Colleges and universities that have adopted the Chicago Principles on Freedom of Expression (or substantially similar statements) are committed "to the preservation and celebration of the freedom of expression as an essential element of the University’s culture.” An open marketplace of ideas on campus fosters intellectual development and prepares graduates for the discussion and debate that informs and sustains a free society.

A yellow light institution maintains policies that could be interpreted to suppress protected speech or policies that, while clearly restricting freedom of speech, restrict relatively narrow categories of speech.<br /><br /> Warning: FIRE believes that free speech is not only a moral imperative, but also an essential element of a college education. However, private universities, as private associations, possess their own right to free association, which allows them to prioritize other values above the right to free speech if they wish to do so. Therefore, when a private university clearly and consistently states that it holds a certain set of values above a commitment to freedom of speech, FIRE warns prospective students and faculty members of this fact. Six schools surveyed for this report meet these criteria.

University of Montana - Missoula uses one or more of the following instruments to assess undergraduate progress in core collegiate skills: the Council on Aid to Education Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA), the Educational Testing Service Proficiency Profile, or the ACT Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP). For more information, visit www.voluntarysystem.org.