It is recognized that if faculty members are to teach and carry on research effectively, academic freedom is necessary. Academic freedom is the freedom of the faculty to teach and speak out as the fruits of their research and scholarship dictate, even though their conclusions may be unpopular or contrary to public opinion. Both within and outside the classroom, the faculty should exhibit the accuracy, restraint, and respect for the opinions of others appropriate to educators and persons of learning. In relations with the public, they should make it clear at all times whether they speak as private citizens, as experts on the subject in question, or as institutional spokesmen. In speaking as private citizens, faculty should make clear that they are doing so. In this connection, use of University titles should be permitted for identification purposes only, and it should be made clear that institutional endorsement is not implied.
The following statements were passed by the University Faculty Senate and were adopted as policy by the University administration and on May 31, 1979 by the Board of Trustees.
The teacher is entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the University. The teacher is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his or her subject but should be careful not to introduce into his or her teaching matter that which has little or no relation to the subject.
Classroom visitations for the purpose of teaching evaluations are compatible with academic freedom, but such visitation shall adhere to reasonable procedures contained in a written statement approved by a majority of department faculty. (Approved by Faculty Senate and amended by the Committee on Education and Training of the Board of Trustees, December 10, 1980)
The teacher is an individual, a member of a learned profession, as well as a member of an educational institution. When speaking as an individual, 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 as an educator, the teacher should remember that the public may judge his or her profession and institution by his or her utterances. Hence the teacher 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 he or she is not an institutional spokesperson.
