3357:15-13-38. Academic Freedom and Responsibilities

Stark state college supports and endorses academic freedom. Academic freedom is the right to engage in intellectual expression, on and off campus, without fear of censorship, retaliation, or sanctions. This right is essential to the longstanding goal of higher education to seek the truth by encompassing varying viewpoints. Academic freedom includes both the individual's and institution's responsibility to maintain academic standards and to encourage intellectual inquiry and integrity. Academic freedom of expression extends to all members of the academic community, subject to constitutional limits on expression that is defamatory, incites violence, discriminates, or harasses.

College employees are entitled to academic freedom and to pursue scholarly interests without fear of censure, discipline, or reprisal; but they are subject to the standards of professional conduct set forth in the policies and procedures manual. When college employees speak or write as citizens, they are free from college censorship or discipline; but their special position in the community imposes special obligations, as the public may judge the institution by their comments. Hence, employees are encouraged to be accurate at all times, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinions of others, and should indicate that they do not speak for the college.

College faculty members may present course content in their own scholarly manner, while following the design best practices established by the college, the ethical standards of the discipline, and Stark state college policies and procedures. Faculty members are free to discuss subject matter aligned with the approved course learning objectives. However, faculty members must refrain from persistently using a substantial portion of classroom instruction to introduce material that has no bearing on the subject matter of the course and/ or which is outside the area(s) of their competence and training.

Students have the right to a safe classroom environment in which they can explore controversial ideas in an atmosphere characterized by openness, tolerance, and civility, and where they will be graded only on the intellectual merits of their work. Academic freedom does not allow a faculty member to impel his or her opinions on students. Consequently, faculty members must assess student learning for mastery of course content, rather than a student's personal beliefs on a subject or a student's subjective decision to agree or disagree with a particular aspect of the material.

College employees will not face adverse employment action for academic expression, unless the expression:

(A) constitutes libel, slander, discrimination, harassment, or incites violence;

(B) violates Stark State College policies and procedures;

(C) violates a student's academic freedom.

Effective: 5/29/2020
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 3357.09
Rule Amplifies: 3357.09