Academic Freedom

Defining Academic
Freedom
Belief that freedom to inquire and explore by

students and faculty members is essential to the

mission of the academy
Scholars should have the freedom to teach and

communicate ideas without being targeted for

repression, job loss, or imprisonment
IMPORTANT: ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN ITSELF

IS NOT A LEGAL CONCEPT

Academic Freedom in the

USA
Loosely guaranteed through the first amendment

in the United States

Defined by the 1940 Statement of Principles on

Academic Freedom and Tenure, authored by the

American Association of University Professors
(AAUP) and the Association of American Colleges
and Universities

Quotes

"Teachers and students must always remain free

to inquire, to study and to evaluate, to gain new

maturity and understanding; otherwise our
civilization stagnate and die.
To impose any strait jacket upon the intellectual

leaders in our colleges and universities would

imperil the future of our Nation.
Chief Justice Earl Warren (Sweezy, 1957)

Importance of Academic
Freedom
Essential to the mission of the academy
Without protection, academic communities are repressed

for their ability to shape knowledge

According to a reflection by Robert Quinn, historically, the

power to shape knowledge is a source of power. Authorities
have sought to control societies by controlling scholars

We should care about increasing the quality and flow of

information and understanding in the world (academic

freedom and scholarship promotes these goals)

1940 Statement of
Principles on Academic
Freedom and Tenure

Teachers are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of

the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic
duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an
understanding with the authorities of the institution.

Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their

subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching
controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. 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.

Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their

subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching
controversial matter which has no relation to their subject. 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

Interpretation

Institutions can limit academic freedom for religious or other beliefs as

long as it was explicitly stated in writing at the time of appointment

Teachers need to avoid controversial issues that are not related to the
subject being taught

In public, teachers and others of authority must indicate that what is being
said is their personal opinion and does not represent the institution that
they are affiliated with

The authority to define and enforce

academic freedom lies with the institution

Conflict with Institutional

Academic Freedom

Institutions reserve the right to determine

Who may teach

Who may be taught

How it shall be taught

Who many be admitted to study

(Regents of the Univ. of Californav. Bakker, 438 U.S. 265, 312 (1978)

Piarowski (1985) shows a conflict between individual and institutional academic freedom

Faculty member was asked to move his sexually explicit art display from a gallery in a
heavily traveled area to a less traveled area
Court ruled that a college can regulate the display of explicit material

Johnson-Kurekv. Abu-Absi (2005) support the concept that the institution has the
right to designate how classes are taught and what grades were issued. First
amendment protects the individuals right to their belief in pedagogy but not their
right to actually do it.

Students & Academic

Freedom
Students have the right to learn under the

expanded statements issued by the AAUP

Students rights are limited

Ex: Yacovelliv. Moeser (2004) Students were

assigned an a reading based on the Quran.

University lawfully assigned a reading for academic

and not religious purposes

Video on Academic
Freedom
http://vimeo.com/6649380
(Start at 13:40)
Denis Rancourt, former University of Ottawa professor recently fired for
refusing to grade his students, whose struggle has received national
media coverage and whose firing is being investigated by the
Canadian Association of University Teachers.
Video on the state of academic freedom in Canada. A lot of the issues
discussed in this video mirror issues we face in the United States,
including the defining of academic freedom, in specific, for the
professor, and for the student.
Concept of authentic rebellion and its importance in the classroom.

Questions

Question: Should students have equal academic

freedom to that of professors? Undergraduates?

Masters? Doctoral? Does this impact learning,
teaching, or research?

References

AAUP. (2009). Recommended institutional regulations on academic freedom & tenure. Retrieved
from http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/policydocs/contents/RIR.htm. Retrieved on November
1, 2010.

AAUP. (1940). 1940 statement of principles on academic freedom and tenure. Retrieved from
http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/pubsres/policydocs/contents/1940statement.htm. Retrieved on
November 1, 2010.

AAUP. (1967). Joint statement on rights and freedoms of students. AAUP Policy Documents &
Reports (9th ed.), 261-267.

Cameron, C.A., & Meyers, L.E. (2005). Academic bills of rights: Conflict in the classroom, Journal
of College and University Law, 31, 243-290.

Jorgensen, J.D., & Helms, L.B. (2008). Academic freedom, the first amendment and competing
stakeholders: the dynamics of a changing balance. The Review of Higher Education, 32(1), 1-24.

Quinn, R. (2004). Defending 'dangerous' minds. Social Science Research Council, 5(1-2), 1-4.

Standler, R.B. (2000). Academic freedom in the USA. Retrieved from

http://www.rbs2.com/afree.htm. Retrieved on November 1, 2010.