Free Speech and the Inclusive Campus: How Do We Foster the Campus Community We Want?

In today's contentious and divided political environment, what should colleges and universities do to meet the roles and responsibilities of higher education to foster the campus community we want? This guide presents three options for deliberation about difficult problems regarding free speech and inclusion--for which there are no perfect solutions. Each option offers advantages as well as drawbacks, and each reflects different ways of understanding what is at stake, forcing us to think about what matters most to us. These options include: (1) Prioritize student safety and well-being; (2) Affirm the educational value of intellectual curiosity and engaging with ideas across difference; and (3) Uphold the ideals of free speech. The research involved in developing this guide included interviews and conversations with campus stakeholders who have multiple perspectives; the initial drafts were reviewed by individuals with direct experience in student affairs and higher education.