3.7.4 Academic Freedom

Comprehensive Standard: The institution ensures adequate procedures for safeguarding and protecting academic freedom.

X Compliance
    Partial Compliance
    Non-Compliance

Narrative:

At Georgia State University, academic freedom is defined as the philosophy that protects a faculty member's freedom of expression and inquiry in an academic setting [1]. In the Faculty Handbook academic freedom is listed as one of the faculty rights and privileges. [2] The University Statutes state that “All faculty members are entitled to enjoy and to exercise, without penalty for such exercise, all the rights of an American citizen as well as the rights of academic freedom as they are understood generally in the teaching profession.” [3]

To safeguard and protect academic freedom, the University has declared that faculty can initiate grievance procedures should they have complaints. The University Statutes [4] declare that faculty complaints related to “arbitrary or capricious decisions affecting the faculty member’s employment or professional reputation” are legitimate grounds to initiate a grievance process. Section 25 also includes informal, mediation (optional), and formal procedures for the management of the complaint. Faculty can find a reference to this statute in the Faculty Handbook, Faculty Rights and Privileges [5].

The right to academic freedom is publicized in the University Statutes and in the Faculty Handbook as noted above. These resources are also referenced in the Faculty Handbooks of the five colleges. A brief overview of the history of academic freedom is posted on the Office of Legal Affairs website [6].

Supporting Documentation:

  1. Office of Legal Affairs, Statement on Academic Freedom
  2. Faculty Handbook Section 314.01
  3. University Statutes
  4. University Statutes
  5. Faculty Handbook Section 314.03
  6. Office of Legal Affairs, Statement on Academic Freedom