Faculty perspectives are missing from the conversation about intellectual diversity in higher education.

Understanding of how academic climates shape faculty views on open inquiry and intellectual pluralism in higher education is limited. While administrators and policymakers debate academic freedom, little research actually captures what faculty experience day-to-day and how this experience differs across our nation’s institutions. This study helped build an evidence-based understanding of faculty perspectives and practices by examining their views on topics such as diversity of perspectives and intellectual pluralism.

NORC surveyed faculty across the United States about current issues in higher education.

Surveying faculty about sensitive topics like intellectual diversity and open inquiry presents a complex methodological puzzle. How do you capture authentic perspectives across the dramatically different academic environments—from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges—while ensuring faculty feel safe to share honest views on potentially controversial topics?

Our faculty study included a comprehensive stratified sampling framework that goes beyond typical academic surveys. Rather than treating “faculty” as a monolithic group, the design included 16 distinct institutional groups across eight Carnegie classifications and two institutional types, representative institutions were then carefully selected within each group. All faculty within each chosen institution were invited to participate in the study. This approach ensured that a lecturer at a community college and a tenured professor at an R1 university both have their voices heard proportionally.

This design included often-overlooked voices—adjunct faculty, lecturers, and emeritus faculty—who experience campus climate differently than traditional tenure-track professors. To reduce burden on busy faculty and encourage their participation, the survey was streamlined to 5-7 minutes while the institutional diversity of the sample design captured the full spectrum of American higher education.