IAPSS Press Team, Department of Public Relations – May 15 2025
Academic freedom is essential for fostering critical thought, diverse perspectives, and
the advancement of knowledge and innovation. The US governments’ decision to halt
multi-billion-dollars in funding to universities and colleges unless they comply with
politically motivated policy changes has led to widespread disruption in the academic
sector. This approach compromises institutional independence and impedes on the
need for academic institutions to have autonomy on policy within reasonable limits.
The decision compels institutions to either comply with demands, involving major
changes to diversity and inequality policies, among others, or risk substantial budget
cuts, significantly reducing institutional capacity, hence ultimately undermining the
quality of future research. Higher education thrives on the freedom in teaching and
learning, making the recent wave of political interference in US academic institutions
both alarming and concerning as such actions pose a serious threat to the integrity of
academia.
Demonstrating a unified front, numerous institutions of higher learning issued a joint
statement condemning the imposition of political conditions on funding and voicing
strong support for the principles of academic freedom. IAPSS supports calls by US
academics and civil society and the international community for solidarity in the fight to
retain academic freedom, public confidence in these institutions and institutional
stability.
END
L. M.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Livhuwani Mutheiwana, Press Officer at the International Association for Political
Science Students (e: press@iapss.org).
Jorge Luis Barrera Vega, Press Officer at the International Association for Political
Science Students (e: comms@iapss.org).
