UNLV Faculty Senate
Sense of the Senate Regarding Freedom of Speech
On September 30, 2025, Interim President Heavey and Acting Provost Korgan sent an all-campus email titled “Guidance on Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Responsibilities.” The email vaguely prohibits “political activities during work hours” and severely limits the discussion of “political issues” in the classroom. The e-mail may be interpreted as suggesting that the university might sanction faculty and staff for political speech off campus as well as on campus.
In the current political environment, a vast range of subject matters may be considered political. To discuss the effectiveness of vaccines may be political. To suggest that immigrants are people entitled to rights and respect may be political. To refer to a student by the pronoun of his or her choice may be political. To support scientific research may be political. To study lessons of history may be political. To teach students in healthcare how to effectively communicate with immigrant patients may be political. In short, the production of knowledge, teaching and service are all potentially political. Yet, these are the central missions of this university.
Rather than seeking to curtail political expression, political activity and debate are part of what has made American higher education great. We believe that the NSHE Code, Title 2, Chapter 2, already balances free speech, academic freedom and responsibility. In particular, the NSHE Code makes clear that members of the faculty have the freedom and the obligation to teach, research, and discuss subjects “even when the subject requires consideration of topics which may be politically, socially or scientifically controversial.”
We are pleased that President Heavey and Provost Korgan affirmed “our shared commitment to open dialogue, the free exchange of ideas, civil and respectful debate, and the pursuit of knowledge.” We share this commitment. The Faculty Senate asks President Heavey and Provost Korgan to send an all campus email to clarify their September 30 statement to reassure the campus that there are no new policies limiting free expression on or off campus, including speech which some may view as political or controversial.
APPROVED BY FACULTY SENATE, OCTOBER 14, 2025