Mar 28, 2024  
CC Policy Manual 
    
CC Policy Manual

Academic Freedom


Academic Freedom Approved Date    4-18-17
    Effective Date    4-18-17
    Revision No.    1.0
    Reviewed Date: 4-18-17

1.0    Purpose

This policy establishes guidelines in the exercising of academic freedom.

2.0    Revision History

Date Rev. No.  Change  Ref Section
4-18-17 1.0 Rewrite.

 

3.0    Persons Affected

3.1    All faculty members

3.2    Students

4.0    Policy

The policy of Casper College is to ensure the following.

4.1    Faculty have the right as scholars to freely study, discuss, investigate, create, teach, and publish. It is through this right, academic freedom, that the college protects and supports the faculty in their teaching and scholarship, and students in their learning. Faculty have the freedom to determine the pedagogy, assessments, textbooks, and other materials relevant to teaching their subject.

4.2    Academic freedom is balanced by academic responsibility. Faculty understand that the public will judge their profession and the college by their statements and actions and, therefore, should strive to be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, and show respect for the opinions of others.

4.3    While faculty have academic freedom in discussing their subjects with students, they should ensure that materials covered are relevant to their subject and expertise, consistent with the course descriptions and curricular outcomes, and that controversial topics or materials are limited to those germane to the subject.

4.4    Faculty recognize that students are free to take reasoned exception to the data and views offered and that in matters of opinion students are not evaluated solely on agreement with the instructor.

4.5    Faculty, within the parameters of department, school, and college requirements, determine curriculum.

4.6    Faculty are free from institutional censorship or discipline when they express themselves as citizens outside of class. However, faculty have an obligation not to imply that they are speaking for the college and to conduct themselves as scholars.

4.7    As an employee of the college, faculty may speak freely with civility on matters of institutional governance.

5.0    Definitions

6.0    Responsibilities

6.1    The vice president of academic affairs is responsible for maintaining compliance with this policy.

7.0    Procedures