University of Oregon: Faculty Required to Promote Approved Views in Mandatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statements

The University of Oregon requires current and prospective faculty to submit statements discussing their contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion to be eligible for hiring, promotion, and tenure. These policies — including the guidelines and rubrics used to evaluate the DEI statements — require faculty to affirm UO’s views on DEI and to promote these views in their respective classrooms, research initiatives, and service activities, to avoid being disadvantaged in hiring or evaluation. On August 11, 2022, FIRE wrote UO explaining the requirements threaten academic freedom by interfering with faculty members’ scholarly autonomy and compelling them to endorse views they may not actually hold, in violation of the First Amendment and UO’s own policies. After UO failed to respond, FIRE sent a follow-up letter on September 8 reminding the university of its First Amendment obligations