OM 5.10.3 Academic Freedom and Responsibility
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Effective Date: March 1967 |
Policy Contact: Office of the Provost |
Policy
Academic freedom is essential to the free search for truth and its free exposition, and applies to both teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student to freedom in learning. It carries with it duties correlative with rights.
Academic Freedom
- Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties, and in accord with University policies.
- Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but should be careful not to introduce controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.
Freedom, however, involves responsibilities. The University faculty are members of a larger community, members of learned professions, and officers of the educational institution. When they speak or write, they shall be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations upon them. As learned people and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.
History
March 1967
Faculty Senate approved Revision September 1974
Faculty Senate approved Revision 1989
Renumbered July 2017