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The following principles of academic freedom as expressed by the
American Association of University Professors in its 1940 Statement of
Principles were approved by the Administrative Council after
consultation with the faculties; June 8, 1946, Cal. No. 5.
The purposes of the 1940 Statement of Principles of the American
Association of University Professors is "to promote public
understanding and support of academic freedom and tenure and agreement
upon procedures and to assure them in colleges and universities.
institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and
not to further the interest of either the individual teacher or the
institution as a whole. The common good depends upon the free search
for truth and its free exposition.
"Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both
teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the
advancement of truth. Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is
fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching
and of the student to freedom in learning. It carries with it duties
correlative with rights.
"Tenure is a means to certain ends, specifically: (I) Freedom of
teaching and research and of extramural activities, and (2) A
sufficient degree of economic security, hence tenure, are indispensable
to the success of an institution in fulfilling its obligations to its
students and to society.
"The teacher is entitled to full freedom in research and in the
publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of his
other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be
based upon an understanding with the authorities of the Institution.
"The teacher is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing
his subject, but he should be careful not to introduce into his
teaching controversial matter which has no relation to his subject.
Limitations of academic freedom because of religious or other aims of
the Institution should be clearly stated in writing at the time of
appointment.
"The college or university teacher is a citizen, a member of a
learned profession, and an officer of an educational Institution. When
he speaks or writes as a citizen, he should be free from institutional
censorship or discipline, but his special position in the community
imposes special obligations. As a man of learning and an educational
officer, he should remember that the public may judge his profession
and his Institution by his utterances. Hence he 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 he is not an institutional spokesman."
*The word "teacher" is understood to include all those who are
members of the instructional staff as defined in the Bylaws of the
Board of Higher Education.
The Council of Presidents reaffirmed the principle that City
University should remain a forum for the advocacy of all ideas
protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution and the principles
of academic freedom. (Council of Presidents Minutes 11/12/73, p. 9)
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