Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom Task Force

At Wilfrid Laurier University, we are deeply committed to academic freedom, freedom of expression and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome to engage in research, teaching and learning.

In September 2024, Laurier established a Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom Task Force to clarify policies, procedures and how the university responds to community concerns related to academic freedom and freedom of expression. The goal is to understand and identify challenges of implementation within the current framework and ensure the university has the resources and processes necessary for supporting freedom of expression and academic freedom. This work will build on the Statement on Freedom of Expression and freedom of expression policy framework established in 2018/19.

Task Force Membership and Nomination Process 

Given the mandate of the Task Force, faculty members will make up a majority of the membership. The full membership will be as follows:

• Seven faculty/librarians (voting) elected through University Faculty Council, subject to the following conditions:
  • At least one representative from each of the Brantford and Kitchener/Waterloo campuses, i.e., faculty/librarians primarily appointed to a particular campus
  • At least three faculties represented
  • A maximum of two contract teaching faculty/part-time librarians
• Chair (voting): Provost and Vice-President: Academic
• Ex officio Membership (voting):
  • President of the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union (WLUSU)
  • President of the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA)
  • Associate Vice-President: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
  • Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
  • One Dean of a faculty, appointed by the Provost and Vice-President: Academic 
• Resource (non-voting): available as needed; to be determined by the Task Force
• Support (non-voting): Office of the Provost and Vice-President: Academic

A call for nominations for faculty members will be issued the week of Sept. 30 through the University Faculty Council. Nominations must include a 100-word candidate statement explaining why the nominee would like to serve on the task force. 

The Task Force will meet twice monthly during the 2024/25 academic year, with the objective of reporting to Senate by the May 2025 meeting.

Draft Work Plan

• September/October 2024: Populate committee.
• October 2024: Meeting #1: Orientation and discuss terms of reference.
• November 2024: Meeting #2: Review resource library and identify additional materials required; Develop consultation plan (both general consultation with university community and specific consultation with relevant experts).
• November 2024 to February 2025: Meetings #3 to #6: Hold specific consultations with subject matter experts; Review community consultation feedback; Establish sub-committees (as necessary).
• February to April 2025: Meetings #7 to #10: Develop draft report, including observations findings, and preliminary recommendations; Develop and execute consultation plan for draft report.
• April to May 2025: Meetings #11 to #13: Review community feedback on draft report; Prepare final report.
• May 2025: Present report to Senate.