Boston University: Discrimination and Harassment Training Compels Faculty Speech
Cases
Boston University
Case Overview
Boston University鈥檚 mandatory training on preventing discrimination and harassment asks faculty members opinion-based questions and requires them to select the university鈥檚 preferred answers to complete the training. On December 17, 2021, FIREwrote to BU explaining that requiring faculty members to affirm viewpoints with which they may disagree amounts to compelled speech in violation of BU鈥檚 policies protecting freedom of expression. On February 14, 2022, BU confirmed that it revised the training module鈥檚 welcome page to make clear that the module tests participants鈥 knowledge of the university鈥檚 鈥渏udgment as to the response that best aligns with the University鈥檚 goals and objectives,鈥 but does not require faculty to agree with those judgments.