On Monday, Dec. 2, at noon, Indiana University School of Medicine Faculty Affairs and Professional Development will host a virtual town hall meeting on the university’s new intellectual diversity policies. These policies are being implemented in response to Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 202, an Indiana Senate bill passed in spring 2024 requiring that faculty are expected to help the University foster a culture of free inquiry, free expression and intellectual diversity.
All IU School of Medicine faculty are invited to attend the town hall meeting. Participants can submit questions prior to the event.
This town hall meeting comes in advance of an Indianapolis Faculty Council (IFC) vote on these new policies at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m. At this meeting, representatives from across campus, including IU School of Medicine faculty representatives, will review draft policies and vote to implement them. The three policies under consideration include:
- Procedures for including intellectual diversity review into the standard faculty annual review process
- Procedures for handling complaints associated with intellectual diversity
- Related changes to promotion and tenure guidelines
SEA 202 does not limit academic freedom; in fact, the text of the bill states that it “may not be construed to limit or restrict the academic freedom of faculty members or prevent faculty members from teaching, researching or writing publications about diversity, equity or inclusion or other topics.” The town hall provides an opportunity for faculty members to better understand the proposed policy changes and how the policies might affect their work.
The town hall meeting is hosted in partnership with the Center for Inclusive Excellence, the IU Indianapolis Office of Academic Affairs, and the IU School of Medicine Faculty Steering Committee.
