Free Speech Survey Results

On April 8, 2022, Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee signed into law Public Chapter No. 818. One component of the Act requires higher education institutions to conduct a biennial survey of the institution’s students and employees to assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents’ comfort level in speaking freely on campus, regardless of political affiliation or ideology.

Austin Peay State University (APSU) offered this survey October 17-21, 2022, to all university students, faculty, and staff. A total of 1,249 students participated in the survey, representing about 13% of the total APSU student population; a total of 683 faculty and staff participated in the survey, representing about 44% of the total APSU employee population.

Advertisement and distribution of the survey was coordinated with various campus officials to promote the surveys to both students and employees. Participation in the survey was voluntary, confidential, and anonymous; no personal identifying information was sought on the survey.