Policy 4002: Academic Freedom and Professional Responsibility

Category: Academic Affairs
Sub Category: Faculty Code
Covered Individuals: Faculty
Responsible Executive: President
Policy Custodian: Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, Provost and Executive Vice President
Last Revised: 2026/08/07
Previous USU Policy Number: 403
Download the PDF File for Policy 4002

4002.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy defines principles of academic freedom, enumerates professional obligations and responsibilities of faculty, and details standards by which faculty must conduct themselves with respect to the institution and to students.

4002.2 POLICY

2.1 Introduction

The university is operated for the common good which depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to teaching, research, extension librarianship, and service. (See Policy 4000.2.8.1.1). The University affirms that principles articulated in widely recognized national statements on academic freedom and shared governance—such as those promulgated by the American Association of University Professors—may be used as persuasive guidance where consistent with applicable law and University policy.

The university is a community dedicated, through promulgation of thought, truth, and understanding, to teaching, research, extension, librarianship, and service. It must therefore be a place where innovative ideas, original experiments, creative activities, and independence of thought are not merely tolerated but actively encouraged. Thought and understanding flourish only in a climate of academic freedom and integrity, expressed collectively by colleges and departments as well as individually through faculty roles and as they exist within the wider context of advanced study as commonly understood by all universities. The community also values intellectual diversity and mutual respect, without which there can be no collegiality among faculty and students. In addition, the university community values individual rights and freedoms, including the right of each community member to adhere to individual systems of conscience, religion, and ethics. Finally, the university recognizes that with all rights come responsibilities.

Because the pursuit of truth is fundamentally a personal enterprise, a statement of faculty responsibility must be strongly anchored to principles of academic freedom, as defined below, and personal autonomy. While faculty must abide by standards of professional responsibility, the university must provide and safeguard a climate of academic freedom. Relationships within the university should consist of shared confidence, mutual loyalty, and trust. Dealings should be conducted with courtesy, civility, decency, and a concern for personal dignity. Such an atmosphere can be achieved only when all concerned behave responsibly. While the right of academic freedom is respected, the exercise of the right cannot be through disruptive actions or physical force. The university works to uphold its collective values by fostering free speech, broadening fields of inquiry, and encouraging the generation of new knowledge that challenges, shapes, and enriches our collective and individual understandings.

2.2 Academic Freedom

Academic freedom is the right to teach, study, discuss, investigate, discover, learn, create, and publish freely. Academic freedom protects the rights of faculty members in teaching and of students in learning. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of knowledge and innovation. Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in their academic roles, including in teaching, extension, librarianship, research and creative activities, subject to the limitations imposed by professional responsibility, as outlined in this Policy, and any other applicable laws and requirements.

2.2.1 Academic Freedom and Responsibilities of the University

Subject to the power and authority of the Utah Board of Higher Education to control, manage, and supervise the Utah System of Higher Education, and Utah State University as a member institution, the university has the freedom to pursue its ends without interference from government. Included therein are the four essential freedoms of the university to determine for itself on academic grounds: (1) who may teach; (2) what may be taught; (3) how it will be taught; and (4) who may be admitted to study. Consistent with principles of academic freedom, the faculty, individually and collectively, has the responsibility for determining the content of curriculum.

The university consists of many components, all of which support the interactive, collegial enterprise that exists in the quest for knowledge and its transmittal. The university has the general responsibility to protect the academic freedom of every faculty member and the freedom of every student to learn. The university itself will not violate the academic freedom of any faculty member or the freedom of any student to learn and will use its powers and resources to defend its faculty and students from unjustified attempts to compromise or restrict those freedoms, even should the exercise of those freedoms generate hostility. If faculty believe their academic freedom has been violated, they may follow appropriate grievance procedures (see Policy 4006.5: Grievances).

2.2.2 Academic Freedom and Educational Requirements

Students are expected to engage in educational experiences that will challenge them intellectually and personally. Students must understand and be able to articulate the ideas and theories that are important to the discourse within and among academic disciplines. The University recognizes that students' sincerely held core beliefs may make it difficult for students to fulfill some requirements of some courses, majors, or other educational experiences. In such cases, students may seek alternative course requirements consistent with the procedures identified in Section 4002.3.1.7 below. Personal disagreement with ideas and theories or their implications is not sufficient grounds for requesting an alternative course. The University assumes no obligation to ensure that all students will be able to complete any course or major.

2.3 Professional Responsibility; Standards of Conduct

The concept of academic freedom is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of professional responsibility. The standards for professional responsibility listed in the following subsections are standards to which faculty members are expected to adhere. University faculty members are citizens, members of learned professions, and officers of an educational institution. When speaking or writing as citizens, faculty members are free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As individuals of learning and as educational officers, faculty should understand that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their individual communications. Hence, they should at all times strive to be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinions of others, and make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

Academic freedom or constitutional rights must not be violated.

