What is Academic Freedom & Why Should We Care?
We’re proud to see our leadership helping shape the national conversation about the future of higher education. In a recent op-ed for the Lexington Herald-Leader, Stand Together for Higher Ed co-chair Kumble Subbaswamy makes the case that shared governance is not only under threat, but essential to protecting both higher education and democracy.
Subbaswamy highlights how state governments and governing boards are increasingly interfering in curriculum, teaching, and institutional priorities. When universities are steered by political agendas rather than academic expertise, they risk losing the independence that has long made American higher education a global leader.
“When politicians start deciding what can be taught in college classrooms, every citizen should pay attention. Academic freedom — the right of professors and students to explore ideas without government interference — is not some ivory-tower perk. It is a safeguard for democracy and for the quality of education that prepares our children and neighbors for the future.”
He reminds us that faculty governance is not a symbolic role—it is the bedrock of academic excellence. When faculty voices are silenced, research and teaching are weakened, students lose out, and universities drift away from their public mission.
At Stand Together for Higher Ed, we echo this urgent call. Faculty and staff across the country are forming campus-based Stand Together Teams, organizing with colleagues, and building cross-campus solidarity to ensure that when higher education is under pressure, we respond collectively and effectively.
We invite you to read Subbaswamy’s full op-ed and join us in strengthening the values that make higher education indispensable to our democracy.
