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Academic freedom is the right of a teacher to instruct and the right of a student to learn in an academic setting unhampered by outside interference.[1] It may also include the right of academics to engage in social and political criticism.[1]
Academic freedom is often premised on the conviction that freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without the fear of being repressed, losing their job or being imprisoned. While the core of academic freedom covers scholars acting in an academic capacity – as teachers or researchers expressing strictly scholarly viewpoints —, an expansive interpretation extends these occupational safeguards to scholars' speech on matters outside their professional expertise.[2][3]
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.[4]
Historically, academic freedom emerged tentatively, as academics in medieval and early modern Europe could face repression for acting in ways considered objectionable by religious authorities or by governments.[1] Scholars tend to link the institutionalization of academic freedom to the rise of the modern research university and the Humboldtian model of higher education from the 19th century.[1] By one estimate, academic freedom has substantially increased worldwide since the 1960s. Academic freedom is more likely in liberal democratic states, while it is more heavily constrained in authoritarian states, illiberal states, and states embroiled in military conflict.[1]
^ abcdeLerch, Julia C.; Frank, David John; Schofer, Evan (2024). "The Social Foundations of Academic Freedom: Heterogeneous Institutions in World Society, 1960 to 2022". American Sociological Review. 89: 88–125. doi:10.1177/00031224231214000. ISSN 0003-1224.
^Van Alstyne, William (1975). The Specific Theory of Academic Freedom and the General Issue of Civil Liberty. In The Concept of Academic Freedom, ed. Edmund Pincoffs. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1975.
^1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, American Association of University Professors and of the Association of American Colleges, 10 July 2006, p. 4.
Academicfreedom is the right of a teacher to instruct and the right of a student to learn in an academic setting unhampered by outside interference....
program discontinuation. Tenure is a means of defending the principle of academicfreedom, which holds that it is beneficial for society in the long run if scholars...
The AcademicFreedom Alliance (AFA) is a non-profit organization formed by college educators to defend free expression. The mission of the organization...
fields in which freedom is an issue include economic freedom, academicfreedom, intellectual freedom, scientific freedom, and political freedom. In its origin...
considered to culminate in the 1949 demolition of the college church. Academic hoods in the United States are traditionally lined with the official colors...
and 39 state organizations. The AAUP's stated mission is to advance academicfreedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and...
answer the Hindutva threat to their academicfreedom. They documented further incidents of Hindutva harassment of academics in North America, dating back to...
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to the AAUP's Principles on AcademicFreedom and Tenure. The AAUP found that "unsatisfactory conditions of academicfreedom and tenure have been found...
political left. Horowitz also founded the organization Students for AcademicFreedom. Horowitz wrote several books with author Peter Collier, including...
comparative study on academicfreedom in the universities of 28 European Union members, Denmark ranks only 24th. In all categories (academicfreedom in legislation;...
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1940 Statement of Principles on AcademicFreedom and Tenure. In this statement, the AAUP provides a definition of academic tenure: "a means to certain ends...
inappropriate political influence at the university, interference in academicfreedom, and violation of the professors' First Amendment rights. Earlier in...
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founded in 1974 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom as a small gathering of dedicated conservatives. Ronald Reagan gave the...
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of academicfreedom. The first documentary evidence of this comes from early in the life of the University of Bologna, which adopted an academic charter...
compromise academic ethics and contribute to the erosion of democratic and liberal norms in respect to freedom of expression and academicfreedom on campuses...
speaking, could not be known". Academicfreedom Civil and political rights Decentralization Dissident Economic freedomFreedom from unreasonable searches...
providers. More recently, concerns have been raised as to the level of academicfreedom enjoyed at Australia's public universities. Outside of these matters...
had claimed that "infringements on academicfreedom are distressingly common and that the climate for academicfreedom is distressingly poor." The newer...
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academicfreedom; role of president who is appointed by the Board of Governors with consultation with Senate and the university community. Academic governance...
Freedom of thought is the freedom of an individual to hold or consider a fact, viewpoint, or thought, independent of others' viewpoints. Every person...
Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation...