Academic Freedom Statement

2007

We, the members of ECFAS (the elected Executive Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences), remain committed to the principles of academic freedom at our University and to the protection of schools, departments, programs, faculty, students, and other University affiliates from internal and external pressures (compare our statement of March 23, 2003). We hold that the University and its schools, departments, and programs have the right to invite any outside speakers whose appearance is deemed to further academic exchange and debate, and that, in doing so, they must be guided by their own academic criteria and not succumb to outside pressure. In addition, we stress that the University has complex, comprehensive, and fair procedures to evaluate faculty for promotion and tenure and must resist letting its judgments be influenced by those not involved in the review process.