What’s AHEAD Poll # 14: Freedom of Speech on College Campuses

This report summarizes the results of a poll of members of the What’s AHEAD trend-spotter panel (n = 372). The panel is made up of higher education leaders, including alumni of the Executive Doctorate program in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania, and members of NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. We received 115 responses during the 10 days in which the poll was open (August 21 to 30, 2017): 96 of 262 Executive Doctorate alumni, 16 members of NASPA, and 3 other higher education leaders. About half (55%) of respondents work at private not-for-profit four-year institutions, 20% work at public four-year institutions, 4% at public two-year institutions, 3% at for-profit institutions, 1% at non-US based universities, and 1% in administrative units (e.g., system offices). The remaining respondents (17%) work in organizations other than colleges and universities. More than a third (38%) of respondents hold positions that focus on administration, 24% on academic matters, 24% in student affairs, 2% in finance, and 11% in other areas. Additional commentary is available at https://ahead-penn.org/whats-ahead/commentary-september-2017