By Michael Pearson
As I recently announced on MAA Connect, the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) has joined university presidents and scholarly societies in signing A Call for Constructive Engagement on America's Campuses. The full text of the statement reads:
As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.
America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.
Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy.
The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society. On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.
At a time when civil discourse is both urgent and necessary, this statement reaffirms the role of higher education — and organizations like ours — in fostering environments where diverse perspectives are heard, debated, and respected. Mathematics teaches us the value of clarity, rigor, and dialogue. These principles are essential not only in academic settings but in public life as well.
The MAA Board of Directors unanimously endorsed adding our signature to this effort, joining more than 500 institutions and professional societies to date. Our support reflects a broader commitment to strengthening the foundations of civil society through reasoned dialogue and respect for lawful processes.
Recent events highlight growing concerns about the use of executive actions to pursue policy changes without the full deliberative process of legislation. While this trend spans multiple administrations, it raises questions about the balance of powers that underpin a healthy democracy. Over-reliance on executive orders creates uncertainty, as policies can be reversed by future administrations, undermining long-term stability in education, research, and economic planning.*
As a professional society rooted in the pursuit of knowledge and reason, the MAA believes that safeguarding civil discourse and lawful governance is vital to our nation’s future security, health, and prosperity. Upholding these principles enables institutions like ours to continue advancing education, supporting inquiry, and preparing future generations to contribute thoughtfully to society.**
We are proud to stand with others in reaffirming our shared commitment to constructive engagement and to the values that sustain mathematics and democracy.
*You can read about the EOs, including legal analysis and ongoing court cases, using EducationCounsel’s Summary and Analysis of Trump Administration Executive Actions Impacting Education. EdCounsel also provides support for the Societies Consortium to End Harassment in STEMM, of which MAA is a charter member.
**This 2015 article from the Fordham Environmental Law Review provides some of the political background that led to the passage of the 1946 Administrative Procedure Act, which constrains executive agencies’ actions to ensure due process and is meant to protect the rights of civil society, business, and industry from government overreach, while at the same time providing a basis for professional and expert judgment to establish and enforce rules across complex landscapes while weighing the competing interests of affected parties.
Michael Pearson serves as Executive Director of the MAA.