College of Charleston Civility Initiative Joins Heterodox Academy

The Civility Initiative at the College of Charleston is now a part of a network of campus communities in Heterodox Academy (HxA), a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization committed to improving institutions of higher education by advocating for the principles of open inquiry, viewpoint diversity and constructive disagreement. The Civility Initiative was created to foster real change. The initiative highlights the value of mutual respect when sharing opposing ideas and how conversations can help to bridge political divides.

The Civility Initiative is a part of the fourth cohort joining 50 other campuses that have become part of the HxA Campus Community Network since its launch in January 2023. The network now represents 74 campuses across North America and the UK, and collectively impacts 2 million students.

“We’re beyond delighted to join universities around the country in an effort to promote free expression, free inquiry and a culture of respectful debate both on campus at the College of Charleston and in the wider culture,” says Michael Lee, professor of communication and director of the Civility Initiative.

With the support of HxA, campuses in the network have so far hosted over 100 campus events to demonstrate the value of constructive academic dialogue, and successfully passed or initiated 18 policy and procedural changes on campuses to protect open inquiry and academic freedom.

“As our network has grown, we’ve seen a surge of activity and momentum from academic insiders who love their universities and want to make them better,” says John Tomasi, president of Heterodox Academy. “These campus communities will defend open inquiry and magnify the already impressive impact being made by the network.”