The Chicago Principles: Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression

The Chicago Principles articulate the importance of free expression as an essential feature of the university. They commit the university to allowing the widest possible range of ideas to be spoken and heard, even those that are considered wrong or offensive by many. They stress that the members and guests of the university must not be prevented from expressing their views.

The Chicago Principles - Featured Image
The Chicago Principles - Featured Image

A committee of faculty members from across the University of Chicago was convened by President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Eric D. Isaacs, chaired by Geoffrey Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law. They were charged with crafting a statement “articulating the University’s overarching commitment to free, robust, and uninhibited debate and deliberation among all members of the University’s community.” This report reflects the University of Chicago’s commitment to and tolerance of multiple forms of free expression, an important value of the University and its community. ACTA has long recognized the value of this statement and has worked tirelessly to ensure other institutions enact the Chicago Principles or similar policies.

Download the PDF Report

The following institutions or faculty bodies have adopted or affirmed the Chicago Principles or a substantially similar statement:

Adrian College

Affirmed by the Faculty Body in September 2019.

Adrian College

American University

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in September 2015.

American University

Arizona State University

Officially Adopted in August 2018.

Arizona State University

Ashland University

Officially Adopted in October 2017.

Ashland University

Ball State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in January 2020.

Ball State University

Board of Regents, State of Iowa

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in April 2019.

Board of Regents, State of Iowa

Boston University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in October 2020.

Boston University

Bowling Green State University

Officially Adopted in July 2021.

Bowling Green State University

Brandeis University

Officially Adopted in October 2018.

Brandeis University

California State University Channel Islands

Officially Adopted in October 2017.

California State University Channel Islands

Case Western Reserve University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in November 2019.

Case Western Reserve University

Chapman University

Officially Adopted in September 2015.

Chapman University

Christopher Newport University

Officially Adopted in November 2018.

Christopher Newport University

City University of New York

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in March 2016.

City University of New York

Claremont McKenna College

Officially Adopted in May 2016.

Claremont McKenna College

Clark University

Officially Adopted in February 2019.

Clark University

Clemson University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in February 2023.

Clemson University

Cleveland State University

Officially Adopted in March 2019.

Cleveland State University

Colgate University

Officially Adopted in October 2018.

Colgate University

Colorado Mesa University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in August 2020.

Colorado Mesa University

Columbia University

Officially Adopted in September 2016.*

Columbia University

Davidson College

Officially Adopted in March 2023.

Davidson College

Denison University

Officially Adopted in April 2016.

Denison University

DePauw University

Officially Adopted in May 2022.

DePauw University

Eckerd College

Affirmed by Faculty Senate in Fall 2016.

Eckerd College

Emory University

Affirmed by the Emory College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate in February 2024.

Emory University

Franklin & Marshall College

Officially Adopted in February 2017.

Franklin & Marshall College

Furman University

Officially Adopted in February 2024.

Furman University

George Mason University

Officially Adopted in November 2018.

George Mason University

George Washington University

Officially Adopted in June 2018.

George Washington University

Georgetown University

Officially Adopted in June 2017.

Georgetown University

Gettysburg College

Affirmed by Board of Regents in May 2018.

Gettysburg College

Glendale Community College

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in January 2023.

Glendale Community College

Jacksonville State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2020.

Jacksonville State University

Johns Hopkins University

Officially Adopted in September 2015.

Johns Hopkins University

Joliet Junior College

Affirmed by Board of Trustees in April 2018.

Joliet Junior College

Jones County Junior College

Officially Adopted in August 2020.

Jones County Junior College

Kansas Board of Regents

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in March 2021.

Kansas Board of Regents

Kenyon College

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in Spring 2017.

Kenyon College

Kettering University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2018.

Kettering University

King University

Officially Adopted in February 2022.

King University

Louisiana State University System

Officially Adopted in November 2018.

Louisiana State University System

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Affirmed by Faculty Governance in December 2022.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Miami University

Officially Adopted in July 2019.

Miami University

Michigan State University

Officially Adopted in October 2015.

Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University

Officially Adopted in January 2019.

Michigan Technological University

Middle Tennessee State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in January 2018.

Middle Tennessee State University

Nevada System of Higher Education

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in March 2019.

Nevada System of Higher Education

Northern Arizona University

Officially Adopted in May 2022.

