Principles of Academic Freedom

A. The Board of Trustees endorses the following policy, which is based on the Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure, as published by the American Association of University Professors in 1940.  For the purposes of this policy, the term Instructional Faculty includes Classroom Faculty and Librarians and Counselors when they are engaged in teaching.

 B.   Instructional Faculty are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, subject to the adequate performance of their academic duties, but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the College and within the guidelines set forth in the College's Intellectual Property Policy.

 C.  Instructional Faculty are entitled to freedom to discuss their subject in the classroom, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to the subject.

 D.  Instructional Faculty are citizens, members of a learned profession and representatives of the College.  When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations.  As people of leaming and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and the College 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 state that they do not speak for or on behalf of the College.

Board of Trustees Manual, 5.2