University of Oregon instructors now have the freedom to teach more controversial subject matter without fear of ramifications from the university, thanks to the UO’s new academic freedom policy. The University of Oregon Faculty Senate has unanimously approved an updated version of the policy on academic freedom.
The policy requires that researchers and professors have the right to conduct, produce, publish and teach anything they choose. As long as the subject matter is relevant to the course, instructors may present controversial topics by means of their own discretion.
Students, faculty and non-faculty employees already have the protection of freedom of speech under Policy No. 01.00.16, but the updated version extends these freedoms to include various aspects of scholarship, public service, shared governance and teaching.
President Michael Gottfredson has 60 days to either sign the policy, veto it or request a revision.
ASUO President Sam Dotters-Katz believes that similar policies are shared by many academic institutions.
“Ensuring academic freedom is important. I think it’s the cornerstone of an academic institution,” Dotters-Katz said.
The policy’s shared governance element allows the university community to question or criticize any institutional policies or practices.
Under the policy, all members of the UO community have the freedom to participate in unrestricted debate. In doing so, people can choose to identify their affiliation to the UO or not, but they must specify that their opinions do not reflect that of the university.
Section 2 of the policy provides the context for these newly extended freedoms.
“The academic freedoms enumerated in this policy shall be exercised without fear of institutional reprisal,” the policy states. “Only serious abuses of this policy – ones that rise to the level of professional misbehavior or professional incompetence – should lead to adverse consequences.”
This would not protect slander. For example, if a professor were to claim that the university president was committing a crime when he or she wasn’t, the professor would not be protected.
In a statement to The Oregonian, President Gottfredson said: “I look forward to closely reviewing (it) … I fully support the strongest policy on academic freedom possible. Academic freedom is central to our mission and underlies everything we do as a university.”
John Bonine, a professor in Oregon’s Environmental and Natural Resources Law program and member of the UO Senate, is very passionate about this topic.
Bonine explained that the original policy was revised in 2013 to address the issues of academic freedom and freedom of speech as their own separate entities. President Gottfredson requested that the policy be examined more closely.
Since then, the senate has been working with the president’s administration. The updated policy is the result of the senate’s work.
“The university has recognized for some time the importance of student and staff with shared governance,” Bonine said. “This policy assures that such participation will be encouraged and protected.”