Comprehensive Standard 3.7.4

The institution ensures adequate procedures for safeguarding and protecting academic freedom. (Academic freedom)

aCompliance ___Partial Compliance ___Non-Compliance

Narrative:

Lawson State Community College (LSCC) is strongly committed to the principles and practices of academic freedom. The Faculty and Staff Handbook under its Instructional Program Policies listings clearly outline LSCC’s guidelines governing Academic Freedom (Academic Freedom Guidelines, Local Guideline). These prescribed guidelines are in compliance with the Alabama State Board of Education Policy 719.01 regarding Academic Freedom (Policy 719.01)

Lawson State Academic Freedom guidelines read as follows:

· Instructors are free to conduct independent research and to publish the results so long as the activities do not interfere with their assigned duties; however, research for pecuniary gain should not be undertaken without an understanding of the respective Dean

· In the classroom, instructors have full freedom to discuss their subjects. They should not introduce into their teaching irrelevant controversial matter. Within this limitation, the Institution protects the rights of both the students and instructors to a ‘free search for truth and its exposition.’

· The Institution respects the rights and privileges of instructors as citizens, but believes that their positions impose special obligations. Hence, instructors are free from institutional censorship or discipline when they speak, write, or act as citizens; however, they should always remember that the public may judge the Institution by their words and behavior, and should therefore be accurate, exercise restraint, respect the opinions of others, and make it clear that they are not spokespersons for the institution.

Lawson State outlines specific Complaint Resolution procedures that can be utilized to safeguard the academic freedom of its faculty members. The Complaint Resolution procedures guarantee every employee the right to register a complaint without fear of repercussion and outlines the steps by which the employee may proceed to a resolution of a complaint field (Policy and Procedures Manual; Complaint Resolution). Academic Freedom issues, however, cannot be protected if a faculty member is found to be in violation of either the Standards of Conduct in their pursuit of Academic Freedom (Standards of Conduc t) or found to be in violation of the Code of Professional Ethics for the Administration, Faculty and Staff (both local policies of the College) (Code of Professional Ethics for Administration, Faculty and Staff).

Documentation:

Documentation:	Location
Academic Freedom Guidelines	Academic Freedom Guidelines, Local Guidelines
State Board Policy Section 719.01, Academic Freedom	Policy 719.01, Academic Freedom
2007-2009 Faculty and Staff Handbook, Policy & Procedures Manual, Complaint Resolution (local policy)	2007-2009 Faculty and Staff Handbook, Policy & Procedures Manual, Complaint Resolution (local policy)
Policy & Procedures Manual, Standards of Conduct (local policy)	Policy & Procedures Manual, Standards of Conduct (local policy)
Policy & Procedures Manual, Code of Professional Ethics for Administration, Faculty & Staff (local policy)	Policy & Procedures Manual, Code of Professional Ethics for Administration, Faculty & Staff (local policy)
Complaint Resolution	Complaint Resolution