Statement on Academic Freedom

Institutions of higher education exist for the common good and not to further the interest of either the individual faculty member or the institution as a whole. It shall be the policy of Howard Community College to maintain and encourage full freedom, within the law, of inquiry, teaching, and research for all faculty.

Although academic freedom is fundamental to the rights of the teacher and the student, it carries with it related duties and responsibilities. The faculty member is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing subject matter but should be careful not to introduce controversial topics which are not related to the course. The faculty member is responsible for ensuring that the course content includes material specified by the college in the course description and course objectives.

The college faculty member is a citizen, a member of a learned profession, and an officer of an educational institution. When speaking or writing as a citizen, the faculty member should be free from institutional censorship or discipline. However, the special position of the faculty member in the community imposes special obligations. As a person of learning and an educational officer, he/she should remember that the public may judge the institution or the profession by statements made by individual faculty members. Therefore, accuracy, exercise of appropriate restraint, and respect for the opinion of others should be displayed on and off campus. The faculty member should also make every effort to indicate that the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the institution.