Attend Pepperdine's Academic Freedom Colloquium on Faith and the Academy
From Wednesday, May 14, to Friday, May 16, 2025, Pepperdine will welcome representatives from faith-based institutions to join in an intimate colloquy on academic freedom. Apart from the plenary events, participants will be organized in seminar-sized groups of 12-18 led by trained facilitators.
Each of the two main colloquium days will be structured around contentious contemporary issues that challenge faith-based educational institutions’ identities and priorities. First, participants will attend a conversation between two educational leaders who share different perspectives on a contentious topic. Second, participants will have a chance to discuss that conversation in their small groups. Third, participants will role-play a scenario that is connected to that contentious topic. And fourth, participants will reflect on the role-playing experience.
The agenda for the colloquy includes:
- Wednesday, May 14, 6 - 8:30 PM - Welcome Dinner and Keynote Speaker, Patrick Deneen on the History of Academic Freedom at Faith-Based Institutions (Hyatt, Westlake)
- Thursday, May 15, 8 AM - 5 PM - Seminar on Contentious Topic #1: Race and Diversity (Pepperdine, Malibu)
- Friday, May 16, 8 AM - 4 PM - Seminar on Contentious Topic #2: Sex and Gender (Pepperdine, Malibu)
In addition to times for rigorous intellectual engagement, participants will have opportunities for worship and reflection.The first 25 faculty to email academic.freedom@pepperdine.edu with the request may receive free registration and hotel stay subject to availability.
Registration is required. Please contact academic.freedom@pepperdine.edu with any questions.