UC Center for Free Speech & Civic Engagement

🚨 New #SpeechMatters podcast alert! Tune into “How Governance Shapes Higher Education” with guests Drs. Demetri Morgan and Raquel Rall, co-directors of the Center for Strategic and Inclusive Governance. 🎧 buff.ly/CgDkwUK

Faculty at Rutgers University are divided after the School of Engineering dean canceled the school’s commencement speaker, sparking debate over campus free speech concerns. 🔗 buff.ly/NUgr7uC

📢 Our 2026-2027 VOICE Initiative Information Session is TOMORROW! There’s still time to register to learn more about the VOICE program and application process from current and former VOICE recipients! 👉 buff.ly/CQZJj0g

🚨 UC students, staff and faculty – Less than 1 month left to apply! 🚨 Get up to $5,000 for projects on free expression, civic engagement & democratic learning. 📅 Deadline: June 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT 🔗 buff.ly/wF99IXE

ABC is accusing the Federal Communications Commission of violating the network’s free speech rights. Read more in this article in The New York Times. buff.ly/RmPLdAk

Associate Professor Demetri Morgan joined the Speech Matters podcast with Dr. Raquel Rall and discussed governance in higher education, including academic freedom, leadership, and the role of governing boards, with Michelle Deutchman of @ucfreespeech. myumi.ch/Axdd4

🚨1 week away! Register today for our 2026-27 VOICE Initiative Information Session on Wednesday, May 20 at 12 PM PT. Learn more about the program and application process from current and former VOICE-ers. buff.ly/CQZJj0g

Colleges are citing institutional neutrality as they restrict what students can say on fliers or perform on stage in what some say is eroding free speech rights on campuses. 👇 buff.ly/B35QlVP

Former Fellow John Wilson discusses the Yale University report on trust in higher education in his column in Inside Higher Ed. ⬇️ buff.ly/Sn9dWcd

A newly released survey displays that nearly a third of faculty in red states say they’ve censored their research. Read more. 🔗 buff.ly/6QzsYY7

Want to learn more about the VOICE Initiative program and application process? Register for our information session on Wednesday, May 20 at 12 pm PT. 🔗 buff.ly/1BMD2YY

We are now accepting applications for our 2026-2027 class of VOICE recipients! Applications are due by Tuesday, June 9th at midnight! buff.ly/HkXo85X

24-25 Fellow Tara Donnelly writes about the proposed national book ban legislation. 📚 buff.ly/gFHn1h4

UCR's Dr. Raquel Rall discusses the role of governing boards and their impact on higher education’s ever-evolving landscape as a guest on @ucfreespeech's SpeechMatters podcast. Listen here ➡️ podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how… @UCRSOE

Indiana’s ban on student IDs for voter identification is back in effect raising concerns about the voting rights of college students. 🔗 buff.ly/PN51eeY

A Yale faculty committee examined academia’s role in the crisis of confidence facing higher education, making 20 recommendations aimed at increasing public trust. Read more: l.sslevine.com/HGj5

Faculty are departing Texas public universities amid rising concerns over censorship and academic freedom. Read more: ⬇️ buff.ly/0vsbPFB

New legislation in Kentucky could make it easier for the state’s public colleges to fire faculty members over financial concerns. Some groups argue it could be used to shut down research and silence faculty speech they don’t agree with. ⤵️ buff.ly/CcLGUiy

Free speech advocates warn that new law in Kansas prohibiting public colleges from mandating students to take “DEI-CRT” courses could have a chilling effect on classroom discussions and limit curriculum.👇 buff.ly/BssQsWq

Texas Tech University announced it will close all programs focused on sexual orientation and gender identity, a move critics say reflect a trend of academic censorship at Texas public univeristies. 🔗 buff.ly/5uWAX6z