Rebuilt HTML — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

POLICY TITLE: Academic Freedom

APPLIES TO: Faculty Instructors

ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY: Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs

APPROVED BY: Kentucky State University Board of Regents

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 8, 2025

NEXT REVIEW DATE: August 8, 2028

POLICY STATEMENT:

Kentucky State University (KSU) is committed to fostering an environment that supports and protects academic freedom, which is essential to its educational mission and the pursuit of knowledge. KSU endorses the American Association of University Professors' "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure," which provides fundamental guidance in this area.

Consistent with these principles, KSU upholds the following:

Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties. However, research conducted for pecuniary return should be based on a clear understanding with the authorities of the institution.

Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom when discussing their subject matter. They should, however, be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their

subject. Any limitations of academic freedom because of specific aims of the institution, if any, should be clearly stated in writing at the time of appointment.

Faculty members are citizens, members of a learned profession, and officers of an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline. However, their special position imposes special obligations. As scholars and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and KSU by their utterances. Therefore, they should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

DEFINITIONS:

Instructional Personnel

For the purposes of this policy, and in alignment with the AAUP's understanding, the term “instructional personnel” (or “teacher” as used in the AAUP statement) is understood to include investigators attached to an academic institution without teaching duties. KSU recognizes that in the context of academic freedom, “instructional personnel” is defined broadly to include any person appointed for instructional purposes at KSU and any person affiliated with KSU who is engaged in scholarly or creative activities.

PROCESS:

Scope and Application

This policy applies to all persons defined as instructional personnel at KSU. Academic freedom is essential for teaching, learning, research, and scholarship.

Rights and Responsibilities

Instructional personnel have the right to academic freedom in their teaching and research activities as outlined in the policy statement. This freedom is accompanied by the responsibility to maintain high standards of scholarship and instruction, to respect the academic freedom of others, and to ensure that expressions as private citizens are not misconstrued as presenting the official position of KSU.

Addressing Alleged Breaches

An allegation that the standards of academic freedom articulated in this policy have been breached shall be processed in accordance with the procedures for faculty grievances outlined in the KSU Faculty Handbook.

REFERENCES AND RELATED MATERIALS:

• American Association of University Professors, “1940 Statement on Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure”
• Faculty Handbook
• Viewpoint Neutrality Policy

CONTACTS:

Policy Interpretations General Counsel (502) 597-6414 Zachary.Atwell@kysu.eduGeneral.Counsel@kysu.edu

HISTORY: