Free Speech and First Amendment Training

In accordance with Board of Regents policy, the Free Speech and Student Affairs Committee is tasked with reviewing First Amendment training and all free speech policies every two years. The committee’s review ensures consistency and compliance with state law and identifies areas for improvement. 

Representatives from the three universities will update the committee on the free speech training provided for their campus communities.

Additionally, the committee and the Board will be asked to authorize the Board office to update and administer the biennial Free Speech Survey for the 2025-26 academic year. The survey will be available to all university faculty, staff and students on First Amendment issues in the context of campus environments.

If approved, this will mark the third Free Speech Survey administered, with past surveys conducted in 2021 and 2024. The 2024 survey showed that the vast majority of students (87%) agreed that they felt comfortable expressing their opinions related to things they were studying in class. This represented an increase of nearly seven percentage points from the 2021 survey.  Also, 79.1% of students agreed that their university did not restrict speech on campus, an increase of nearly 13 percentage points from the previous survey. 

Most university employees (76.9%) agreed that their university provided an environment for the free and open expression of ideas in 2024. The percentage of employees agreeing with this statement increased eight percentage points from 2021. Additionally, 73.9% of employees agreed with the statement that their university does not restrict speech on campus, even when it makes people feel uncomfortable.

Data from the surveys is valuable and helps the Board and its institutions provide an environment for the free and open expression of ideas on campus.