Kalamazoo Times

Western Michigan University (WMU) has been awarded the 2025 Open Inquiry Award for Community Excellence by the Heterodox Academy (HxA). This national organization is dedicated to promoting viewpoint diversity, open inquiry, and constructive disagreement. The award was presented during the HxA 2025 conference.

The accolade acknowledges WMU's efforts in fostering a campus culture that emphasizes intellectual inquiry and civic dialogue. John Tomasi, president of HxA, commented on the significance of this recognition: "The 2025 Open Inquiry Award winners exemplify the courage, integrity and commitment to pluralism that our academic communities so desperately need. Their work reminds us that the pursuit of truth thrives when diverse viewpoints are heard and engaged with in good faith."

Representatives from WMU attended the conference held on June 23 in Brooklyn, New York. Jeff Breneman, vice president for government relations and external partnerships; Dave Paul, chair and master faculty specialist of philosophy; and Jennifer Townsend, executive assistant in the Lee Honors College and adjunct instructor accepted the award on behalf of WMU.

The Heterodox Academy supports educators and institutions in cultivating environments where open inquiry can flourish. WMU's recognition highlights its leadership role in advancing these values within higher education.

Jennifer Townsend expressed her pride in receiving this honor: “It is a very great honor, and incredibly encouraging, to be recognized for the difficult but important work we are doing as a University community to create an environment in which diverse perspectives and constructive disagreements are both modeled and welcomed.”

WMU received this award due to several initiatives:

- Expanding HxA membership: The university has significantly increased its membership base aligned with HxA’s mission.

- Institutional Voice Stewardship guidelines: WMU has adopted guidelines based on HxA’s policy framework to ensure thoughtful communication on social issues.

- We Talk initiative: Since February 2020, this program has involved over 1,000 participants in discussions about free speech and civic engagement.

For more information about WMU news or events, visit their online platform.