Faq Caf 124-1

Academic freedom: is the freedom of teachers, students, and academic institutions to pursue
knowledge wherever it may lead, without undue or unreasonable interference.[1] At the minimum,
academic freedom involves the freedom to engage in the entire range of activities involved in the
production of knowledge, including choosing a research focus, determining what to teach in the
classroom, presenting research findings to colleagues, and publishing research findings. [2] Still,
academic freedom has limits. In the United States, for example, according to the widely
recognized "1940 Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure"[3], teachers should be careful to
avoid controversial matter that is unrelated to the subject. When they speak or write in public,
they are free to express their opinions without fear from institutional censorship or discipline,
but they should show restraint and clearly indicate that they are not speaking for their
institution. Academic tenure protects academic freedom by ensuring that teachers can be fired
only for causes such as gross professional incompetence or behavior that evokes condemnation
from the academic community itself.
The rationale for academic freedom:
Proponents of academic freedom believe that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty
members is essential to the mission of the academy. They argue that academic communities are
repeatedly targeted for repression due to their ability to shape and control the flow of
information. When scholars attempt to teach or communicate ideas or facts that are inconvenient
to external political groups or to authorities, they may find themselves targeted for public
vilification, job loss, imprisonment, or even death. For example, in North Africa, a professor of
public health discovered that his country's infant mortality rate was higher than government
figures indicated. He lost his job and was imprisoned.[4]
The fate of biology in the Soviet Union is also cited as a reason why society has an interest in
protecting academic freedom. A Soviet biologist named Trofim Lysenko rejected Western
scientific advances and proposed a new, unscientific approach to biology (called Lysenkoism)
that was based on the principles of dialectical materialism. Because of their propaganda value,
Lysenko's ideas proved appealing to the Soviet leadership, and he became the director of the
Soviet Academy of Agricultural Sciences; subsequently, Lysenko directed a purge of scientists
who professed "harmful ideas," resulting in the expulsion, imprisonment, or death of hundreds of
Soviet scientists. Lysenko's unscientific ideas were implemented on collectivized farms in the
Soviet Union and China. Famines that resulted partly from Lysenko's influence are believed to
have killed 30 million people in China alone.[5]
Academic freedom for professors:
The concept of academic freedom as a right of faculty members (Lehrfreiheit in German) is an

established part of German, English, French and American academic cultures. In all four a
faculty member may pursue research and publish their findings without restraint, but they
differ in regard to the professor's freedom in a classroom situation.
In the German tradition, professors are free to try to convert their students to their personal
viewpoint and philosophical system.[14] Nevertheless, professors are discouraged or prohibited
from stating their views, particularly political views, outside the class; in regard to his teaching,
there should be no duties required of the professor, no prescribed syllabus, and no restriction to
a particular subject.
In the United States, academic freedom is generally taken as the notion of academic freedom
defined by the "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure," jointly
authored by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Association of
American Colleges ("AAC")(now the Association of American Colleges and Universities).[15]
These principles state that "Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their
subject."[15] The statement also permits institutions to impose "limitations of academic freedom
because of religious or other aims," so long as they are "clearly stated in writing at the time of
the appointment."[15] The six regional accreditors work with American colleges and universities,
including private and religious institutions, to implement this standard. Additionally, the AAUP,
which is not an accrediting body, works with these same institutions. The AAUP does not always
agree with the regional accrediting bodies on the standards of protection of academic freedom
and tenure.. [16]The AAUP lists those colleges and universities which it has found to violate these
principles.[17]
A professor at a public French university, or a researcher in a public research laboratory, is

expected, as are all civil servants, to behave in a neutral manner and to not favor any particular
political or religious point of view during the course of his duties. However, the academic
freedom of university professors is a fundamental principle recognized by the laws of the
Republic, as defined by the Constitutional Council; furthermore, statute law declares about
higher education that teachers-researchers [university professors and assistant professors],
researchers and teachers are fully independent and enjoy full freedom of speech in the course of
their research and teaching activities, provided they respect, following university traditions and
the dispositions of this code, principles of tolerance and objectivity (Education Code, L952-2).
The nomination and promotion of professors is largely done through a process of peer review
rather than through normal administrative procedures.
Academic freedom for colleges and universities
The Supreme Court of the United States said that academic freedom means a university can
"determine for itself on academic grounds:
1. who may teach,

2. what may be taught,
3. how it should be taught, and
4. who may be admitted to study." (Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, 438
U.S. 265, 312. 1978.)

Faq Caf 124-1

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Faq Caf 124-1

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Academic freedom: is the freedom of teachers, students, and academic institutions to pursue

The rationale for academic freedom:

The concept of academic freedom as a right of faculty members (Lehrfreiheit in German) is an

A professor at a public French university, or a researcher in a public research laboratory, is

1. who may teach,

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