Free Speech at Colleges and Universities: Perspectives and Recommendations

One of the key challenges facing higher education today involves tensions and practices surrounding free speech on college campuses. As the national political landscape has become more divisive, choices colleges and universities make regarding campus speech and campus speakers have become more challenging and fraught. This webinar offered key perspectives and important recommendations from those who had recently engaged with free speech issues within higher education.

This webinar explored how to enable a climate of mutual respect and civility while fostering the freedom to debate and discuss the merits of competing ideas. This included practical and legal considerations regarding the scope of free speech, safety concerns, and the expectations of all involved. Additional areas of exploration included recent events within the higher education domain, the University of Chicago’s Model Freedom of Expression statement, and first-hand accounts of how and why the panelists reached decisions and implemented strategies on their campuses.

“Free Speech at Colleges and Universities: Perspectives and Recommendations” featured three brief presentations, moderated interviews, and an open discussion with the panelists. Those who attended this webinar left with new perspectives and practical guidance regarding how to safely promote the free and open discussion of ideas on their campus.