The UCLA Academic Senate recognizes that faculty often face questions about how to interpret academic freedom in teaching. Academic freedom in the classroom may be more challenging to define and delineate than academic freedom in the contexts of conducting research or commenting on events inside and outside of the University. As stated by the AAC&U report on Academic Freedom and Educational Responsibility, “Academic freedom to explore significant and controversial questions is an essential precondition to fulfill the academy’s mission of educating students and advancing knowledge.” In order to help UCLA faculty meet this mission, the Committee on Academic Freedom, Graduate Council and Undergraduate Council have compiled the following resources on academic freedom in relation to teaching.
Academic Freedom Statements
Note: These statements are issued by representative groups and individual scholars and are not UC policies.
- American Association of University Professors. (1940). 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure. https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure#1
- American Association of University Professors. (1970). Freedom and Responsibility. https://www.aaup.org/report/freedom-and-responsibility
- American Association of University Professors. (1967). Joint Statement on Rights and Freedoms of Students. https://www.aaup.org/report/joint-statement-rights-and-freedoms-students
- Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2006). Academic Freedom and Educational Responsibility. https://secure.aacu.org/AACU/PDF/academicFreedom.pdf
- Richard C. Atkinson, University of California President Emeritus. (2003). Academic Freedom and the Research University. https://ucla.box.com/s/rr541chk4v9mj8x1mbjbe901u3fcoifh
University of California Policies
- General University Policy Regarding Academic Appointees: APM – 005 – Privileges and Duties of Members of the Faculty: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-005.pdf
- General University Policy Regarding Academic Appointees: APM – 010 – Academic Freedom: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-010.pdf
- General University Policy Regarding Academic Appointees: APM – 011 – Academic Freedom, Protection of Professional Standards, and Responsibilities of Non-Faculty Academic Appointee: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-011.pdf
- General University Policy Regarding Academic Appointees: APM – 015 – The Faculty Code of Conduct: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-015.pdf
- Regents Policy on Employee and Student Protections Related to Student Press and Student Free Speech Rights: https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/3303.html
