This statement, drafted by the MIT Ad Hoc Working Group on Free Expression and amended by the MIT Faculty through extensive discussion and debate, was adopted by the Faculty on December 21, 2022.

The report makes recommendations for changes to MIT policies, procedures, and practices designed to mitigate the risks that certain categories of visitors pose to the MIT community.

With a tradition of celebrating provocative thinking, controversial views, and nonconformity, MIT unequivocally endorses the principles of freedom of expression and academic freedom.

The president, provost, and chancellor of MIT, along with the chair of the MIT faculty, convened the Ad Hoc Working Group on Free Expression in February 2022. The Group was charged with reviewing MIT’s statements on free expression, recommending changes as needed, reviewing input from MIT stakeholders, devising scenarios to illustrate its recommendations, and suggesting principles and processes for decision making.

The Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Guidelines for Outside Engagements was convened by Chair of the Faculty Rick Danheiser in October 2019 to define a set of values and principles, consistent with MIT’s mission, to guide the assessment of outside engagements, including grants, gifts, and any other associations and collaborations with governments, corporations, foundations, or private individuals, domestic or foreign.