Free expression
At UW–Madison, the free exchange of ideas is essential to learning and discovery. Guided by our tradition of “fearless sifting and winnowing,” we uphold open dialogue and debate as core to our mission. As a public university, we are committed to the First Amendment and to fostering an environment where diverse — and sometimes challenging — ideas can be heard, discussed, and understood.
Featured policies and guidelines
Our free expression policies and guidelines are designed to provide students, faculty, and staff with information to ensure an open and respectful campus.
Expressive Activity Policy
UW–Madison policy to help students, employees, and visitors understand their First Amendment rights and responsibilities, and access available resources.
Expressive Activity Guide
A companion to the Expressive Activity Policy, offering detailed guidance, examples, event organization tips, and more.
Free expression training modules
A 7-part free expression training module that includes topics on civil discourse, academic freedom, offensive speech, and protest in the context of First Amendment rights as a campus community member.
Free expression and pluralism in action
Introduced in 2025, the Wisconsin Exchange: Pluralism in Practice aim to… Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Our greatness as a university grows from a deep commitment to pluralism and free expression. Bringing people from diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and points of view together, and creating the conditions for productive discussion and debate, is the way we create educational excellence and inspire innovation that can change the world.