Blueprint for Reform: Institutional Neutrality is a policy guide for state legislators and university trustees. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining political and ideological neutrality in higher education institutions to preserve academic freedom and foster open inquiry and a robust exchange of ideas.
Key Recommendations:
- Adopt the Kalven Report Principles: Universities should adhere to the guidelines established in the 1967 Kalven Committee Report, which advocate for institutional neutrality on social and political issues.
- Prohibit Mandatory Statements of Belief: Institutions must prohibit any requirements compelling students, faculty, or staff to express specific beliefs on contested issues.
- Ensure Neutral Hiring and Curriculum Development: Universities should implement policies that prevent political or ideological biases in hiring practices and curriculum formation.
- Restrict Use of Resources for Ideological Purposes: Institutions must prohibit the use of university resources, including endowment investments, for ideological or political objectives.
- Limit Official Political Statements: University officials should refrain from making political statements in their official capacities, ensuring that personal views are not conflated with institutional positions.
- Conduct Regular Compliance Reviews: Universities should periodically assess their policies, curricula, and practices to ensure adherence to principles of institutional neutrality.
- Report Infringements to Legislatures: Institutions must accurately report any violations of institutional neutrality to the appropriate state legislative bodies.
These recommendations help institutions create an environment conducive to free inquiry and viewpoint diversity and ensure that they adhere to the core academic mission of the discovery, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge.
