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Enhance Free Speech Orientation on Your Campus

Students engaged in structured debate and discussion session

Some colleges offer free speech orientation to incoming students; others do not. If yours does not – here's what to ask for. If it does, we've got ideas for add-ons you can request. Many colleges nationwide are using research-backed, highly effective free speech orientation programs for both incoming freshmen as well as existing students and faculty. There's no need reinvent the wheel on your campus – consider reaching out to these proven leaders:

Start with the gold standard in Free Speech Orientation: FIRE

FIRE administrative support statistics showing rankings for various universities

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. In partnership with New York University's First Amendment Watch, FIRE developed a series of excellent free-to-use modules, videos, and other resources for colleges and universities to use for orientation. Here's a link to their Guide to Free Speech Orientation, as well as a link to their best-selling Guide to Free Speech on Campus.

Then, choose some add-ons...

Bipartisan Policy Center logo

The Bipartisan Policy Center has a good round-up of what a variety of universities are doing nationwide — with links to an array of effective discussion sessions, videos, written materials, addresses by senior leadership, and on-going year-round programming on free speech and viewpoint diversity. Take a look here .

Finally, the cherry on top: a Braver Angels Debate

Many schools incorporate a Braver Angels town-hall style debate as part of freshman orientation. Braver Angels has developed a highly collaborative approach with faculty and students to organize debates around topics and resolutions usually chosen by the students themselves. Each debate has its own unique qualities and is tailored to the particular campus community. Since the program's inception, Braver Angels has launched more than 460 campus and classroom debates, workshops, and training events engaging 20,000+ students at 120 colleges and universities. You can also consider their newest program, A Braver Campus Dialogue. Learn more about Braver Angels programs from the classroom ... to campus-wide ... to intercollegiate ... to nationwide, all here .

If you're aware of effective orientation programming – either at specific colleges or from national partners – that you'd like us to share with others, please contact us and we'll add it to our list. The more the merrier!