Adoption of Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom

This message is shared on behalf of President Susan R. Wente and Provost Michele Gillespie.

We are pleased to announce that the Wake Forest University Board of Trustees has adopted the proposed Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom (“Statement”) as an expression of the values and commitments of Wake Forest and its Trustees. This makes the Statement a foundational resource for our campus community.

This Statement underscores Wake Forest’s commitment to the free exchange of ideas, which is fundamental to academic freedom and the pursuit of knowledge. It ensures that all members of our university community, including students, faculty, and staff, can express their views without fear of censorship or reprisal. It fosters a more inclusive and welcoming campus environment by respecting all voices. 

Following months of research, dialogue, consultation with campus leadership groups, and careful crafting, a team of faculty and staff shared their draft of the Statement with the community on February 11, 2025. The team then conducted a broad feedback process, resulting in several revisions and sharing of extensive responses to the comments they received. We then presented the final proposed draft to the Board of Trustees for their review and approval on behalf of the campus community.

The campus conversations about freedom of expression and academic freedom that have happened this spring were noteworthy because they helped strengthen and develop ownership in this Statement. We hope this dialogue has also created a framework for civil discourse on a range of topics in the years to come.

This moment reflects not simply the conclusion of a careful drafting process, but a profound collective affirmation that freedom of expression and academic freedom are indispensable to who we are and aspire to be as a University. As the Statement declares, “Academic freedom and freedom of expression are therefore central to the quest for truth and the freedom to learn that are hallmarks of our University.”

Civil dialogue has been a hallmark of this process and of this Statement,  and we are grateful to you for sharing in this work.