Political Bias in the College Classroom: A Literature Review

This review of literature explores current research addressing political bias in higher education. The perception of a pervasive liberal political bias in academia is addressed first. This discussion focuses on the debate surrounding the Academic Bill of Rights, a document that outlines principles defending students' academic freedom and advocates for an ideologically pluralistic campus environment. Next, current research exploring political ideological diversity and its effect on different student populations is addressed. Research findings indicate that while a majority of college faculty members identify themselves as ideologically liberal, this has no significant effect on students' academic success or ideology during their college years. Student perceptions of the classroom experience may, however, be influenced by faculty ideology. Future directions for research and practice are discussed.