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For Faculty | The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

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Have your rights been violated?

If you face retaliation over protected speech, reach out to FIRE to learn more about how we can protect your rights.

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Stay up to date with FIRE's biggest cases and battles for free expression.

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Across the nation, free speech rights are under attack. Join us in defending this essential quality of liberty. Make your voice heard and join a campaign.

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College Free Speech Rankings

Presented by FIRE and College Pulse, the 2026 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed.

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National Speech Index

The National Speech Index tracks free speech sentiments in America. It is a quarterly survey component of America's Political Pulse from the Polarization Research Lab.

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Facing a free speech or academic freedom issue?

Whether you’re under investigation, responding to criticism, or navigating a campus policy, FIRE can help you understand your rights and next steps. Submit a case or call our 24-hour faculty legal defense hotline: 254-500-FLDF (3533).
Subscribe to FIRE updates

Working with FIRE

Frequently Asked Questions

After seven years at the University of Kentucky College of Law, Ramsi Woodcock was suspended for criticizing Israel. With help from FIRE’s Faculty Legal Defense Fund, he now has legal representation to fight back.
Read Ramsi's Story

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I’m being investigated or disciplined for speech

What to do right now

* Document as much as you can in writing

* Save all communications and any investigative documents

* Don’t respond publicly until you understand your situation

* Review your institution’s policies and procedures, including timelines for investigations

* Don’t wait until the disciplinary process is over — contact FIRE for help today.
Learn more

* Academic freedom

* Faculty speech rights

* Due process
Get help: Submit a case

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A policy is restricting speech

What to do right now

* Get the full policy in writing

* Identify how it is being applied or enforced (is the policy required or optional? Evaluational or informational?)

* Share concerns with colleagues or faculty governance bodies

* Review your institution’s policies on academic freedom
Learn more

* Speech code resources

* Opposing speech codes

* Correcting policy mistakes

* DEI explainer

* DEI FAQ
Take action: Reforming College Policies

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I want to improve free expression on my campus

What to do right now

* Identify specific policies or practices you want to change

* Work with colleagues or faculty governance structures

* Review model policies and reform strategies

* Contact FIRE for guides, data, resources, and other help
Explore tools

* Chicago Statement toolkit

* Institutional neutrality

* Speech code reform

* Your college
Work with FIRE: Reforming College Policies

Know Your Rights as a Faculty Member

What free speech rights do college students and faculty have in the classroom?

Explainers

Learn what rights do professors have in college classrooms, and find the line between academic freedom and the expressive rights of students.

Faculty Legal Defense Fund FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions typically raised with respect to the Faculty Legal Defense Fund (“FLDF”) are the same as or similar to some of those asked about cases submitted to FIRE.

Faculty Speech Rights at Public Universities

Explainers

Faculty members are often shocked to learn that many of the same rules that apply to employees of the postal service also apply to professors at public universities.

Defending Your Rights

FIRE defends the rights of students and faculty through several core services.

Faculty Legal Defense Fund

Helping You

FIRE’s core defense program provides free assistance to faculty whose fundamental civil liberties are violated.

Reforming College Policies

Changing Higher Ed

FIRE’s college Policy Reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate students’ and faculty members’ free speech and due process rights.

Legal Support

In the Courts

Facing a university investigation? Have officials refused to share evidence or follow fair procedures? FIRE’s lawyers may be able to help.

Legislative Policy Reform

Changing Laws

FIRE advocates for individual rights at both the state and federal level by advocating on behalf of rights-protective legislation and against proposed laws that threaten student and faculty due process rights.

Become a FIRE Free Speech Defender

FIRE provides faculty with opportunities and support to defend free speech with webinars and resources.
Opportunities for Faculty

Berkson Courageous Colleague Award

Faculty Rights

The award honors and celebrates faculty who go above and beyond to courageously defend their colleagues’ rights to free speech and academic freedom.

Host a FIRE Speaker

Get Involved

Hosting a FIRE speaker is a great way to catalyze social change by educating members of your community about the importance of free speech, due process, and religious liberty.

FIRE Faculty Webinars

Videos

Learn more about the FIRE Faculty Network and hear from our staff of First Amendment experts by watching our faculty webinar series.

Work to change your campus policies

Defending Your Rights

FIRE’s college policy reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate college students’ and faculty members’ free speech rights.

