Overview

• The Indiana Senate has passed Senate Bill 202, aiming to increase political control over public universities and colleges, sparking widespread condemnation for undermining academic freedom.
• Critics argue the bill would replace scholarly and professional employment criteria with political litmus tests, potentially causing a chilling effect on faculty's teaching and research.
• The bill proposes changes to the composition of university boards of trustees and introduces requirements for faculty tenure and promotion to foster 'intellectual diversity.'
• University leaders, faculty, and other groups have united in opposition, warning that the bill threatens the integrity of higher education and could lead to a brain drain of top faculty.
• The fate of Senate Bill 202 may hinge on the reaction of Indiana's business leaders, editorial boards, and local officials, beyond the academic community.