FIRE is a faculty rights organization that can help you defend your rights on campus because higher education should be a marketplace of ideas. Public college and university faculty who face a threat of sanction by their institution or have been punished for expressive activity — whether it’s instruction, scholarship, or speaking on issues of public concern — can submit matters for FLDF consideration. Our staff will quickly review the matter and, if it falls within FLDF’s mandate, connect the faculty member with one of the experienced nearby lawyers in the FLDF network for assistance.
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech and academic freedom news college faculty need to stay informed.
FIRE is now my favorite organization in America. Its advice and support in those critical first 24-72 hours of the cancellation campaign against me were crucial in the pushback that ultimately allowed me to survive and thrive.
When Georgetown Law suspended faculty member Ilya Shapiro and launched an investigation into a controversial tweet, FIRE stepped in to defend his free speech and academic freedom rights. Georgetown finally reinstated him on after a 122-day investigation, determining that the law school couldn’t punish him for a tweet he posted before the start of his employment.
Free thought in academia is worth fighting for. Engage with likeminded faculty members and leverage FIRE's extensive resources promoting free expression on campus.
The FIRE Faculty Network is a coalition of faculty supporters interested in promoting and defending free expression and academic freedom at their institutions.
Join a community championing free expression at FIRE's annual Faculty Network Conference for a weekend of discussion and debate on issues of free speech and academic freedom. This year, the conference will take place in Boston from October 24-26, 2024.
FIRE is pleased to offer limited funding support to college faculty interested in pursuing free expression-related programming at their own institutions through our Faculty Network Events Fund.
Communicating the principles and values of our fundamental rights is critical for the future of our country.
FIRE was inspired to create this syllabus database by various members of our Faculty Network who teach courses on free expression issues, to serve as both a reference tool and a means of networking for faculty.
For faculty who study or teach courses on free expression and the First Amendment, FIRE's resources and data provide a wealth of source material that can make a positive addition to any course syllabus or serve as valuable teaching and study aids.
FIRE's Guide to Free Speech on Campus focuses on the threat to freedom of expression posed by the imposition of speech codes, under various misleading names, on campuses across the nation.
Knowing your civil liberties is the first step towards taking action for the causes you care about. When you Learn with FIRE, you’ll take courses on a wide range of topics, including free speech and due process, designed by our expert staff.
"Without the help and leadership of FIRE, I am certain that I would have been forced out of my career of over 25 years." — Coastal Carolina University Professor Steven Earnest
The Faculty Legal Defense Fund offers “first responder” assistance to protect the expressive and academic freedom rights of faculty at public colleges and universities.
FIRE provides helpful resources for college faculty members seeking to reform policy on their campus.
The following colleges or faculty bodies have adopted or endorsed the Chicago Statement — a “gold standard” free speech policy — or a similar policy.
For students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and others who strive to improve their college's policies regulating student expression.
Vague or ideologically motivated DEI statement policies can too easily function as litmus tests that threaten faculty rights.
FIRE defends the rights of students and faculty through several core services.
FIRE’s core defense program provides free assistance to individual students, professors, student media, and campus groups whose fundamental civil liberties are violated.
FIRE’s college Policy Reform team works to proactively and systematically challenge campus policies that violate students’ and faculty members’ free speech and due process rights.
Facing a university investigation? Have officials refused to share evidence or follow fair procedures? FIRE’s lawyers may be able to help.
FIRE advocates for individual rights at both the state and federal level by advocating on behalf of rights-protective legislation and against proposed laws that threaten student and faculty due process rights.
Find out how well your school’s policies protect the free speech rights of students and faculty.
Learn more about the FIRE Faculty Network and hear from our staff of First Amendment experts by watching our faculty webinar series.
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