Research

Free Expression in a Climate of Self-Censorship Research & Learn: A National Survey of American Law Faculty

* FIRE’s national survey of nearly 2,000 law faculty finds broad support for free expression in principle, but widespread self-censorship in practice, with many professors worried that controversial teaching, scholarship, or speech could trigger professional consequences.

Read the Report

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Reports and data on faculty

* Scholars Under Fire database

* Faculty Ideology: Measuring faculty viewpoint diversity using campaign contribution data

* Sanctioned Scholars: The Price of Speaking Freely in Today’s Academy

* Silence in the Classroom: The 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report

* The Academic Mind in 2022: What Faculty Think About Free Expression and Academic Freedom on Campus

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Other campus research

* College Free Speech Rankings

* Students Under Fire database

* Campus Deplatforming database

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Other research

* National Speech Index

Faculty Free Speech News

Faculty are fighting for free speech — and we need you!
See all faculty news

Why would someone post that?

Analysis

September 9, 2026

USC earns FIRE's top rating for free speech

Press Release

September 8, 2026

Florida wants colleges out of politics, but its plan has a loophole

Analysis

September 3, 2026

Washington professor who parodied university 'land acknowledgment' wins $600K settlement

Press Release

September 3, 2026

Become a Free Speech Insider!

Subscribe to receive emails and texts about FIRE's work and upcoming events.

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© 2026 Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
P.O. Box 40128
Philadelphia, PA 19106

[email protected] 215-717-FIRE Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, FIRE, the flame logo, and Free Speech Makes Free People are registered trademarks of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. All rights reserved.

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Links found on this page

Skip to main content [direct]
Member Portal [direct]
Students [direct]
Alumni [direct]
College Administrators [direct]
About Us [direct]
Store [direct]
Submit a Case [direct]
Newsletter [direct]
Donate [direct]
Home [direct]
Individual Rights Advocacy [direct]
Reforming College Policies [direct]
Legal Support [direct]
Legislative Policy Reform [direct]
Our Impact [direct]
Free Speech [direct]
Academic Freedom [direct]
Religious Liberty [direct]
Due Process [direct]
Press Freedom [direct]
Freedom of Assembly [direct]
Freedom of Conscience [direct]
Title IX [direct]
Take Action [direct]
Donate [direct]
Attend an Event [direct]
Host a FIRE Speaker [direct]
Be an Advocate [direct]
Join Our Team [direct]
Resource Library [direct]
Reports [direct]
Issue Pages [direct]
Databases [direct]
Campus Guides [direct]
Toolkits [direct]
Books [direct]
Supreme Court Cases [direct]
Explore Rankings [direct]
Learn More [direct]
Colleges [direct]
News [direct]
Cases [direct]
Read Ramsi's Story [direct]
Academic freedom [direct]
Faculty speech rights [direct]
Speech code resources [direct]
Opposing speech codes [direct]
Correcting policy mistakes [direct]
DEI explainer [direct]
DEI FAQ [direct]
Chicago Statement toolkit [direct]
Institutional neutrality [direct]
Faculty Legal Defense Fund FAQ [direct]
Faculty Speech Rights at Public Universities [direct]
Faculty Legal Defense Fund [direct]
Opportunities for Faculty [direct]
Berkson Courageous Colleague Award [direct]
FIRE Faculty Webinars [direct]
Read the Report [direct]
Scholars Under Fire database [direct]
Faculty Ideology: Measuring faculty viewpoint diversity using campaign contribution data [direct]
Sanctioned Scholars: The Price of Speaking Freely in Today’s Academy [direct]
Silence in the Classroom: The 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report [direct]
The Academic Mind in 2022: What Faculty Think About Free Expression and Academic Freedom on Campus [direct]
College Free Speech Rankings [direct]
Students Under Fire database [direct]
Campus Deplatforming database [direct]
See all faculty news [direct]
Why would someone post that? [direct]
USC earns FIRE's top rating for free speech [direct]
Florida wants colleges out of politics, but its plan has a loophole [direct]
Washington professor who parodied university 'land acknowledgment' wins $600K settlement [direct]
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression [direct]
Contact Us [direct]
Privacy Statement [direct]
Terms and Conditions [direct]
Facebook [direct]
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