Campus free expression, democracy, and civil discourse have been on all our minds over the past few years. Two years ago, I set out to learn what the best ideas were and who was leading in ways we could learn from. I always assume someone has already figured out a better way, and our job is to find it, learn from it, and identify what’s still missing.
I reached out to Jackie Merrill at the Campus Free Expression Project (currently hosted at the CIC, with a rich collection of free resources available to you and your campus). I asked about best practices, leading campuses, and what the gold standard looks like when a campus takes this work seriously.
She didn’t know which universities were in the UIA, but without hesitation, she pointed to Purdue as a national leader. I was surprised because I hadn’t realized how strong Purdue’s approach to free expression was or how unique it was at the time.
What sets Purdue apart is not just what they do, but when they do it and how seriously they take it. Every incoming student takes part in a robust, hour-long, carefully designed experience that anchors their education in the principles of free expression. In that session, students learn:
- Why it matters
- How it strengthens their education
- The role they play in protecting it
The quality and format are impressive. Many campuses talk about free expression. Purdue requires it, delivers it at the very start, and makes students actively responsible for sustaining it. (Purdue video example)
When I asked her what the gold standard would look like, she broke it down in a way that was clear and practical. Four essentials every campus should consider:
- Provide every student with an incoming experience driving home the value of free expression and civil discourse (Purdue’s model).
- Ensure the president or chancellor makes an annual statement reinforcing this commitment in a significant speech.
- Wherever possible, integrate structured, respectful discourse and debate into the curriculum, with the ultimate goal being “conscious compromise across principled disagreement.”
- Reframe civil discourse and free expression as a workforce readiness skill. Students will work with people they don’t always agree with. Employers prize the ability to collaborate across differences.
I know many of us are searching for practical approaches in this space. The CFEP is an extremely helpful resource, and Jackie’s framing above was one I found especially useful. I hope this helps you, and that you’ll share back the solutions you are seeing on your campuses.
Warmly,
Bridget
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Network Updates
- Our network is celebrating Purdue Liaison Dr. Jenna Rickus, who has been named Senior Vice Provost at the University of Arizona. Jenna has been a driving force in UIA work for more than eight years, one of our longest-serving Liaisons, and we are really going to miss her.
- Congratulations to Dr. Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, the new provost at the University of South Carolina, and a warm welcome to Temple University’s Interim Provost, David Boardman. Fun fact: we’ve welcomed 9 new provosts to the UIA in just the past few months!
- We’re excited to recognize Dr. Carlos Jensen as UMBC’s new Liaison. He recently became Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs after serving as Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Innovation at UC San Diego.
- Join us in welcoming Rayna Wiles as the University of Utah’s newest UIA Fellow. She teaches design and co-leads the Academic Innovation + Intelligence Lab. We’re also sending our deepest thanks to Dr. Lindsay Coco, Utah’s first Fellow, for her incredible contributions and energy.
- The University of South Carolina is searching for its first UIA Fellow. Fellows are emerging higher ed leaders trained to drive change and spark cross-campus innovation. They are the cornerstone of our theory of change, and we can’t wait to see who USC selects.
Learn with Us
- [Blog] Hear from UIA board member and Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz on how curiosity and trust shape leadership in higher education.
- [YouTube] Watch Georgia State University SVP for Student Success & longtime UIA Liaison Allison Calhoun-Brown’s session on improving academic advising with predictive analytics and proactive advising.
- [Blog] Discover how UIA board member and CU Denver Chancellor Kenneth Christensen is rethinking access, leadership, and adaptability to shape the future of higher education.
Want more? Check out all of our blog posts and podcast episodes.
Must Reads
What we’re learning about this month at the UIA:
- AI-generated "WorkSLOP" is destroying productivity and collaboration, demanding more discerning and purposeful application. (Harvard Business Review)
- JFF's Maria Flynn digs into what it will take to expand opportunity in a time of economic uncertainty. (Harvard Business Review podcast)
- Accreditation for noncredit certificates is on the horizon, a shift that could significantly change how institutions, employers, and learners engage with this fast-growing space. (Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Career readiness is gaining traction across higher education, including at elite private liberal arts colleges that are weaving it into the classroom (Inside Higher Ed)
- Challenging the myth of elite colleges, research finds that long-term outcomes for graduates often look similar regardless of whether they attended a highly selective institution. (Wall Street Journal)
Events to Put on Your Radar
| October 20-23, 2025 International College Learning Center Association (ICLCA) Annual Conference Rapid City, SD October 21-23, 2025 ACL Annual Conference Washington, DC October 21-23, 2025 WCET 2025 Denver, CO October 21-23, 2025 Grantmakers for Education 2025 Annual Conference Memphis, TN October 26-29, 2025 NACADA Annual Conference Las Vegas, Nevada October 27-30, 2025 EDUCAUSE Annual Conference Nashville, TN November 3-5, 2025 P3•EDU Atlanta, GA November 5-6, 2025 Business Higher Education Forum (BHEF) Convening Atlanta, GA |
| November 9-11, 2025 APLU Annual Meeting Philadelphia, PA November 10-13, 2025 CBExchange Phoenix, AZ November 14-17, 2025 AASCU 2025 Annual Conference for Presidents and Chancellors Nashville, TN November 17-19, 2025 CCA Annual Convening Baltimore, MD January 21-23, 2026 AAC&U Annual Meeting Washington, DC February 8-11, 2026 NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference & Expo Washington, D.C. February 25-28, 2026 American Council on Education (ACE) Experience Washington, D.C. March 9-12, 2026 SXSW EDU Austin, Texas |
Stuff We Love
- Sometimes you just need a sparkly little home addition to make you smile. This does the trick.
- I've lost count of how many people thank me for recommending this shower spray.
- Frequent travelers swear by this lower back pillow.
- I thought these neck fans at Costco were a gimmick. Boy, was I wrong; they really work!
- AirPod fatigue is real. I’ve switched to inexpensive over-ear headphones like these, and I’m not going back.
Shared governance is about building trust with faculty, students, and trustees, and that’s where real progress happens.