A recent study by Inside Higher Ed and Hanover Research revealed that a substantial majority of college faculty members — 90 percent — perceive a threat to academic freedom.
Approximately 60 percent of respondents strongly agreed, and one-third somewhat agreed, that academic freedom in higher education has diminished. Faculty are specifically hesitant to discuss politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Over 40 percent of the 1,100 respondents “said their sense of academic freedom in teaching declined over the last year” while “more than 20 percent said the same about academic freedom in research,” the outlet reported.
Regarding “extramural” speech, such as speech on social media, about 50 percent of respondents said they “somewhat or strongly agreed” that they censor themselves “due to the situation on their own campus and/or the broader political environment.”
Further, about a third of faculty reported they are no longer discussing certain topics with students that they may have in the past. Similarly, 15 percent are “not researching or publishing on topics they otherwise would have.” […]
— Read More: www.thecollegefix.com
