Public colleges and universities educate the next generation of citizens, leaders, and innovators, a task that is inextricably tied to the principles of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas. Legislators in South Dakota recognized this when they joined with the state’s board of regents in a collaborative effort to protect the rights of students and teachers while respecting institutional mission and the role of the regents. Their resulting bill, the Free to Learn Act, became the first in the nation to protect both free speech and intellectual diversity on campus.
View the model policy HERE.
Launched in 1995, we are the only organization that works with alumni, donors, trustees, and education leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, uphold high academic standards, safeguard the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation receives an intellectually rich, high-quality college education at an affordable price.
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