Announcing the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Implementation Steering Committee

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon University Community:

On October 25, 2022, President Farnam Jahanian shared the final report from the Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression (AF/FoE), including its recommendations and implementation plans. I echo President Jahanian’s emphasis on the importance of this report. Academic freedom and freedom of expression are critical to the vitality of academic institutions, including our own.

I thank the Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression for developing a robust report to guide our work in this arena. They engaged stakeholders across campus, welcomed experts and thought leaders to share their perspectives and foster productive dialogue, and ultimately made informed recommendations on how we can make progress together.

To continue our momentum, President Jahanian charged me with forming the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Implementation Steering Committee. The committee’s work will address the report’s recommendations across three focus areas: Reviewing Policies and Building Institutional Expertise; Evaluating Hiring Practices and Training Resources; and Developing Education and Growing Engagement. I am pleased to chair this committee, which includes representation from across the university:

• Gina Casalegno, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students;
• Jonathan Caulkins, the H. Guyford Stever University Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy;
• Mary Jo Dively, Vice President and General Counsel, and Secretary of the Corporation;
• Wanda Heading-Grant, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer;
• Roberta Klatzky, the Charles J. Queenan, Jr. University Professor of Psychology, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences;
• Michelle Piekutowski, Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer;
• Richard Scheines, the Bess Family Dean of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences;
• Molly Steenson, Vice Provost for Faculty;
• Keith Webster, the Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries; and
• Patience Whitworth, Associate Vice Provost for Operations and Strategic Initiatives.

The Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Implementation Steering Committee will develop strategies to advance the recommendations at hand. They will aim to strengthen the tenets of Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression that foster an environment that respects and acknowledges the rights of individuals to share their ideas freely. Freedoms of speech, thought, expression and assembly are core to Carnegie Mellon’s values and are critical to our collective and individual success. This endeavor gives us the opportunity to strengthen these values as an institution that runs on deep connections and bold ideas.

While the steering committee is intentionally small and composed of individuals who can directly implement the recommendations contained in the commission report, the committee will continue to engage with and gather input from students, faculty and staff by forming working groups in an ongoing effort to make progress in the above-mentioned focus areas. The involvement of our CMU community is essential as we build on important conversations and reinforce our commitment to these freedoms. If you have questions or suggestions, please email the Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression at academicfreedom@andrew.cmu.edu.

Additional information and resources, as well as the committee’s updates and progress, will continue to be added to the Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression website.

Sincerely,

Jim Garrett
Provost and Chief Academic Officer