An advisory committee on diversity of thought and freedom of expression has issued a call for feedback to faculty, students and staff on all three campuses and the medical center, seeking input on how well the University of Michigan is living up to a set of principles adopted by the Board of Regents in January.

The goal is to gather information on the university’s climate for freedom of expression and diversity of thought and to seek opinions as to whether the university should adopt a policy of institutional neutrality, akin to the University of Chicago’s 1967 Kalven Report, in order to foster freedom of inquiry and maintain independence from, as Kalven notes, “political fashions, passions, and pressures.”

“We have chosen to use open-ended questions to provide a full opportunity for you to share your experiences and unique point of view in the manner you think best,” the committee wrote in an email that is scheduled to be sent to the Ann Arbor, Flint and Dearborn campuses and the medical center May 28. The six open-ended questions are presented to the user by topic on multiple screens.

Valid U-M credentials are required to access the survey in order to limit respondents to the university community. The call for input does not collect user name information or other metadata, and responses will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law. It will remain open until June 30, 2024.