SAN DIEGO — Higher education human resources leaders from across the nation gathered this weekend to address challenges at colleges and universities including identifying pay gaps, representation shortcomings, and faculty academic freedom concerns.
The annual College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) conference featured an abundance of sessions on campus climate, inclusive hiring practices and free speech discussions in light of recent instances of unrest on college campuses. According to Sissy Meredith, CUPA-HR Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, the conference brought together “over 350 exhibitors and more than 1,000 attendees.”
In a session entitled “Blurred Lines: A discussion of free speech on the 21st century campus,” Maureen De Armond, assistant vice president of Human Resources Services at the University of Florida, provided an overview of the evolution free speech on campuses. Protests on campus, participation in marches, and social media expression from faculty on controversial issues, were discussed with specific proactive tips for HR representatives to follow if a controversial speaker is invited to speak at their institutions.
“Free speech decisions are not going to make everyone happy,” De Armond said. “People are going to be mad regardless of what policy or process and that is something that administrators struggle with regularly.”
The distinction between political speech and hate speech dominated the conversation and what academic freedom means to faculty that use social media to express their views.
Rebecca Peterson, assistant director of Faculty Relations at Florida State University, found the discussions relevant and vital in the midst of the current political and social climate.
“It brought to light the current issues with free speech, particularly how it pertains to academia in our modern technological world and the balance between academic freedom and compliance with institutional policies and values,” Peterson said.
