About this Initiative

Initiative History

The Working Group on Freedom of Expression, Intellectual Freedom, and Constructive Dialogue at the University of Wyoming was charged on December 5, 2022 by President Ed Seidel to “articulate and refine our principles of freedom of expression and to find practical ways to operationalize respectful discourse on campus.” The Working Group, made up of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and a trustee, examined the state’s history, consulted with internal and external stakeholders, and discussed a number of events, statements, and reports at other institutions. This Statement reflects both Wyoming’s distinct heritage of neighborliness, equality, and respect and the University of Wyoming’s longstanding aspiration of inclusion and individual rights in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.

The Working Group in 2023 made a series of recommendations for communicating, practicing, and operationalizing the UW principles.

Implementation

Communicating the Principles:

  • A website about the principles is established in fall 2023. 

  • A Library Guide (“LibGuide”) has been established to offer information resources on intellectual freedom, academic freedom, free expression, and constructive dialogue. This Lib Guide was featured as a part of Coe Library's "Democracy" display in Sept., 2024.

  • Early in 2024, a short video was created to convey the spirit of the Wyoming Principles. Later in the year, another video was produced for new student orientation.

  • A series of stickers and bookmarks, featured on this page, were created and are now available across campus.

  • President Seidel is in the process of producing a video message that all new UW employees will see when they complete their online onboarding.

  • Applicants to UW can now select “Free Speech & Dialogue” from the menu of extra-curricular activities they are asked to identify and receive information about. 

  • A Community of Principle, made up of 20 full-time faculty and staff, met regularly throughout the spring semester at the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning to discuss the principles and consider the opportunities and challenges for aligning their work with these principles.

  • New students were introduced to the UW Principles at Saddle Up orientation with a video featuring President Ed Seidel and current students.

  • The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program created several modules for K-12 audiences connected to the UW Principles. (Upon logging into WyoLearn, click on the tile that says "Wallop K-12 Curriculum Project - Social Studies")

  • The Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement Program and the School of Politics, Public Affairs & International Studies presented an educational program in recognition of Constitution Day, a discussion with Mary Beth Tinker, who was part of a famous Supreme Court case about students' free expression rights.

  • Vice President & General Counsel Tara Evans and Adjunct Professor Dr. Martha McCaughey gave a workshop on the First Amendment in Sept., 2024.

  • Assistant Lecturer Catherine Johnson and Adjunct Professor Dr. Martha McCaughey gave a workshop on Free Expression Boundaries in the Classroom in Sept., 2024.

Practicing the Principles: 

  • In fall 2024, Prof. Matt Burgess began running a rapid-response constructive dialogue group which initiated it's first dialogue session in Sept. 2024 focused on the UW Principles. Further rapid-response dialogues on various topics will continue to take place throughout the year. Burgess has also started a podcast entitled "Grounded, Not Divided" where he will interview people in business, policy, non-profits, and other sectors of society who are taking on some of society's hardest problems such as poverty, disease, innovation, environmental protection, and education. "Grounded, Not Divided" can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

  • UW was selected by Heterodox Academy, an international, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, to become a Heterodox Academy Campus Community. Campus Communities that are part of this network strive to improve research and higher education by championing open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement.  

  • A student chapter of BridgeUSA was formed in fall 2024. “BridgeUWYO” is now a Student Organization and has a series of meetings and discussions scheduled. Find BridgeUWYO activities/events and dates on their website or follow the them on Instagram @bridgeUWYO.

  • President Seidel established a committee at UW to develop a potential collaboration with the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, including the Mineta-Simpson Institute, a dedicated retreat space and home for programming specifically designed to foster empathy, courage, and cooperation in the next generation of leaders.

Operationalizing the Principles: 

Statement of Principles Homepage

 

A Message from the President

 

Working Group Report

 

Summary of Public Comments