Open 
Inquiry

A powerful idea may begin as a notion that seems mistaken, strange, offensive, or even dangerous. Colleges and universities should be places where such ideas can be discussed, debated, and rigorously tested, not stigmatized and stifled. Yet open inquiry has increasingly come under threat.

For students, the challenge is often social: fear of ridicule or “cancellation” from peers leads to significant self-censorship on controversial topics, causing many to avoid difficult discussions and miss out on developing the skills of constructive disagreement.

For scholars, social pressures are compounded by the institutional pressures of journal publishing, citation counts, and academic prestige to skew the marketplace of ideas in favor of legacy and access.

This environment severely limits the potential of the academy, contributing to both intellectual stagnation and decreasing public trust in the university system. The scope of scholarly examination must be sufficiently broad to afford the progression of knowledge without interference.

Threats to open inquiry often look like scholars selecting a “safer” topic for their research out of fear. They look like students choosing not to ask challenging questions in the classroom. They look like students not getting what they are supposed to — and deserve to — get out of their education.

As part of our Open Inquiry U agenda to ensure open inquiry is protected, HxA and its members ask universities to:

• Enshrine knowledge seeking as the university’s non-negotiable purpose, establishing open inquiry as the foundation for all student planning and decision-making.
• Forster a culture of open inquiry across all campus domains, embedding the principles of open inquiry in teaching, research, admissions, campus life and governance.
• Measure their progress by regularly assessing and reporting on changes in the state of open inquiry on campus.

By committing to these goals, the academy can continue to discover new knowledge and cultivate critical thinking for new generations.