At Waterloo, it is our mission to advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research, and scholarship. To do this, we must foster a vibrant culture of intellectual exchange, academic freedom, open inquiry, free expression, and inclusive engagement.
In line with the report of the Task Force on Freedom of Expression and Inclusive Engagement, the University of Waterloo affirms that institutional neutrality and institutional restraint are critical principles in fostering this environment in matters unrelated to its core mission, governance, and operations.
The importance of institutional neutrality and institutional restraint
There are times, often in response to local or global events, that members of our diverse community expect, or call on, the institution and its leaders to communicate a public perspective, viewpoint, or stance on political, social, or moral matters. Defining an institutional position on such matters that expresses a viewpoint representative of its entire community of members is not easily done. Furthermore, if senior leaders take positions on behalf of the institution, they risk inhibiting the free expression of diverse views across campus. Rather, it is the role of the University as an institution to provide the structural support to enable all its community members to exercise freedom of expression.
The University recognizes that local and global social, political, and moral issues are integral to public discourse and are often central to the research, teaching, and scholarship of our community members.
The expression of diverse views and the advancement of debate are the domain of the institution’s individual members, not of the institution itself. It is the institution’s role to foster an environment for our students, faculty and staff to fulfil our mission and provide our faculty, staff and students with appropriate support and resources.
Adopting a position of institutional neutrality and institutional restraint allows us to safeguard our mission and ensure that the University remains a place where individuals can engage freely and robustly with ideas from all perspectives, without the chilling effect that may result from institutional endorsement of a particular view.
Adopting the principles of institutional neutrality and restraint has important implications for how the University communicates on local and global events and issues. Our communication practices must reflect these principles while ensuring that all members of our community feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to engage in open and inclusive dialogue. Neutrality and restraint go hand-in-hand with inclusive engagement as freedom of expression extends to everyone in our community. The principle of institutional neutrality is not violated by the need for the University to make decisions in matters directly related to its core mission, governance, or operations, as a public institution.
Conditions for institutional statements
Adopting a position of institutional neutrality and restraint means the University will not issue statements or communications that take a position on broader social, political, and moral matters unrelated to its core mission, governance, or operations.
The University may issue statements that have social, political, and moral effect related to its mission, threats to free expression and academic freedom, or its responsibilities to provide safe campuses. The circumstances in which the University, will consider statements or communications include:
- Threats to academic freedom or free expression. When the University’s fundamental values of academic freedom, open inquiry, or free expression are directly challenged, it may be necessary to articulate a clear institutional stance.
- Matters related to the University’s mission. When social or political developments have a direct impact on the University’s ability to fulfill its mission of advancing learning and knowledge through teaching , research and scholarship, it may be necessary for the University to respond.
- Risk to public safety and well-being. In circumstances where the safety and well-being of our campus community are at risk, the University must address those concerns.
Such statements will be carefully considered to ensure that they remain consistent with the University’s mission, values, and commitment to fostering open dialogue.
Maintaining support through communication
It will remain our objective to convey a sense of caring for people in our community who are affected by, or feel the harms of, local and world events. When we communicate, we will strive to express empathy and concern and will provide our community information to access the supports we offer for mental health, financial aid, academic supports, through the appropriate offices.
In accordance with its obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the University will continue to proactively communicate and create activations or events that support the prevention of discrimination for grounds protected under the code.