Academic Freedom Statement

Approved by Board of Trustees, December 17, 1997

Approved by Academic Affairs Committee, November 5, 1997

Approved by Faculty Assembly, May 20, 1997

Revised February 2002

Academic freedom is essential in institutions of higher education. It is the freedom to engage in teaching, research, scholarship, or other creative work as the basis for expanding knowledge, promulgating research findings, and teaching and learning in an atmosphere of free inquiry and expression.

The rights of faculty and students to academic freedom carry with them duties and responsibilities. Faculty and students are entitled to freedom of inquiry and discussion in teaching and learning; freedom of investigation in research; and freedom of publication regarding research, scholarship, and creative work. Since discussing different points of view is an essential aspect of free academic inquiry and teaching, it is appropriate for faculty to incorporate both their knowledge and beliefs into their teaching. Concomitant with these freedoms must be a commitment to accuracy and integrity.

Faculty members are private citizens, professionals, and members of an educational institution. Faculty, recognizing that the public may judge an institution by their utterances, should indicate when they are speaking as official representatives of the University.