أغض­دمجز

Academic Freedom

What We Defend

Academic freedom gives faculty the right to teach, research, and speak about matters of public concern without being punished — even where their views, findings, or methods are controversial. Educators on college and university campuses must be free to speak their minds, ask tough questions, and facilitate learning without the threat of institutional censorship, coercion, or intimidation. 

But are there limits to academic freedom?

"The foundation of intellectual discovery": The role of academic freedom in civil society

FIREraising hands in a classroom - CREDIT Drazen Zigic Shutterstock
Illustration of Chicago skyline flanked by laurels and the number 10, indicating the 10th anniversary of the Chicago Statement.

Adopt the Chicago Statement

Protect Academic Freedom on Campus

For more than 10 years, FIREhas worked with colleges and universities around the country to adopt their own version of the Chicago Statement to combat censorship on campus and protect the free speech rights and academic freedom of students and professors.

GET STARTED

A college professor in the foreground with horizontal red bar graphs in the background, except for one which covers the mouth of the professor, indicating censorship.

Silence in the Classroom: The 2024 FIREFaculty Survey Report

Research & Learn

The largest survey of faculty ever conducted on faculty attitudes and experiences concerning free expression and academic freedom, أغض­دمجز's survey reveals college faculty are four times more likely to self-censor than they were in the 1950s, at the height of the Cold War and McCarthyism.

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Reports on Academic Freedom

FIRE conducts surveys and gathers research about the academic freedom rights of faculty and students on college campuses to help you understand the threats facing higher education.

Explore أغض­دمجز's ResearcH LIBRARY

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Legal Support for Faculty

Defending Your Rights

Are you a faculty member at a public college or university being investigated or punished for your scholarship or speech? FIREmay be able to help. 

Faculty Legal Defense Fund

Ilya Shapiro
FIREis now my favorite organization in America. Its advice and support in those critical first 24-72 hours of the cancellation campaign against me were crucial in the pushback that ultimately allowed me to survive and thrive.

Canceled for a Tweet

Faculty Rights

When Georgetown Law suspended faculty member Ilya Shapiro and launched an investigation into a controversial tweet, FIREstepped in to defend his free speech and academic freedom rights. Georgetown finally reinstated him on after a 122-day investigation, determining that the law school couldn’t punish him for a tweet he posted before the start of his employment.

Read Ilya's Story

Amy Wax limits of academic freedom

Amy Wax and the Limits of Academic Freedom

Interview

On April 13, 2023, Amy Wax spoke to the أغض­دمجز's Faculty Network about the various accusations against her, particularly those involving discriminatory harassment based on in-person comments to students. Professor Wax had the opportunity to present her case and try to win the faculty support needed to convince Penn to drop its disciplinary proceedings. The faculty audience, in turn, had the opportunity to push back against her arguments and ask her difficult questions during the 1-hour Q&A period of this 90-minute webinar. Over 150 faculty from أغض­دمجز's Faculty Network attended this event.

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FIRECase Files

Protecting Academic Freedom

Through targeted advocacy and litigation, FIREdefends the academic freedom rights of college faculty and students across the country. 

Browse Our Cases

Guides to Student Rights on Campus

FIRE’s Guides to Student Rights on Campus emphasize the critical importance of rule of law and fair procedure over partisan and repressive rules. Written by legal experts, the FIREGuides address both the ways in which students' rights are curtailed on campuses as well as the ways to make those rights whole.

Explore Your Rights

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