Indiana Free Speech Survey

• The final bill, as signed by the governor in May 2021, requires:

A free speech on college campus report. The report must include a detailed description of each state educational institution's efforts to recognize and protect the freedom of speech and association rights guaranteed to the members of its campus community under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. The report must include a recommendation on a survey instrument that each state educational institution shall administer to students not later than May 1, 2022, to determine current perceptions of whether free speech and academic freedom are recognized and fostered by the state educational institution in a manner that welcomes expression of different opinions and ideologies with respect to, but not limited to, classes, professors and instructors, peer interactions, speakers, and campus groups. The survey must take into account perceptions by a representative sample of students at each campus location.

• April 5, 2021. "Indiana colleges would be surveyed on free speech issues under proposal," Arika Herron , Indianapolis Star:

“Protecting free speech is an important duty and it has to happen,” said Rep. Chuck Goodrich, R-Noblesville, who said he has a daughter at one of Indiana’s public institutions. “It’s one sided right now.”

• April 19, 2021 "Indiana Legislature calls for universities to reduce the cost of college by 10%, among other things," Margaret Menge, The Center Square.

• May 5, 2021. "Holcomb signs bill to survey college students on free speech," Margaret Menge,The Center Square.:

The language on free speech was originally in Senate Bill 414, but was taken out in late April and included in a House bill on various education matters, H.B. 1549, which the governor signed into law April 29.

The bill was authored by Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, the chairman of the House Education Committee, with Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee, listed as a sponsor.

It directs the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to prepare three reports and submit them to the legislature by Nov. 1.

The “free speech on college campus report” is to include “a detailed description of each state educational institution’s efforts to recognize and protect the freedom of speech and association rights guaranteed to the members of its campus community under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.”

This report, the bill says, “must include a recommendation on a survey instrument that each state educational institution shall administer to students not later than May 1, 2022, to determine current perceptions of whether free speech and academic freedom are recognized and fostered by the state educational institution in a manner that welcomes expression of different opinions and ideologies with respect to, but not limited to, classes, professors and instructors, peer interactions, speakers, and campus groups.”

The bill also says the survey “must take into account perceptions by a representative sample of students at each campus location.”

Indiana University and Purdue University are the state’s two largest public universities. The other public universities/colleges are Ball State University, Indiana State University, the University of Southern Indiana, Vincennes University and Ivy Tech Community College...

Last month, Idaho and North Dakota both passed campus free speech laws. Idaho’s law, entitled the “Protecting Critical Thinking in Higher Education Act” requires public universities to post compliance with free speech on their websites. North Dakota’s law would eliminate so-called “free-speech zones” on college campuses – meaning that the entire campus would be a free-speech zone. It would also stop universities from prohibiting campus speakers because of their views.