Northern Arizona University

Northern Illinois University

Officially Adopted in October 2016.

Northern Illinois University

Northwood University

Officially Adopted in April 2022.

Northwood University

Ohio State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in August 2022.

Ohio State University

Ohio University

Officially Adopted in July 2018.

Ohio University

Ohio Wesleyan University

Officially Adopted in April 2018.

Ohio Wesleyan University

Princeton University

Officially Adopted in April 2015.

Princeton University

Purdue University System

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in May 2015.

Purdue University System

Ranger College

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in May 2018.

Ranger College

Shawnee State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in July 2022.

Shawnee State University

Smith College

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in February 2018.

Smith College

Snow College

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in April 2020.

Snow College

South Dakota University System

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in December 2018.

South Dakota University System

Southern Methodist University

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in February 2020.

Southern Methodist University

Southern Utah University

Officially Adopted in May 2018.

Southern Utah University

St. Mary’s University

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in September 2021.

St. Mary’s University

State University of New York at Buffalo

Officially Adopted in August 2017.

State University of New York at Buffalo

State University System of Florida

Affirmed by Board of Governors in April 2019.

State University System of Florida

Stetson University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in February 2019.

Stetson University

Suffolk University

Officially Adopted in July 2018.

Suffolk University

Syracuse University

Officially Adopted in May 2024.

Syracuse University

Tennessee Technological University

Affirmed by Board of Trustees in January 2018.

Tennessee Technological University

The Citadel

Officially Adopted in June 2016.

The Citadel

University of Akron

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2019.

University of Akron

University of Alabama System

Affirmed by Board of Trustees in June 2020.

University of Alabama System

University of Arizona

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in December 2018.

University of Arizona

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Officially Adopted in May 2018.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

University of Chicago

Officially Adopted in January 2015.

University of Chicago

University of Cincinnati

Officially Adopted in July 2022.

University of Cincinnati

University of Colorado System

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in September 2018.

University of Colorado System

University of Denver

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in May 2017.

University of Denver

University of Louisiana System

Officially Adopted in October 2018.

University of Louisiana System

University of Maine System

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in March 2017.

University of Maine System

University of Massachusetts Boston

Affirmed by the College of Science and Mathematics Faculty Senate in April 2022.

University of Massachusetts Boston

University of Michigan

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in January 2024.

University of Michigan

University of Minnesota

Affirmed by the Faculty Body in March 2016.

University of Minnesota

University of Missouri System

Officially Adopted in Spring 2016.

University of Missouri System

University of Montana

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in May 2017.

University of Montana

University of Nebraska System

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in January 2018.

University of Nebraska System

University of North Carolina System

Affirmed by the Board of Governors in December 2017.

University of North Carolina System

University of Oklahoma

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in November 2022.

University of Oklahoma

University of Richmond

Officially Adopted in December 2020.

University of Richmond

University of South Carolina

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2023.

University of South Carolina

University of Southern Indiana

Officially Adopted in August 2016.

University of Southern Indiana

University of Southern Mississippi

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in March 2023.

University of Southern Mississippi

University of Texas System

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in November 2022.

University of Texas System

University of Toledo

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in April 2019.

University of Toledo

University of Tulsa

Officially Adopted in September 2023.

University of Tulsa

University of Virginia

Affirmed by the Board of Visitors in June 2021.

University of Virginia

University of Virginia College at Wise

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in November 2015.

University of Virginia College at Wise

University of Wisconsin System

Affirmed by the Board of Regents in December 2015.

University of Wisconsin System

University of Wyoming

Officially Adopted in December 2023.

University of Wyoming

University System of Maryland

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in November 2019.

University System of Maryland

Utica College

Officially Adopted in May 2018.

Utica College

Vanderbilt University

Affirmed by the Faculty Senate in August 2016.

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Tech

Affirmed by the Board of Visitors in March 2023.

Virginia Tech

Washington and Lee University

Officially Adopted in December 2015.

Washington and Lee University

Washington University in St. Louis

Officially Adopted in September 2016.

Washington University in St. Louis

Wheaton College

Officially Adopted in November 2022.

Wheaton College

Winthrop University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in August 2020.

Winthrop University

Wright State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2022.

Wright State University

Youngstown State University

Affirmed by the Board of Trustees in June 2022.

Youngstown State University
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