Academic freedom is defined as the right to investigate, to instruct, and to publish, within the area of the faculty member’s competence and appointment. The administration seeks to foster a climate favorable to freedom of teaching and research. In a Seventh-day Adventist university, academic freedom is further understood to carry certain responsibilities to one’s God, colleagues, institution, and state. Faculty members are expected to exercise their right of academic freedom within a framework of commitment and dedication to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- The faculty member should see it as both a right and a duty to maintain a high level of personal integrity and professional competence and to teach his/her discipline in harmony with the fundamental teachings of the Bible as officially set forth by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- It is the faculty member’s responsibility to use the freedom of his/her office in an honest and persistent effort to search out and communicate truth. This is as true in matters of theology as elsewhere; at the same time he/she must be open to “the insights and corrective influences of the Church he/she serves” (A Statement on Theological Freedom and Accountability, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Revised 10-11-87)*.
- The faculty member is entitled to freedom in the publication of his/her findings, subject to the provisions of the publication quoted above, and satisfactory performance of his/her assigned duties. Research for monetary gain, however, should be based upon an understanding with the president.
- The faculty member, entitled to freedom in the classroom in presenting his/her subject, should use care, however, in expressing personal views, discussing material not related to the subject taught, or dealing with topics for which he/she has no special training or competence. Additionally, he/she should abide by the provisions set forth in the publication quoted in paragraph #2 above.
- The faculty member should be prepared both to support the right of his/her colleagues to academic freedom and to interpret his/her own freedom in a way responsible to them and to the university. An atmosphere of mutual respect and confidence is thus maintained.
- When the faculty member speaks or writes as a private citizen, he/she is free to express his/her views. Because it is highly likely that the public will judge the university by his/her statements however, he/she is expected to exercise due restraint and respect for the traditions of the university, community, and church.
- The university accepts the responsibility for publishing an official statement of educational philosophy and objectives, its own policy on employment and academic freedom, a faculty-approved code of ethics, and a procedure available to the faculty member who thinks himself/herself aggrieved. The applicant on his/her part accepts the responsibility for informing himself/herself of his/her obligations as a guardian of the distinctive character of the university, as one who personally subscribes to its philosophies and objectives.
*Academic Freedom in Seventh-day Adventist Institutions of Higher Education Position paper voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, October 11, 1987.
All learning and all teaching take place within the framework of a world view of the nature of reality, man, knowledge, and values. Roots of the Christian university are found in a principle that has long undergirded the development of all higher education-the belief that the best education is attained when intellectual growth occurs within an environment in which biblically based concepts are central to the aims of education. This is the goal of Seventh-day Adventist education.
In the Seventh-day Adventist college and university, as in any institution of higher learning, the principle of academic freedom has been central to establishing such aims. This principle reflects a belief in freedom as an essential right in a democratic society, but with a particular focus in an academic community. It is the guarantee that teachers and students will be able to carry on the functions of learning, research, and teaching with a minimum of restrictions. It applies to subjects within the professor’s professional expertise within which there is a special need for freedom to pursue truth. It also applies to the atmosphere of open inquiry necessary in an academic community if learning is to be honest and thorough.
For the church college or university, academic freedom has an additional significance. It is more important than it is in the secular institution, not less, for it is essential to the well-being of the Church itself. This places a responsibility on the Christian professor to be a self-disciplined, responsible, and mature scholar, to investigate, teach, and publish within the area of his academic competence, without external restraint, but with a due regard for the character and aims of the institution which provides him with credentials, and with concern for the spiritual and the intellectual needs of his students.
Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities, therefore, subscribe to principles of academic freedom generally held important in higher education. These principles make possible the disciplined and creative pursuit of truth. They also recognize that freedoms are never absolute and that they imply commensurate responsibilities. The following principles of academic freedom are stated within the context of accountability, with special attention to limitationsmade necessary by the religious aims of a Christian institution.
The Freedoms
- Freedom of Speech. While the right to private opinion is a part of the human heritage as creatures of God, in accepting employment at a Seventh-day Adventist college or university the teacher recognizes certain limits to expression of personal views. As a member of a learned profession, he must recognize that the public will judge his profession by his utterances. Therefore, he will be accurate, respectful of the opinions of others, and will exercise appropriate restraint. He will make it clear when he does not speak for the institution. In expressing private views he will have in mind their effect on the reputation and goals of the institution.
- Freedom of Research. The Christian scholar will undertake research within the context of his faith and from the perspective of Christian ethics. He is free to do responsible research with proper respect for public safety and decency.
- Freedom to Teach. The teacher will conduct his professional activities and present his subject matter within the world view described in the opening paragraph of this document. As a specialist within a particular discipline, he is entitled to freedom in the classroom to discuss his subject honestly. However, he will not introduce into his teaching controversial matter unrelated to his subject. Academic freedom is freedom to pursue knowledge and truth in the area of the individual’s specialty. It does not give license to express controversial opinions on subjects outside that specialty nor does it protect the individual from being held accountable for his teaching.
Shared Responsibilities
Just as the need for academic freedom has a special significance in a church institution, so do the limitations placed on it reflect the special concerns of such an institution. The first responsibility of the teacher and leaders of the institution, and of the Church, is to seek for and to disseminate truth. The second responsibility is the obligation of teachers and leaders of the institution and the Church to counsel together when scholarly findings have a bearing on the message and mission of the Church.
The true scholar, humble in his quest for truth, will not refuse to listen to the findings and the advice of others. He recognizes that others also have discovered and are discovering truth. He will learn from them and actively seek their counsel regarding the expression of views inconsistent with those generally taught by his Church, for his concern is for the harmony of the church community.
On the other hand, church leaders are expected to foster an atmosphere of Christian cordiality within which the scholar will not feel threatened if his findings differ from traditionally held views. Since the dynamic development of the Church depends on the continuing study of dedicated scholars, the president, Board , and Church leaders will protect the scholar, not only for his sake but also for the cause of truth and the welfare of the Church. The historic doctrinal position of the Church has been defined by the General Conference in session and is published in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook under the title, “Fundamental Beliefs.” It is expected that a teacher in one of the Church’s educational institutions will not teach as truth what is contrary to those fundamental truths. Truth, they will remember, is not the only product of the crucible of controversy; disruption also results. The dedicated scholar will exercise discretion in presenting concepts which might threaten church unity and the effectiveness of church action.
Aside from the fundamental beliefs there are findings and interpretations in which differences of opinions occur within the Church, but which do not affect one’s relationship to it or to its message. When expressing such differences, a teacher will be fair in his presentation and will make his loyalty to the Church clear. He will attempt to differentiate between hypotheses and facts and between central and peripheral issues.
When questions arise dealing with matters of academic freedom, each university and college should have clearly stated procedures to follow in dealing with such grievances. Such procedures should include peer review, an appeal process, and a review by the Board. Every possible care should be taken to insure that actions will be just and fair and will protect both the rights of the teacher and the integrity of the institution. The protection of both is not only a matter of justice but on a college or university campus it is also a matter of creating and protecting collegiality. It is also a protection against the disruptive, the servile, and the fraudulent.