Thoughtful stewardship of WMU’s institutional voice

Sent: Feb. 6, 2025

Dear Broncos,

As an access university, we are deeply dedicated to welcoming all who seek to learn and advance knowledge, a commitment woven into our history and culture. So, it’s no wonder that the Western Michigan University community consists of students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors from a wide array of lived experiences from across our state, our nation and around the world.

As a public university, the people of Michigan also have a stake in our core mission of providing a high-quality educational experience and advancing the public good through research and creative scholarship. Free speech and academic freedom are essential ingredients in our ability to accomplish that mission. Stewardship of free speech and academic freedom requires that the University must be vigilant in considering whether its actions intentionally or unintentionally inhibit free speech and inquiry across our community. Careful stewardship of our institutional voice is crucial in this regard as well as to ensure that when the University speaks, it advances and does not diminish our core mission of education, research and creative scholarship.

This academic year, innumerable American universities have thoughtfully examined how and when the institution itself should speak to social, political or geopolitical matters. In fact, according to Higher Ed Dive, “At least two dozen institutions have adopted some type of institutional neutrality policy in recent years, although they differ on specifics. Louisiana State, Northwestern, Harvard, Stanford and Johns Hopkins universities have all adopted these policies.” The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are among them.

Since the fall, the Cabinet, Board of Trustees and I have been carefully considering this question. We have assessed the higher education landscape, reviewed our past practice and considered what is best for our mission and culture. We also have revisited past decision-making that led to instances when this administration has made public statements as well as when it has not. With this in mind and thinking to the future, we have developed WMU’s Guidelines for Stewarding our Institutional Voice. I encourage you to read these guidelines, which are posted online with a list of Frequently Asked Questions. They describe in detail the criteria we use to ensure that when Western uses its voice, it does so thoughtfully, effectively and in alignment with its core mission.

It is my hope that this transparency about our practice gives assurance to our entire community that we take seriously the trust conferred to us as leaders to care for the voice, mission and reputation of this University for which we all care so deeply and that does so much good in the world.

Sincerely, 

Edward Montgomery  
President