Columbia has been engaged in an ongoing discussion about how the University can best fulfill its academic mission of teaching, learning, and research while creating and sustaining an environment that enables free expression, rigorous debate, and open dialogue. Similar discussions have taken place at other universities, and some have adopted principles of institutional neutrality or restraint as a way of protecting and enabling free expression by faculty and students on their campuses.
Given our storied history; the extraordinary scope and depth of our scholarship, disciplines, curricula, and programs; and the unique position of our community, Columbia also has a distinctive role to play in advancing this critical discussion. Determining whether and to what degree Columbia should take an institutional position on public matters is a vitally important question, and it is central to our commitment to enabling open discourse and the exchange of ideas in our community.
"The work of the President’s Advisory Committee on Institutional Voice is important to all Columbians as it will help to guide the ways in which we protect and enable free expression and vigorous debate in our community."
Committee Co-Chairs
See the full list of Committee Members.
News and Announcements
April 18, 2025
The Committee welcomes students, faculty, and staff to attend a town hall to share their thoughts. If you are unable to attend either and would like to share your thoughts with the Committee, please email [email protected].
September 17, 2024
Daniel Abebe, Dean of Columbia Law School and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law, and Mark Mazower, Ira D. Wallach Professor of History and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Director, Columbia Institute for Ideas and Imagination, accepted the appointments. Read more.
Contact Us
If you would like to arrange a meeting, or have a question or suggestions for the Committee on Institutional Voice, please submit this brief form.