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.

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.

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

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.

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.