The Villars Institute’s Post

Why Do American Universities Lean So Far to the Left? American Enterprise Institute 27 Feb 2024 #liberalism #livestream #live Conservatives are scarcer among college and university faculty than they are among any other major profession’s workforce. What are the historical, sociological, and philosophical causes of this imbalance? What consequences does it have for student life, pedagogy, and research? Have any effective means of restoring ideological pluralism on campus been found? Join AEI’s Benjamin Storey for a conversation with the Hoover Institution's Peter Berkowitz and Azusa Pacific University’s Ethan Schrum on how understanding the ideological skew of America’s academia can inform efforts to restore the university’s role as an institution where the pursuit of knowledge can flourish.

🔎 ➡️ Did you know the University of Idaho is a land-grant university with more than 10,000 students in over 100 academic majors from the associate to doctoral level? Learn more about this featured college on CollegeXpress! #colleges #highered #highereducation #collegesanduniversities #collegesearch #collegeadmission #exploringcolleges #students #highschoolstudents #collegestudents

Trent University provides students with exactly the type of #interdisciplinary education argued for in this recent The Globe and Mail piece. #TrentU brings critical, integrative thinking to life, every day, offering #interdisciplinary degrees like Health & Behaviour and Climate Change Science & Policy. In the words of Trent University provost and vice-president academic, Dr. Michael Khan, the benefits for students are clear: “Interdisciplinary studies help future-proof education by creating a holistic approach to solving problems, #collaborating, and #innovating.” https://lnkd.in/g-Wt9fvv

Can the best university be the worst for free speech? Harvard is regularly recognized as the most prestigious Ivy League school in America. Yet it fails miserably at the core mission of higher education: to nurture a marketplace of ideas. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, Harvard’s campus environment is the most hostile to free speech in the nation. Despite its academic reputation, it scored a miserable 0.00 out of 100 on FIRE’s free speech ranking. The next-worst school trailed by 11 points. Two big reasons: 👉nine Harvard professors and researchers faced repercussions for their speech 👉seven of those nine were professionally disciplined The good news: Over 100 Harvard professors earlier this year formed a Council on Academic Freedom to defend open inquiry on campus. Still, this quote from one Harvard professor underscores the severity of its current environment: “We are in a crisis. Many are being threatened or disciplined for exercising free speech and academic freedom.” Free thinkers in America are locked in a fight for one of the country’s founding principles – on and off campus. #leadership #highereducation #freespeech

Here's what students are saying about a Master in Liberal Arts from Stanford University.

The cancellation of conservative perspectives on university campuses is a concerning trend that undermines the ideals of academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and open enquiry. This trend is rooted in philosophical conflicts over justice, freedom, and personal responsibility. The essence of academic pursuit should align with a society that values diverse viewpoints. However, on many university campuses, particularly in Australia, conservative thought is often suppressed, leading to a decline in academic freedom. This suppression not only stifles ideas but also undermines the principle of academic freedom itself. It also leads to a retreat into ideological comfort zones, which is antithetical to the critical thinking and analytical skills that universities are meant to cultivate. This suppression also has practical consequences, as universities that become echo chambers fail to prepare students for the real world, where they will encounter a wide range of perspectives. The future of higher education and society as a whole is at stake. Despite these challenges, some universities and academic bodies are beginning to recognise the importance of intellectual diversity and are taking steps to ensure all voices can be heard. #education #conservatism #freedom #diversity #academia #economics

What’s Wrong with Our Universities with Steven Pinker; "Are our higher education institutions still nurturing true intellectual diversity? Our guest today is Steven Pinker, a cognitive scientist at Harvard, and today, we'll be exploring the growing concerns within higher ed that institutions are turning into echo chambers, stifling dissent and censoring certain perspectives. In this thought-provoking episode, we'll be discovering the challenges to academic freedom in the era of cancel culture. We'll explore how questioning a consensus can now come at a cost, impacting the pursuit of truth within academic institutions. We'll also uncover the story of the Council for Academic Freedom at Harvard, which was formed to combat these challenges. Join us as we delve into policies protecting free speech, and the vital role of civil discourse in the academic community. Together, we'll navigate the complex landscape of universities, grappling with the delicate balance between common knowledge and the suppression of dissenting opinions."; Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi: https://lnkd.in/eVDsJj4p

Dr. Amresh Kumar Gauda, from the Department of Political Science at the School of Liberal and Creative Arts, Lovely Professional University, is thrilled to share his insights on our transformative course! Explore innovative curriculam and pedagogical approaches that ignite scholarly growth. Enroll today and elevate your academic journey. #lpu #lovelyprofessionaluniversity #lpuuniversity #socialsciencesatlpu #SocialSciences #ThinkBig

New York boasts the presence of some of the most prestigious universities such as Columbia, Cornell and NYU, but did you know about some of the lesser-known yet incredibly qualified universities? From reputable research institutions like the University of Rochester to vibrant urban campuses like Fordham and Binghamton, there's a plethora of universities that can be your perfect fit! Drop the name of a city or state you'd like us to include in our Hidden Gems series in the comments below! #ApplicationAlly #StudyAbroad #CollegeAdmissions #NYColleges #EducationalConsulting #ApplyWithConfidence

The attack on social sciences and humanities in the UK is abhorrent. It is fundamentally down to a set narrative that says these disciplines are neither prestigious or profitable. This is an ignorant perspective, and a lie based on greed, pretensions and snobbery that is warping the minds of prospective learners. The research and intellectual contributions of the greatest minds behind our very civilizations pertain to subjects under these overarching disciplinary themes. To negate their value, in and to society, is to negate the value of society itself! The university sector has a moral responsibility to change the narrative, and champion the profitability of such disciplines in our society. Any university that fails in that fundamental responsiblity has no business calling themselves a university at all.