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Academic Freedom, Free Speech and Diversity
Academic Freedom and Professional Responsibilities
Approved by the Faculty Senate April 5, 2004 and by the Provost
May 3, 2004.
Applies to all full- and part-time faculty not represented
by collective bargaining.
- Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom is essential for the proper development
of the university. It functions to protect the institution
from unwarranted interference by external groups and to ensure
the retention of the services of those whose contributions
toward its goals make them an essential part of the faculty. In
doing so, it secures the autonomy and integrity of the University
and makes its development as an intellectual community an
object of primary concern.
Academic freedom is the unqualified right of every faculty
member. It carries a reciprocal obligation to respect
and maintain the academic freedom of every other member of
the University.
Faculty are entitled to freedom in research and artistic
expression and in the publication, display or performance
of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their
other academic duties. Faculty are entitled to freedom
to teach, profess and discuss material in the classroom subject
to limits listed under professional responsibilities.
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Professional Responsibilities
Faculty, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity
of the advancement of knowledge, shall recognize the special
responsibilities placed upon them. Their primary responsibility
to their subject is to seek and state the truth as they see
it. To this end, faculty members shall devote their
energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. They
have an obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and
judgment in using, extending and transmitting knowledge. They
shall practice intellectual honesty. Although the
faculty member may follow subsidiary interests, these interests
must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of
inquiry.
As teachers, faculty members shall encourage the free pursuit
of learning in their students. They shall hold before
them the best scholarly and ethical standards of their discipline. Faculty
members shall demonstrate respect for students as individuals
and adhere to their proper roles as intellectual guides and
counselors. Faculty members shall make every reasonable
effort to foster honest academic conduct and ensure that
their evaluations of students reflect each student's true
merit. They shall avoid any exploitation, harassment
or discriminatory treatment of students. They shall
acknowledge significant or scholarly assistance from students.
As colleagues, faculty members have obligations that derive
from common membership in the community of scholars. They
shall respect and defend the free inquiry of associates and
shall not discriminate against or harass colleagues. In
the exchange of criticism and ideas, faculty shall show due
respect for the opinions of others. Faculty shall
acknowledge academic debts and strive to be objective in
their professional judgment of colleagues.
In making public statements, including the right to responsible
dissent on matters of institutional policy or educational
philosophy, faculty have an obligation to be accurate, to
exercise appropriate restraint, to show respect for the opinions
of others and to make every effort to indicate that they
are not speaking for the University.
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