality.
• UNC–Chapel Hill: On July 27, 2022, the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill Board of Trustees passed a Resolution on the Affirmation of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech that further maintains institutional neutrality.
• UNC–Greensboro: On May 23, 2023, the University of North Carolina–Greensboro Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution in Support of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression that protects institutional neutrality.
• UNC–Pembroke: On November 10, 2023, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution on the Affirmation of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech.
• UNC–Wilmington: On October 13, 2023, the University of North Carolina Wilmington adopted a Resolution on the Affirmation of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech, which protects institutional neutrality.
• Western Carolina University: On June 9, 2023, the Western Carolina University Board of Trustees adopted a Resolution Regarding Affirmation of Academic Freedom of Speech. The text of this Resolution “can be found in TAB D-2 of the Trustee material” and is, to this point, not publicly available.
Philadelphia, PA
On September 10, 2024, interim president J. Larry Jameson announced Penn’s adoption of a new policy that includes a commitment to institutional restraint, stating, “Going forward, the University of Pennsylvania will refrain from institutional statements made in response to local and world events except for those which have direct and significant bearing on University functions.”
TN
On January 17, 2024, the University of Tennessee System adopted a system-wide policy of institutional neutrality, explaining “University administrators shall honor the principle of institutional neutrality and refrain from making statements on disputed political, moral, and religious topics.”
TX
At its August 21–22, 2024, meeting, the University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents adopted a policy of institutional neutrality for all UT schools. The policy states that it is not “the role of the UT System or UT institutions to adopt positions based on political or social passions or pressures.”
Charlottesville, VA
On September 13, 2024, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors passed a resolution supporting UVA’s Committee on Institutional Statements’ August 2024 report. The committee’s report recommends, “the University of Virginia should express no opinions about social and political questions except as those questions directly affect its mission or operations.”
WI
On September 12, 2024, the University of Wisconsin System adopted an interim policy on institutional statements. The policy “applies to UW System Administration and all UW universities, including all units.” It states, “Institutional statements issued by university leaders should be limited to matters that directly affect the operations and core mission of the university, and should maintain viewpoint neutrality in any reference to any matter of political or social controversy.”
• On September 13, 2024, UW Madison adopted institutional neutrality in its new policy on Institutional and Public Position Statements.
Laramie, WY
In 2023, the University of Wyoming’s Working Group on Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue issued a Statement of the University of Wyoming Principles, which reads, “while University leaders will make decisions about matters that further UW’s educational mission, they do not, on principle, commit the University in ways that are outside of its core academic purpose.”
UT
On December 1, 2023, the Utah Board of Higher Education adopted a Resolution Establishing Expectations for Implementing Principles of Free Expression on Campus. It requires institutions belonging to the Utah System of Higher Education to “establish policies, practices, and procedures” to maintain institutional neutrality.
• Southern Utah University has adopted institutional neutrality as part of its policy on Free Speech and Advocacy on Campus.
• The University of Utah articulates a commitment to institutional neutrality on its webpage devoted to Academic Freedom & Speech.
• Utah State University has expressed its commitment to institutional neutrality in a statement from the president’s office.
• Utah Valley University issued a letter acknowledging the Utah Board of Higher Education’s requirement of institutional neutrality for public universities.
• Weber State University affirms a commitment to institutional neutrality in a statement on free speech from the Office of University Legal Counsel.
Nashville, TN
On May 4, 2022, Vanderbilt University’s chancellor wrote an opinion-editorial asking university leaders to adhere to institutional neutrality. Vanderbilt’s website includes the following statement: “Institutional neutrality is the commitment our university leaders make to refrain from taking public positions on controversial issues unless the issue is materially related to the core mission and functioning of the university. Institutional neutrality does not obligate a university’s students and faculty to remain silent—rather, its aim is to allow the greatest possible space for student and faculty voices.”
Pullman, WA
On September 9, 2024, President Kirk Schulz announced WSU’s adoption of institutional neutrality, explaining, “Taking an institutional stance on controversial issues risks shutting down debate and limiting the free exchange of ideas. Our role as a university is to foster discussion, not stifle it.”
Bowling Green, KY
On March 25, 2024, Western Kentucky University (WKU) President Timothy C. Caboni issued a statement on Free Speech and Free Expression on Campus, which references the Kalven Report. The statement reads in part, “WKU intentionally refrains from engaging in matters tangential to our core mission of educating students, knowledge creation and dissemination.”
Worcester, MA
On June 10, 2024, President David Fithian announced a new policy on institutional statements, explaining “as a general practice the University should, going forward, decline to make official statements on matters that fall outside the context of advancing or impacting our core mission as an academic institution, particularly social and political events.”
New York, NY
On February 2, 2024, the Columbia University Senate passed a Resolution Reconfirming Our Commitment to the Principles of Academic Freedom and Shared Governance. It reads, “The University and its leaders should refrain from taking political positions in their institutional capacity, either as explicit statements or as the basis of policy.”
