Student Academic Freedom Policy Proposal

PREAMBLE: Santa Rosa Junior College's mission is to promote student learning throughout our diverse communities by increasing the knowledge, improving the skills and enhancing the lives of those who participate in our programs and enroll in our courses.  The college recognizes that protecting academic freedom is essential to achieving this mission.  This freedom is an irreplaceable element of the student learning and the faculty teaching experience in the California Community Colleges.

Academic freedom as a form of freedom of expression shall exist within the general framework of the United States Constitution, the California State Constitution, requirements of the California Education Code, California Community College regulations, and official course descriptions.  This freedom shall be maintained in all media (printed, oral, visual, and electronic) and in all interactions with students, faculty, staff, and administration.  All students shall enjoy the protections offered by this policy.  No student shall be mistreated, disciplined, or have his/her grade affected for any reason which violates the protections in this Article.

ACADEMIC FREEDOM: All students shall be free to pursue instruction, campus events, policy discourse, and public discourse in an environment free of intimidation and censorship.  The merit of academic ideas, theories, arguments and views shall be measured solely against the standards of relevant academic and professional disciplines.

A. Instruction: Every student has a right to pursue instruction objectively.  This includes, but is not limited to, having instruction which distinguishes between general knowledge and personal opinion, having instruction which acknowledges the existence of plausible opposing opinions, and being evaluated using the standards of the relevant discipline or profession.  In addition, every student has a right to learn in an environment conducive to his/her academic freedom.  While a student’s presuppositions may be questioned by faculty or other students, and the student may be expected to question his/her presuppositions, this shall be pursued in a manner that is consistent with each student’s freedom:
1. To inquire;
2. To explore difficult and controversial material within official course descriptions;
3. To access any available information relevant to the official course descriptions;
4. To express differing opinions with students, faculty, staff, and administration;
5. To demonstrate, learn, and defend critical thinking skills;
6. To demonstrate, learn, and defend intellectual honesty;
7. To learn in an environment free of intimidation and censorship; and
8. To be graded solely on considerations that are intellectually relevant to the subject matter as articulated in the course’s official course description and described in the course’s syllabus.

B. Campus Events: Every student shall have the freedom to organize or participate in campus events.  The merit of each event and its participants shall be measured solely against the college’s mission and the standards of relevant academic and professional disciplines. No event or participant shall be denied based upon viewpoint.

C. Policy: Every student shall have the right to express differences of opinion regarding interpretation of Program, Department, and/or College/District policies.

G. Public Discourse: Every student shall be recognized as a member of the public with the freedom to participate in any public discourse or event.  When a student participates in public discourse or events, he/she shall have the right to express his/her opinion, no matter how controversial.  When a student participates in public discourse or events, he/she may identify himself or herself as a student of the College.

ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY

With the exercise of academic freedom comes corresponding responsibilities.  All students have the responsibility to pursue instruction, campus events, policy discourse, and public discourse in a manner that is consistent with an environment free of intimidation and censorship.  The merit of each student’s academic ideas, theories, arguments and views shall be measured solely against the standards of relevant academic and professional disciplines.

A. Instruction: Every student has a responsibility to pursue instruction in a manner consistent with the academic freedom of faculty and other students.  This includes, but is not limited to, respecting the distinction between general knowledge and personal opinion, respecting the distinction between plausible and implausible opposing opinions, having one’s presuppositions questioned by faculty or other students, and being expected to question one’s own presuppositions. Finally, every student has a responsibility to pursue instruction in a manner which does not incite or cause the intimidation or censorship of others at, or the disruption of, any course instruction. This includes, but is not limited to, others’ freedom:
1. To inquire;

2. To present and explore difficult and controversial material that is relevant to the official course descriptions;
3. To present and explore any information that is relevant to the official course descriptions;

4. To express differences of opinion with students, faculty, staff, and administration;

5. To demonstrate, teach, and defend critical thinking skills;

6. To demonstrate, teach, and defend intellectual honesty; and

7. To teach and interact in an environment free of intimidation and censorship.

B. Campus Events: When participating in a campus event every student has a responsibility to do so in a manner that does not incite or cause the intimidation or censorship of others at, or the disruption of, any event or course at the College.

C. Policy: Every student has a responsibility to recognize that differences of opinion regarding interpretation of Program, Department, and/or College/District policies are to be expected in an academic environment. When a student participates in such policy discourse, one’s participation shall not incite or cause the intimidation or censorship of others at, or the disruption of, any course or event at the College.

D. Public Discourse: Every student has a responsibility to recognize that differences of opinion are to be expected in public discourse. When a student participates in public discourse, one’s participation shall not incite or cause the intimidation or censorship of others at, or the disruption of, any course or event at the College.

GRIEVANCE PROCESS:  Any student who believes his/her academic freedom has been violated has the right to pursue grievance or complaint as described in the District’s Rules and Regulations.  There shall be no reprisals of any kind taken against any participants or representatives because of their participation in a grievance or complaint. 

In the event that any grievance requires immediate attention, an advisory committee shall be formed within five working days to confer on matters of legal necessity and public appeal.  This committee shall consist of the College President, the Academic Senate President, the All Faculty Association President, and the Associated Students President.  It shall convene at the request of any two of the committee members, and assist the College community in both campus discourse and public discourse.