Review: Academic Freedom Policy

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REVIEW: ACADEMIC FREEDOM POLICIES

ORS 351.870(5)

“The Legislative Assembly intends that in implementing the policy on basic research or any other research policy, the State Board of Higher Education, in keeping with the principle of academic freedom, shall insure open and free inquiry and publication in all institutions under its jurisdiction.”

OAR 580-022-0005

“Academic Freedom

“(1) All teachers in Department institutions are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing subjects, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter that has no relation to the subject.

“(2) As a matter of policy the Board neither attempts to control, sway nor limit the personal opinion or expression of that opinion of any person on the faculty or otherwise on the Department’s payroll. In the exercise of this freedom of expression, faculty members should manifest appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they do not speak on behalf of the Department or institution.”

UO Mission Statement

“The University of Oregon is a comprehensive research university that serves its students and the people of Oregon, the nation, and the world through the creation and transfer of knowledge in the liberal arts, the natural and social sciences, and the professions. It is the Association of American Universities flagship institution of the Oregon University System.

“The university is a community of scholars dedicated to the highest standards of academic inquiry, learning, and service. Recognizing that knowledge is the fundamental wealth of civilization, the university strives to enrich the public that sustains it through:

[...]

“the conviction that freedom of thought and expression is the bedrock principle on which university activity is based”

Excerpt from the Post Tenure Review Policy

“2. Academic Freedom. To persuade the best scholars to devote their lives to this profession, the University guarantees a healthy measure of freedom in their professional lives. The protection of that freedom—which is called academic freedom—is both the precondition to excellence in the professoriate and the precondition to the education of continuing generations of free citizens, in a free society. Therefore, academic freedom is guaranteed not primarily to benefit the professors, but to ensure benefits to society as a whole.”

Excerpt from the UO Computing Center Acceptable Use Policy

“Personal Responsibility for Online Statements

“We all enjoy our constitutionally protected right to free speech and the
tradition of academic freedom here at the UO. However, with these freedoms
comes responsibility for what you say and write. If you defame someone
online or invade his or her privacy, you may be sued. Exercise your freedom
to speak out, but do so responsibly and in a way that reflects creditably
on the university.”

Excerpt from the UO Computing Center Acceptable Use Policy Addendum

Academic Freedom, Freedom of Expression, and Prior Review
[DAS 03-21: “Publishing Must Be Agency Authorized” ]

DAS 03-21 provides in part that: “All publishing is restricted to state
business as described by the agency. All publishing requires agency
authorization.”

We recognize that publication and public presentation of materials is
an integral, nonsegregable part of academic life, and that a typical
faculty member will generate scores of articles, and routinely author
books, monographs, essays, and electronic communications, etc.

It would be impractical and unprecedented for the University to
require prior review and approval of all academic materials submitted
by University affiliates for publication or public presentation, and
we do not elect to do so, since existing peer review channels provide
a timely and consensually recognized means by which publications can
be assessed.

At the same time, it is the University’s right and prerogative to
designate specific University officials to work with media
representatives, legislators and officials of government in communicating
the University’s official position on matters of interest. No one shall
hold him/herself out as an official representative of the University,
speaking on its behalf, unless that person has been authorized by the
University administration to do so.

In circumstances where a reasonable observer might become confused and
believe that the speaker is articulating or presenting an official
University of Oregon position, when in fact the opinion or content
expressed or displayed is purely personal, the speaker or writer
shall include an appropriate disclaimer clarifying the status of his
or her comments, presentation, or display.

DAS 03-21 also states that “Many Internet or e-mail groups exist to
share useful information. The agency may authorize a user to post
queries or to represent it by posting professional comments to
useful groups.” We hereby authorize University faculty, students,
and staff to do so, subject to the disclaimer requirements of the
proceeding paragraph, and subject to the charter and/or prevailing
norms of those fora. This paragraph shall not be deemed to authorize
or permit off-topic postings made with disregard to a mailing list or
newsgroup’s underlying purpose, excessive crossposting of articles,
mass posting of the same article to multiple newsgroups on a
group-by-group basis, or the sending of commercial e-mail.

Excerpt from the AAUP 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure
With 1970 Interpretive Comments

“Academic Freedom

“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.

“College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution 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 indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.” (citations omitted)

See also:

Library Intellectual Freedom Statement


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