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Academic Freedom

TITLE – Academic Freedom

NUMBER - 6Hx-18-2.03

LEGAL AUTHORITY 1001.64 FS
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED – Adopted 2/26/21

Policy:

This policy defines and protects Academic Freedom at Palm Beach State College for the faculty and students.   The District Board of Trustees recognizes that the essential role of Palm Beach State College is the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, and that institutions of higher education are established for the common good and not to further a special interest of an individual member of the faculty, the institution, or the public. PBSC is dedicated to the preservation of a college atmosphere which encourages freedom of expression for faculty and students in the development of knowledge, scholarship and creative activities.   All non-bargaining unit instructional personnel shall be governed by Policy 6Hx-185.49.

Definition

Academic freedom is defined as the following: the right to freely engage in intellectual inquiry and debate without fear of censorship, sanction, or retaliation. Academic freedom and responsibility as defined applies to teaching, research, and creativity.  With Academic Freedom, the College encourages objective and diverse points of view on the part of faculty, students, invited speakers and within its libraries/learning resources centers, to better stimulate the educational process so long as they do not attempt by word or deed to intimidate or restrain others who express a differing point of view.  

 Educational & Institutional Responsibility

All members of the faculty, regardless of status, are entitled to academic freedom as follows:  

  1. Instruction: Materials & Subject Matter

    • Faculty members are free to develop their subjects in their classes within the goals and objectives of the curriculum.

    • While faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing subject matter, they should use discretion and maintain objectivity when presenting controversial issues and in the use of learning resources material, and avoid controversial matters which has no relation to his/her subject.

    • Faculty members recognize that students are also entitled to academic freedom in the classroom in the discussion and research of their course topic and should not permit personal prejudice to interfere with the evaluation of a student’s performance or assignment.

    Scholarship & Publication

  2. Faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in scholarship and in the publication of the results, subject to adequate performance of  their academic duties at the College and adherence to relevant conflict of interest/outside employment rules stipulated in Collective Bargaining Agreement and Human Resources policies. 

    Opinions as Private Citizens

Faculty members 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 always be accurate, should exercise appropriate judgement, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

Academic Freedom for Students

In placing equal important on academic freedom for students as it does for the faculty's academic freedom, the College acknowledges the obligation to afford each student the opportunity to develop his or her educational potential  in an environment that protects academic freedom and freedoms as a citizen or resident of the United States.   The College’s student handbook shall include approved regulations for student activities, academic achievement, and personal responsibilities that support the examination of ideas in an atmosphere of freedom and confidence, and that respect the dignity and rights of students.    Note: Procedures to this policy can be found in the Faculty Handbook and the Student Handbook.

Procedure/Accountability/Enforcement

The President, through the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President Student Services, Enrollment Management, shall be responsible for developing procedures  to ensure  the awareness, and remediation  relevant to this policy. To the extent that there is a conflict between this policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) the terms and conditions in the CBA shall prevail. Students, regardless of status, have the right to have access to a procedure for redress in the event of an alleged abridgment of said student’s academic freedom.  Such instances will be considered through the Procedures for Student Complaints in DBOT Policy 6Hx-18-3.30 Student Complaints.