Academic Freedom
Manatee Community College is dedicated to the preservation of a college atmosphere which encourages freedom of expression on campus for faculty and students so long as they do not attempt by word or deed to intimidate or restrain others who express a differing point of view. The College believes that academic freedom can survive as long as there is mutual respect among faculty and students for those who disagree.
All members of the faculty are entitled to academic freedom as generally defined in the 1940 Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure formulated by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors. Relevant provisions of this statement are accepted by the College as follows:
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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 College.
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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.
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College and university teachers are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as a citizen, 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.
