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Category: Project

Description: In this report we explore findings from a national survey of 1,491 faculty at four-year colleges and universities in the United States regarding their attitudes on free expression and academic freedom. These findings provide a mixed picture on the state of academic freedom among American faculty. On the positive side, a majority of faculty surveyed endorsed broad conceptualizations of freedom of speech and academic freedom, rejected harsh punishment for colleagues who engaged in controversial expression, and opposed deplatforming speakers on campus. Compared to the results of FIRE’s “College Free Speech Rankings” survey, faculty are markedly more tolerant than the students they teach. The vast majority had not been disciplined, or threatened with discipline, by their department or university for their teaching, research, or non-academic expression. Yet, there is serious cause for concern. A majority of faculty worry about losing their jobs or reputations because someone misrepresents their words. A third self-censor out of concern over the responses of staff, students or administrators. Moreover, a significant portion of faculty support punishing their colleagues in softer ways that can chill expression. These restrictions include formally condemning certain views but not punishing someone for expressing them; investigating colleagues for controversial expression; and applying social and professional pressure to get colleagues to take mandatory training they philosophically oppose. The academic freedom glass is, at best, half full.