Alliance President and CEO Statement: Conclusion of AIM Committee and Dept of Ed Negotiated Rulemaking Meetings

Following the conclusion of the AIM Committee and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking meetings, Alliance for Higher Education President and CEO Mike Gavin issued the following statement:‍

“Inviting government oversight on what can be taught is not only dangerous, but a threat to democracy. An attempt to establish a federal definition of ‘academic freedom’ and require ‘viewpoint diversity’ as it pertains to politics rather than excellence, learning, scholarship, or merit, are additional examples of the Trump administration’s attacks on knowledge, throttling one of this nation’s most potent fuels for innovation and economic growth. This will create an environment primed for politicized overreach and intrusion that will hurt students and this nation’s intellectual infrastructure.

‍“We have seen states throughout the country ban books, prohibit knowledge, and politicize free speech and thinking about race, gender, and sexuality. By doing so, states like Texas and Florida have already undermined  student success and institutional effectiveness. From community colleges to regional four-year institutions, tribal colleges to research universities, the freedom to teach, think and research are essential to learning and achieving a multiracial democracy.”