Statement neutrality was originally pioneered by the University of Chicago for its founding and formalized in its 1967 Kalven Report. Building on this foundation, in February 2024, Heterodox Academy (HxA), the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), and the Academic Freedom Alliance (AFA) jointly called on colleges and universities to adopt institutional statement neutrality. 

As a result, North American universities and colleges dramatically shifted their approach to controversial social and political issues. By the end of 2024, at least 148 institutions—serving a total of roughly 2.6 million students—had adopted a policy of institutional statement neutrality.

We tracked institutional statement neutrality policies through December 31, 2024 using news reports and information from our members. For each institution, we documented:

• when they adopted the policy;
• who was involved in making the decision;
• what parts of the institution the policy affects;
• the institution's size and type;
• documentation of the policy.

In this first-of-its-kind report, we analyze what prompted this sudden policy change across the academy, who is making these changes – and what it might mean for the future of free inquiry and expression on our campuses.

Click "download" to get your copy of the report. Data available for download here.