Case Western Reserve University: Student Organizations Required to Align Mission with the University’s Core Values

In September, Case Western Reserve University imposed a new requirement that student organizations and their third-party affiliates “align” their missions with the university’s core values including academic excellence and impact, inclusiveness and diversity, integrity and transparency, and effective stewardship.

On October 15, FIRE wrote CWRU, explaining that the requirement potentially forces student groups to conform their mission to the university’s preferred values rather than their own consciences, which cannot be squared with CWRU's own free expression policies. On October 28, the university agreed to revise the policy's language and reaffirm its commitment to free expression.