Dartmouth College has joined the growing list of elite universities to enact institutional neutrality protocols.
On Tuesday, the Dartmouth Office of the Provost shared the policy update concerning “Institutional Restraint.”
The statement notes that those officially designated as “institutional spokespeople” include the Dartmouth president, board of trustees, provost, senior vice president for communications, director of media relations, and general counsel.
”Any communication from Dartmouth’s designated spokespersons related to core mission that is conveyed to the public, the entire Dartmouth community, or its schools, is an institutional statement,” the statement reads. “To provide space for diverse viewpoints to be raised and fully considered, Dartmouth should exercise general restraint in issuing institutional statements.”
”Restraint at the institutional level protects and enhances freedom of expression because institutional endorsement for a specific position or belief may deter community members who do not share that belief from expressing their skepticism or opposition,” the university continues. “An institution committed to inquiry and open discourse should, therefore, issue institutional statements sparingly – typically when external events have a direct impact upon the relationship of the institution to its members.”