Ithaca, NY
On August 26, 2024, Cornell University Interim President Michael Kotlikoff and Interim Provost John Siliciano issued a statement affirming institutional neutrality. They write, “In furtherance of institutional neutrality and deference to the many and diverse views in the Cornell community, the President and Provost will refrain from opining on national or global events that do not directly impact the university.”
Philadelphia, PA
On September 24, 2024, Incoming Interim President Denis P. O’Brien announced in a message to the Drexel community, “Going forward we will issue statements on issues or events only in specific circumstances where we determine there is a direct impact on the University’s values or key interests, such as its operations, campus climate, or ability to pursue its teaching and research missions.”
Cambridge, MA
On May 28, 2024, the Harvard Institutional Voice Working Group released its report, which partially adopts the principles of institutional neutrality by advising against “issu[ing] official statements about public matters that do not directly affect the university’s core function.” In September 2024, Harvard released an FAQ on institutional neutrality, explaining various possible practical applications of this principle.
Haverford, PA
On August 28, 2024, President Wendy Raymond announced a partial adoption of institutional neutrality in a message to the Haverford College community in which she explained, “I have decided to foreground our connections through conversation and discontinue issuing presidential ‘statements’ except about matters that directly impact Haverford or higher education.”
Baltimore, MD
On August 15th, 2024, the president, provost, and academic deans of Johns Hopkins University released a statement explaining, “We—as university leaders and deans—have arrived at a strong commitment to making institutional statements only in the limited circumstances where an issue is clearly related to a direct, concrete, and demonstrable interest or function of the university.”
Baton Rouge, LA
On April 11, 2024, the LSU Faculty Senate adopted a resolution endorsing institutional neutrality as a means to securing academic freedom. The resolution explains that on matters unrelated to the University’s academic mission, “leadership at or above the college or school level will not issue a position statement on that issue and will refrain from any other actions that could constrain faculty discourse.”
Evanston, IL
On September 27th, 2024, Northwestern University issued a statement explaining “We agree with our faculty advisory committee and commit ourselves to not making official statements on behalf of the institution on public or geopolitical matters except those related to the operation of the University.”
Princeton, NJ
On August 27, 2024, President Christopher L. Eisgruber told students attending an academic freedom and free expression orientation session about the importance of institutional restraint, stating, “I have rarely issued statements in the past, and I expect to do so even less frequently in the future.”
Stanford, CA
On October 11, 2023, Stanford University President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez issued a statement saying, “We believe it is important that the university, as an institution, generally refrain from taking institutional positions on complex political or global matters that extend beyond our immediate purview, which is the operations of the university itself.”
Syracuse, NY
On May 7, 2024, the Syracuse Statement Working Group released its “Syracuse Statement on Free Expression and Free Inquiry” document, which states that the “University does not make institutional statements or pronouncements on current controversies”, and that, “expression cannot commit the University to positions that go beyond the University’s stated academic mission or its protection.”
New Orleans, LA
On August 23, 2024, Tulane University affirmed institutional neutrality in a statement, which explains, “Maintaining principled neutrality is critical to fostering a campus environment where divergent and dissenting views are protected and encouraged.”
CA
On July 18, 2024, the University of California Board of Regents published a new policy requiring discretionary statements from academic units throughout the UC system to include a disclaimer that such statements do not represent a university position. The policy also requires discretionary statements to be posted on distinct pages for such statements rather than on an academic unit’s main page.
Los Angeles, CA
On September 12, 2024, Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt accepted the UCLA Statement on Statements Working Group’s recommendation regarding institutional statements. The working group’s report recommends “that, moving forward, university leaders should not make statements on societal, political and public matters unless those matters directly affect the university’s ability to support a research and educational environment where free expression thrives.”
Boulder, CO
On August 28, 2024, University of Colorado Boulder issued a brief statement explaining instead of “taking positions and issuing administrative statements” on “conflicts, world events and controversial moments” the “UC Boulder administration may issue communications and take positions on issues, incidents or other situations that affect core functions at the university.”
Los Angeles, CA
On August 20, 2024, University of Southern California President Carol L. Folt, Provost Andrew Guzman, and Senior Vice President for Health Affairs Steven Shapiro issued a statement that partially affirms institutional neutrality. They write, “Going forward as individual leaders or on behalf of the university, we will not post statements or take sides in political or social debates unless it pertains directly to our institutional mission and operations.”
Tulsa, OK
On September 6, 2024, President Brad Carson announced University of Tulsa has decided “it is inappropriate to issue political statements and that we support speech from all sides (liberal, conservative, you name it), and we always protect the speaker’s right to free expression.”
Williamstown, MA
On October 12, 2023, Williams College President Maud Mandel released a statement in which she said, “I do not believe it is the president’s job to speak for the whole community, or even that it is possible to do so.”
New Haven, CT
On October 30, 2024, President Maurie McInnis accepted a report from Yale’s Committee on Institutional Voice. The report recommends leaders at the University largely avoid issuing statements on issues of “public, social, or political significance, except in rare cases.”
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