<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Approved by President I. Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This Policy on Institutional Neutrality (Policy) establishes a position of institutional neutrality, affirming that as a public institution of higher education and state agency, 乐播传媒入口 (MTSU or University) does not take official positions on or issue public statements about issues and events that do not directly impact the mission or function of the University. Accordingly, the University may issue public statements about internal issues or events, as well as external issues or events that directly impact the University\u2019s operations or its ability to pursue its mission. This Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s political or social viewpoint and promotes intellectual diversity within the University. As such, this Policy is consistent with the University\u2019s commitment to free and open inquiry in all matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n II. Scope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This Policy applies to all University employees who issue official University communications and\/or public statements in the name of and on behalf of the University or a unit in their official capacity as an employee, or who could be reasonably perceived as issuing a public statement in the name of and on behalf of the University or a unit under their purview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n III. Definitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n IV. Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The mission of 乐播传媒入口 (MTSU or University) is to provide exceptional undergraduate and graduate academic, prepare students to thrive in their chosen profession, and prioritize student success. The University also values outstanding teaching, research, creative activity, and public service. In furtherance of the University’s mission, when speaking in the name of or on behalf of the University or any University unit, University employees shall refrain from taking an official institutional position that includes expressing opinions on disputed political, religious, or ideological issues. Public statements in the name of the University should be avoided, except where determined by the President to be appropriate to address an issue that bears materially and directly on the University\u2019s core mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The University intentionally embraces institutional neutrality while leaving space for the free exchange of opinions on campus without imposing its own. The position of institutional neutrality will not limit the speech of the University\u2019s community acting or speaking as individuals in their own names and not in the name of the University. Rather, institutional neutrality allows the University to be a true marketplace of ideas for all community members. This also creates an inclusive academic environment where freedom of expression, academic inquiry, and the open exchange of diverse viewpoints are upheld in keeping with our nation\u2019s long-standing First Amendment principles. As such, a position of institutional neutrality is not intended to limit faculty members\u2019 academic freedom, as recognized by MTSU Policy 201, Academic Freedom and Responsibility. Likewise, this Policy is compatible with the University\u2019s current policy on free speech and expressive activity, MTSU Policy 103, Free Speech on Campus. Moreover, nothing in this Policy may be construed to limit the free speech of any individual beyond any employment requirements regulated by the University, or the University’s ability to advocate for state funding or educational policies to the state or federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Institutional neutrality involves University officials purposefully abstaining from engaging in matters tangential to its core purpose. In line with the Chicago Principles and the 1967 University of Chicago Kalven Report, MTSU practices institutional neutrality to remain true to the fundamental higher education mission of \u201cthe discovery, improvement, and dissemination of knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n V. Academic Community, Individual Expression, and Restraint in Institutional Positions Statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The instrument of dissent and criticism is the individual faculty member or the individual student. The university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic. It is, to go back once again to the classic phrase, a community of scholars. To perform its mission in the society, a university must sustain an extraordinary environment of freedom of inquiry and maintain an independence from political fashions, passions, and pressures. A university, if it is to be true to its faith in intellectual inquiry, must embrace, be hospitable to, and encourage the widest diversity of views within its own community. It is a community but only for the limited, albeit great, purposes of teaching and research. It is not a club, it is not a trade association, it is not a lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the university is a community only for these limited and distinctive purposes, it is a community which cannot take collective action on the issues of the day without endangering the conditions for its existence and effectiveness. There is no mechanism by which it can reach a collective position without inhibiting that full freedom of dissent on which it thrives. It cannot insist that all of its members favor a given view of social policy; if it takes collective action, therefore, it does so at the price of censuring any minority who do not agree with the view adopted. In brief, it is a community which cannot resort to majority vote to reach positions on public issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forms: none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Revisions: none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Reviewed: none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References: 2026 Public Acts, Chapter 831; MTSU Policies 103 Free Speech on Campus; 201 Academic Freedom and Responsibility; First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; Article I, Section 19 of the 乐播传媒入口 Constitution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Approved by PresidentEffective Date:\u00a0June 1, 2026Responsible Division: PresidentResponsible Office: Office of the University CounselResponsible Officer:\u00a0Vice President for Legal Affairs I. Purpose This Policy on Institutional Neutrality (Policy) establishes a position of institutional neutrality, affirming that as a public institution of higher education and state agency, 乐播传媒入口 (MTSU or University) does not take […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":288,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3199","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/288"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3199"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3608,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3199\/revisions\/3608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Effective Date:\u00a0June 1, 2026
Responsible Division: President
Responsible Office: Office of the University Counsel
Responsible Officer:\u00a0Vice President for Legal Affairs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n