Academic freedom

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Florida's Stop WOKE Act is unconstitutional, stating it violates academic freedom by restricting what professors can teach about identity-based topics. The law, which prohibited teaching concepts like Critical Race Theory, was struck down by a 2-1 panel, with judges Britt Grant and Charles Wilson affirming that students should be free to consider diverse viewpoints in classrooms.

A report by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) found liberal faculty members outnumber conservatives nearly 7-to-1 in U.S. higher education, a shift from a 2-to-1 ratio in 1969. The report highlights concerns over viewpoint diversity, with 40% of faculty admitting they would oppose hiring a Trump supporter and over 80% of Ph.D. students acknowledging discrimination against conservative candidates. The Trump administration has allocated $60 million in federal grants to promote civil discourse on campuses.

The article claims that academia itself is the greatest threat to academic freedom and criticizes the American Association of University Professors for opposing efforts by states and the federal government to restore 'sanity and fairness' to campuses.

Teaching restrictions at Texas Tech University led half of surveyed faculty to alter their courses, according to results. A 'funeral protest' was held on campus in Lubbock to mourn the death of academic freedom.

A graduate at the University of California, Berkeley was denied a diploma during a ceremony for displaying the Palestinian flag, with educators requiring its removal before proceeding.

Texas' UT System and community colleges are complying with the state's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to auditors. Critics argue the DEI ban is restricting academic freedom and limiting what is taught on college campuses, as demonstrated by protests at the University of Texas at Austin.

University of Texas at Austin held a mock funeral protest on May 20, 2026, to express concerns about academic freedom as the UT System considers implementing new rules for cutting academic programs. The protest, featuring a horse-drawn hearse, represents faculty and student opposition to the proposed policy changes.

England’s Office for Students (OfS) faced a major setback after a high court rejected its attempt to fine the University of Sussex over regulatory issues linked to Kathleen Stock’s academic tenure. The ruling highlighted OfS’s missteps in handling a sensitive case involving academic freedom and freedom of speech, damaging its credibility as a regulator.

UK universities are accused of hiring a security firm with military intelligence connections to monitor pro-Palestine students, raising concerns about surveillance and academic freedom.

China has advised its citizens to avoid a U.S. airport in a city known for progressive policies after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allegedly harassed Chinese scholars. The advisory highlights tensions between China and the U.S. over immigration and academic freedom.