Academic Freedom

1. Purpose 

Academic freedom is fundamental to the mandate of post-secondary institutions to pursue ideas, educate students, and contribute to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge.

The purpose of this policy is to articulate Loyalist College’s commitment to protecting academic freedom while ensuring that it is exercised responsibly and in alignment with the college’s academic mission, legal obligations, and institutional policies.

Academic freedom supports an environment in which ideas may be explored, tested, challenged and debated through respectful scholarly inquiry. Members of the college community should expect that their ideas and conclusions may be subject to critical examination by others. Through this policy, the college affirms that academic freedom is essential to academic excellence, intellectual integrity, and the creation of a respectful learning environment. 

2. Application 

This policy applies to all members of the Loyalist College community engaged in academic and scholarly activities, including students and employees.

Concerns related to matters such as discrimination, harassment, academic integrity, research integrity, employee conduct, student conduct, or academic appeals will be addressed through the appropriate college policies, procedures, or established grievance or appeal processes.

3. Definitions 

Academic Freedom. The independence to inquire, investigate, teach, learn, conduct research, and communicate ideas and the results of scholarly activities without fear of institutional reprisal or adverse consequences, subject to the responsibilities and limits set out in this policy.

Scholarly Activities. Activities undertaken in the pursuit, creation, dissemination, or application of knowledge, including teaching, learning, applied research, curriculum development, student assessment, publication, creative activity, and academic discussion.

4. Policy Statement 

Loyalist College recognizes, values, and protects academic freedom as a fundamental principle supporting high-quality teaching, learning, and scholarly activity.
All members of the college community share responsibility for fostering a learning environment characterized by intellectual curiosity, openness to differing perspectives, and mutual respect.
Academic freedom includes the right to:

• pursue research and scholarly inquiry
• teach, learn, and engage in legitimate classroom discussion and debate
• explore, develop, and present differing perspectives and interpretations
• communicate knowledge and the results of research and scholarship

In exercising academic freedom, members of the college community are expected to do so responsibly and in accordance with the scholarly obligation to pursue knowledge with honesty, integrity, research ethics, and respect for evidence, while fostering a respectful and trauma-informed learning environment.
Academic freedom does not relieve individuals from their obligations associated with the teaching and learning process, including responsibilities related to achieving course learning outcomes, upholding program requirements, and supporting student success. The exercise of academic freedom is subject to applicable legislation, including the Ontario Human Rights Code, collective agreements, employment terms and conditions, applicable contractual obligations, and other college policies.

Members of the college community retain the rights of citizens to speak or write publicly on matters of public interest. When doing so in a personal capacity, individuals are expected to make clear that they are expressing personal views and are not speaking on behalf of Loyalist College unless authorized to do so.
External partnerships, funding arrangements, donors, sponsors, or other external influences must not unduly restrict or interfere with the exercise of academic freedom at the college, while members of the college community remain responsible for understanding and fulfilling their applicable legal and contractual obligations.

5. Related Documents

• AOP 220 Integrity in Research and Scholarship
• AOP 235 Intellectual Property
• AOP 206 Copyright
• ACAD 206 Academic Integrity
• ACAD 207 Academic Appeals
• HR 100 Employee Code of Conduct
• ADMIN 127 Harassment and Discrimination
• Student Code of Conduct

6. References 

• Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology Collective Agreement (Academic, Full-Time, and Part-Time)
• Ontario Human Rights Code, 1990