Section 1. The University recognizes the paramount importance of academic freedom in an institution of higher education and reaffirms its continuing commitment to the principles of academic freedom and its protections as described in the University of Connecticut By-Laws under Article XIII, as may be amended from time to time.
Section 2. GAs have academic freedom on matters relevant to the subject and purpose of their appointment, in coordination and consultation with their appointment supervisor and applicable institutional policies not inconsistent with the above. Academic freedom is the freedom to present and discuss all relevant matters in and beyond the classroom, to explore all avenues of scholarship, research, and creative expression, and to speak or write without any censorship, threat, restraint, or discipline by the University in the performance of one’s teaching, research, publishing, and other assigned duties.
Section 3. GAs shall have the right to express themselves as members of society or as representatives of their fields of instruction, study, or research, including the right to address any matter of institutional governance, policy, or action. GAs shall be free from institutional censorship or discipline when speaking or writing as members of society, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars, GAs should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence, GAs 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 the GA does not speak for the institution.
Section 4. This Article is a statement of intent and policy and is not subject to the contractual Grievance and Arbitration procedure (Art. 25). Discipline will not be used to restrain a GAs’ exercise of academic freedom. Academic freedom may be used as a defense in any disciplinary proceeding.
Section 2. GAs have academic freedom on matters relevant to the subject and purpose of their appointment, in coordination and consultation with their appointment supervisor and applicable institutional policies not inconsistent with the above. Academic freedom is the freedom to present and discuss all relevant matters in and beyond the classroom, to explore all avenues of scholarship, research, and creative expression, and to speak or write without any censorship, threat, restraint, or discipline by the University in the performance of one’s teaching, research, publishing, and other assigned duties.
Section 3. GAs shall have the right to express themselves as members of society or as representatives of their fields of instruction, study, or research, including the right to address any matter of institutional governance, policy, or action. GAs shall be free from institutional censorship or discipline when speaking or writing as members of society, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars, GAs should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence, GAs 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 the GA does not speak for the institution.
Section 4. This Article is a statement of intent and policy and is not subject to the contractual Grievance and Arbitration procedure (Art. 25). Discipline will not be used to restrain a GAs’ exercise of academic freedom. Academic freedom may be used as a defense in any disciplinary proceeding.
