Guidance for protest de-escalation on campus and in media while maintaining autonomy and academic freedom

In 2023, as protests moved across institutions of higher education, outside actors took advantage of the opportunity to create a wedge between the higher education sector and the public’s trust. Some institutions charged with allowing protestors to threaten the safety of students and employees were subsequently punished financially. As protests and civil rights violations likely continue, there are some proactive practices that all institutions should consider. 

This document is meant to guide leaders through exercises in addition to Emergency Management Plans, which would be the primary and immediate resources. 

Two other resources that assist with understanding legal and values considerations regarding free speech are: PEN America’s Guidance on Free Speech on Campus and AFT’s brief that assists with understanding definitions of legal and policy-based approaches to Free Speech, Academic Freedom, and Protests.

Proactive Practices for Potential Protest

• All college campuses would benefit from ensuring presidents, boards, cabinets, faculty, staff and students are in alignment about foundational philosophies of free speech and campus safety and security.
• A meeting in which these issues are discussed in anticipation of potential unrest is recommended. Topics include, the ability to continue campus operations as follows:
  
  • Campus community safety and security
  • How to deescalate confrontations 
  • How to maintain operations of the campus and protect academic freedom and free speech, while ensuring safety and security
  • Due processes for cases that arise from speech, protest, or conflict.

Presidents and boards should prepare by affirming their commitment to:

• Institutional autonomy
• Academic freedom and freedom of speech
• Ensuring that all student and employee identities belong
• Considering ways to engage students, employees, and public in discussions, led by experts on the issues being protested, to learn about the issues and opinions on the issues more deeply  
• Exercising these messages and practices will serve as a foundation for how to approach student protest or campus violence

‍Should Protests or Violence Occur

Leaders have obligations:

1. To ensure safety and security of students and employees
2. To protect the operations of the institution and the learning environment
3. To represent their institution and the entire higher education sector

In addition to following your own continuity of operations/emergency planning process, there are considerations for maintaining mission and maintaining the college, community, and national trust when protests occur.  

‍Initial Presidential Communication 

• Acknowledge incident using confirmed facts only
  Affirm commitments to:
  
  • Safety and security
  • Free expression
  • Due process
  • State immediate actions being taken to ensure safety
    

Example mantra: “We will protect the right to protest and the safety and security of our community at the same time.”

Ensure Academic Values do not Succumb to External Pressure 

• Support faculty managing disrupted classrooms
• Do not compel faculty to police speech 

‍Engage with Students and Organizers 

• Meet promptly with student government and trusted student leaders
• Where possible, engage protest organizers directly and/or through intermediaries
• Use ombuds, chaplains, or faculty mediators to de-escalate

‍Do not Allow External Pressure to Disrupt Fairness and Processes

Any conduct issues that arise should be:

• Free from political or donor interference
• Free from pre-determined outcomes

‍Trustee, Media & Political Readiness

• Brief trustees early with verified facts and guardrails
• Align messaging with counsel, key internal stakeholders who are experts in the issue being protested, and peer institutions
• Prepare for selective video, external narratives, and political pressure 
• Publicly reaffirm institutional autonomy and academic freedom
• Ensure presidents are backed by boards publicly

‍Mental Health

• Expand counseling and crisis support access
  Provide voluntary spaces for dialogue and reflection
  Acknowledge harm, fear