What we value

Diversity of people, thought, and ideas

New knowledge cannot be formed when we’re hindered by old ways of thinking. By cultivating a wide range of thoughts from our peers, students, and the communities where we live and work, we are better able to bring forth ideas that change the world.

Graduate holding baby
We empower individuals to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas. Students develop critical skills, test their ideas with UChicago scholars, and become the next generation of leaders in academia, industry, nonprofits, and government.
OI Mummy Sample
Breakthrough discoveries have led to fundamental paradigm shifts across fields of study from archaeology to economics.
Woman speaking at microphone
Rigorous debate and open inquiry among our campus community are hallmarks of UChicago's intellectual environment.
Students walking on campus
A transformative education and experiences teach students how to think, not what to think.
Students Studying
UChicago's campus in Hyde Park welcomes a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Supporting our community in Chicago and beyond

While our outreach efforts span the globe, we place a distinct emphasis on supporting our neighbors on the South Side of Chicago. We do this by leveraging our financial resources, as well as the power of education, research, and innovation, to promote meaningful change.

EXPLORE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AT UCHICAGO

Free and open discourse

We believe in the power and protection of free speech. It fosters an unfettered exchange of ideas, forces us to re-examine our assumptions, and opens the door to original ideas. An education with free and open debate empowers students to grapple with challenging ideas.

Gray

A history of free expression

View the timeline of UChicago’s belief in freedom of expression since our founding.

Learn More
Free expression

A core institutional value

Learn more about how freedom of expression is a fundamental part of UChicago culture.

Learn more
Boyer

The Chicago Principles

More than 70 universities and school systems have adopted the UChicago framework for supporting and protecting free expression on their campuses.

Learn More