Initiatives
Exploring society’s struggles with speech
The Chicago Forum builds on the University’s unique and unmatched historic commitment by providing a convening point for understanding and advancing open discourse in academia and the broader culture, in the United States and internationally. Chicago Forum events and initiatives bring together students, faculty, higher education leaders and educators, and a diverse range of guests who navigate the challenges of free inquiry and expression. The Chicago Forum provides platforms for deeper and broader engagement with big, bold, risky questions in an environment that encourages curious listening, honest reflection, and the openness to expanding, modifying, or even disavowing one’s own views.
Academic Freedom Institute
The Academic Freedom Institute will build upon and expand faculty understanding and practice of free inquiry and expression both as teachers impart knowledge and as exemplars of the habits and virtues of knowledge growth and flourishing. The Academic Freedom Institute will develop and cultivate intellectual leadership on free expression.
Chicago Forum Research and Course Development Grants
Funding opportunities to support faculty and student research, practice, and experimentation with free inquiry and expression will be available for the University of Chicago community.
Student Engagement
United by their shared passion for fostering open discourse, the Chicago Forum Student Board brings together students across diverse Divisions and Schools to develop customized programming and events to reach the University of Chicago community and beyond.
Academic Conferences
The Chicago Forum considers support for academic conferences and convenings hosted by the UChicago community. Funding is dependent on budgetary capacity, and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
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