ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM

There are four essential freedoms of any institution for higher learning: WHO-
WHAT-HOW-WHO – who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be
taught, who may be admitted to study. [Garcia v Faculty Admission Committee]

Institutional academic freedom includes the right of the school or college to decide
for itself, its aims and objectives, and how to best attain them – establishing
academic and disciplinary standards – free from outside coercion or interference
except for compelling state reasons. [covers who-what-how elements] The right to
discipline students falls under the “what” element.

While the law specifically says that Institutions of Higher Learning have the right of
academic freedom, it does not mean to say that non IHLs do not have the same right.