Academic Freedom

"Academic freedom is not just a nice job perk. It is the philosophical key to the whole enterprise of higher education."
- Louis Menand

It is important for the University of Colorado Boulder community to have common understandings of academic freedom—what it is, how it applies to faculty, how it applies to students, and what our rights and responsibilities are according toÌýits tenets. Translation of these common understandings to our professional lives is critical to our ability to successfully and meaningfully engage in our scholarly and pedagogical practices. Our campus community engages in conversations about academic freedom supported by Regent Law ( and ), and the .

One reason academic freedom is important is because faculty, students, and staff engage with diverse constituents who come to ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder with many different social and political values and beliefs. We need to do so responsibly, inclusively, and with integrity, providing clear justifications of the ethical choice to champion the value of open exchange alongside the value of truth. Valuing freedom does not have to come at the expense of students’ and faculty’s pursuit of knowledge and truth, a—some might say the—fundamental purpose of higher education.

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Read How Academic Freedom Shapes &ÌýProtects Work of Faculty, StudentsÌý

Guidance for Academic Units When Issuing Statements on University WebsitesÌý

Learn more about Scholarship and Safety

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Upcoming Event

Difficult Dialogues: Academic Freedom

Join us for a panel discussion on the evolving landscape of academic freedom.Ìý

Explore how recent events—the pandemic, political polarization, Black Lives Matter and changes in diversity policies—have reshaped academic freedom in education, research and the arts.

Date: Feb. 26, 2025
Time: 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Location: CBIS Room, Norlin Library (M549, 5th floor)

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What does academic freedom mean to faculty?

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