Iowa State has adopted a new required syllabus statement to affirm the university’s commitment to free expression. The statement, available on the Required & Recommended ISU Syllabus Statements page (and below), was developed in consultation with the Faculty Senate executive board and is to be used verbatim for all Iowa State University courses beginning with the upcoming winter session.
Iowa State University supports and upholds the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech and the principle of academic freedom in order to foster a learning environment where open inquiry and the vigorous debate of a diversity of ideas are encouraged. Students will not be penalized for the content or viewpoints of their speech as long as student expression in a class context is germane to the subject matter of the class and conveyed in an appropriate manner.