109.01 Academic Freedom

Any faculty member is entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, subject to the adequate performance of his or her other academic duties, but research for pecuniary return shall depend on the approval of the President.

Any faculty member is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his or her subject, but should be careful to present the various scholarly views related to the subject and avoid presenting totally unrelated material. Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of the institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of the appointment.

The concept of freedom should be accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility. The college or university teacher is a citizen, a member of a learned profession and an officer of an educational institution. When such a person speaks or writes as a citizen, he or she should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but his or her special position in the community imposes special obligations. As a person of learning and an educational officer, he or she should remember that the public may judge the professional and the institution by one's utterances. Hence, he or she should at all times be accurate, should exercise restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that he or she is not an institutional spokesperson.

The professor, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognizes the special responsibilities placed upon him or her. One's primary responsibility to one's subject is to seek and to state the truth as one sees it. To this end, one should devote one's energies to developing and improving scholarly competence. He or she accepts the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge. He or she practices intellectual honesty. Although one may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise freedom of inquiry.

As teacher, the professor encourages the free pursuit of learning by his or her students. He or she holds before them the best scholarly standards of his or her discipline, demonstrates respect for the student as an individual, and adheres to the proper role as intellectual guide and counselor. He or she makes every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that evaluation of students reflects their true merit. He or she respects the confidential nature of the relationship between professor and student, avoids any exploitation of students for private advantage and acknowledges significant assistance from them. He or she protects their academic freedom.

As a colleague, the professor has obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. He or she respects and defends the free inquiry of associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, he or she shows due respect to associates and respect for the opinion of others. He or she acknowledges academic debts and strives to be objective in the professional judgment of colleagues. He or she accepts a share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of the institution.

As a member of the institution, the professor seeks above all to be an effective teacher and scholar. Although he or she should observe the stated regulations of the institution, provided they do not contravene academic freedom, he or she should maintain the right to criticize and seek revision. He or she determines the amount and character of work to be done outside the institution with due regard to his or her paramount responsibilities within it. When considering the interruption or termination of his or her service, one recognizes the effect of one's decision upon the program of the institution and gives due notice of intentions.

As a member of the community, the professor has the rights and obligations of any citizen. He or she measures the urgency of these obligations in the light of responsibilities to his or her subject, students, profession, and institution. As a citizen engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the professor has a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.