Freedom of Speech & Inquiry
It is crucial that Virginia students -- of all ages, in all institutions of learning across the state -- are empowered to think critically, speak freely, and explore diverse idea landscapes in the classroom. Preserving our democracy demands that every generation is taught how to think, not what to think; Governor Youngkin has prioritized this foundational principal since day one of his administration.
Training and Updating
The Youngkin Administration led a comprehensive and collaborative approach to enhance campus security while fostering a vibrant culture of free speech and intellectual diversity across Virginia's educational institutions. The Governor convened key stakeholders -- campus police chiefs, the Attorney General's office, the Public Safety and Education Secretariats, VDOE, and others -- to work together to build new campus security protocols. This effort focused on strengthening on-campus safety measures, revising codes of conduct, and increasing student safety orientations to better illustrate the critical balance between ensuring student safety and protecting free speech.
Summit on Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity
Building on this foundation, the administration hosted Virginia's first-ever Summit on Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity. This landmark event brought together representatives from every public university in the Commonwealth, 14 private institutions, and 23 community colleges, marking an unprecedented level of collaboration across Virginia's higher education landscape. Following the Summit, nearly all participating institutions submitted detailed Free Speech Action Plans, outlining their commitments to cultivate environments where free expression and intellectual diversity thrive in every aspect of campus life.
The Expressions of Freedom Contest was launched in partnership with VA250, VDOE, and Friends of the Washington Statue to further engage young Virginians. This initiative invites students from grades 3 through12 to explore their own interpretation of the meaning of freedom through a variety of creative mediums, including essays, artwork, video, and audio recordings. In June 2025, the winning submissions were immortalized in a time capsule, proudly displayed in the pedestal of the George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square, symbolizing the enduring value of freedom for future generations.
Enduring Partnerships in the Name of Free Speech
Virginia's colleges and universities have partnered with respected organizations such as Braver Angels, Heterodox Academy, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and the Constructive Dialogue Institute to promote respectful debate, common ground, and free expression, reinforcing the Youngkin Administration's commitment to open dialogue and mutual understanding.
Governor Youngkin continues to support faculty who champion viewpoint diversity and intellectual rigor, and the expansion of Heterodox Academy's presence within Virginia's academic community reflects this. The University of Virginia now hosts the second-largest faculty chapter of Heterodox Academy in the nation.
Institutional Neutrality
The Council of Presidents adopted a shared statement affirming their commitment to free speech and inquiry on college campuses statewide, further solidifying this core value within Virginia's higher education system. This commitment also includes a push for institutional neutrality, ensuring that colleges and universities remain spaces where diverse viewpoints can be expressed without bias.