Carolina wins free expression award
Heterodox Academy recognized UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte for serving as role models for other institutions.
UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Charlotte were jointly recognized with a national award for their work to promote free expression.
The two UNC System schools received the institutional excellence award given by Heterodox Academy, a nonprofit devoted to advancing open inquiry, viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement in higher education. Both institutions are part of the academy’s Campus Community Network aimed at showcasing the organization’s values and improving institutional policies, practices and culture on campus.
The award was presented March 27 to the Board of Trustees by Mark McNeilly, professor of practice in marketing and organizational behavior at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and Emily Putnam-Hornstein, John A. Tate Distinguished Professor for Children in Need and faculty co-director of the Children’s Data Network, UNC School of Social Work.
The academy noted Carolina’s work to spearhead campus-wide research to assess free expression and campus dialogue that has since been implemented at eight institutions across the UNC System. A key pillar was the launch of the program for public discourse, which strives to support public argument through curricular and extracurricular engagement and prepare students to serve Carolina and beyond as citizens, leaders and stewards of democracy.
Carolina has also passed three resolutions to protect academic freedom and institutional neutrality and in 2023 created the faculty Committee on Academic Freedom and Free Expression.
The academy highlighted UNC Charlotte’s Free Expression and Constructive Dialogue Task Force, which has launched several successful initiatives to become a leader in viewpoint diversity.
The Open Inquiry awards were selected based on open nominations from Heterodox Academy members and supporters.
