At its outset, the University of Chicago was founded upon the idea that academic freedom and freedom of expression are the bedrock of education and the wellspring of discovery. While a shared commitment to free inquiry and expression is vital to our university's culture, the integrity of its practice should never be taken for granted. Each successive generation of faculty, students, and staff has taken on the necessary, often challenging work of giving these principles meaning throughout the University's history.

The University of Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression builds on our historic commitment and practices to provide a focal point for understanding and applying free expression in academia and the broader culture in the United States and abroad. The Forum's mission is to promote the understanding, practice, and advancement of free and open discourse in collaboration with faculty and the broader university community.