2.3.1 Faculty Responsibilities to Students

2.3.1.1 Faculty members will deliver high-quality instruction, mentorship, and supervision to students.

2.3.1.2 Faculty members will prepare thoroughly and responsibly for the teaching of their courses, mentoring, and supervision.

2.3.1.3 Faculty members will attend all scheduled instructional and supervisory commitments. For courses or activities without scheduled meeting times (e.g., asynchronous instruction), faculty will maintain regular and substantive engagement, including timely interaction, feedback, and course oversight. Individual class sessions are canceled or adjusted only for valid reasons, and adequate notice is given to students and the department head. Individual meetings with students are canceled only for valid reasons and with adequate notice to the student(s). Failure to attend a class session or an individual meeting without prior notice to students is excusable only for reasons beyond the control of the faculty member.

2.3.1.4 Faculty members will teach courses as scheduled and via the assigned modality. Requests for course schedule and modality changes must be submitted to the department head.

2.3.1.5 Faculty members with teaching, mentoring, and supervising responsibilities will: (1) communicate with students in a manner that is timely and predictable; (2) establish and clearly communicate expectations regarding appropriate communication channels, including response times and general availability in their courses and supervisor relationships; and (3) maintain regular office hours for consultation with students or otherwise ensure accessibility to students.

2.3.1.6 Faculty members will design courses based on the legitimate pedagogical goals of the program. Faculty members will establish and inform students of the general content, learning outcomes, and course evaluation criteria in a course syllabus. Course syllabi will be posted consistent with USHE requirements. Course syllabi should include, to the extent possible, details on course materials (e.g., the readings, lectures, films, presentations, performances, or other course requirements) to allow the student to identify the content and requirements of the course.

2.3.1.7 If a student identifies course content or requirements that conflict with the student’s sincerely held core beliefs, the student and course instructor must follow the Procedures for Alternative Course Requirements.

2.3.1.8 Faculty members evaluate student coursework promptly, conscientiously, without prejudice or favoritism, and consistent with the criteria stated in course materials and related to the legitimate pedagogical goals of the course.

2.3.1.9 Faculty members will responsibly supervise students outside of the classroom in a variety of ways (e.g., theses, dissertations, clinical practica, and research experiences). Faculty members will design and communicate reasonable expectations for supervised activities. Faculty members evaluate student work promptly, conscientiously, without prejudice or favoritism, and consistent with previously determined expectations.

2.3.1.10 Faculty will treat students fairly and responsibly with respect to dissemination of student work. When faculty members and students work together, appropriate credit is given to all parties. What constitutes appropriate credit will be defined prior to the student’s contribution. This includes specifying how the level of contribution relates to the type of credit given (e.g., authorship order). If the student’s actual contribution differs in scope from what was originally anticipated, credit must be adjusted accordingly.

2.3.1.11 Faculty members will provide students the opportunity to engage in original thinking, research, creative work, and writing.

2.3.1.12 Faculty may present any controversial material relevant to their course of instruction. However, faculty will not misuse the classroom by preempting class time for the presentation of views on controversial topics unrelated to the subject matter of the course. Faculty members do not reward agreement or penalize disagreement with their views on controversial topics.

2.3.2 Responsibilities to the Institution

2.3.2.1 Faculty members keep informed and knowledgeable about developments in their fields.

2.3.2.2 Faculty are employees of the University, and as such, are subject to and expected to comply with broader University policies, procedures, and state and federal law governing their employment.

2.3.2.3 Faculty members may engage in professional activities beyond their designated role; however, faculty members must comply with USU Policies 3201, Extra-Service Compensation, and 3202, Consulting Service, restricting the amount of time spent on non- institutional commitments, including outside consulting and other non-institutional employment. They also must comply with state law and institutional policies and procedures regulations relating to conflicts of interest (see USU Policy 2301: Individual Conflicts of Interest and Procedure 2301-PR3: Conflicts of Commitment).

2.3.2.4 Faculty do not exploit the institution's name or their relationship to the institution for personal reasons unrelated to their legitimate academic or professional activities. Faculty do not create the impression that they represent the institution in public appearances or statements, unless in fact they do (see USU Policy 2105: Free Expression and Assembly; USU Policy 2106: Political Activity; and USU’s Statement on Institutional Neutrality).

2.3.2.5 Faculty will engage with their department head or supervisor in the course of discharging their professional responsibilities, including activities designed to evaluate and improve their performance.

2.3.2.6 Faculty will engage with University processes when appropriate or required.

2.4 Faculty Professional Conduct

2.4.1 Professional Conduct of Faculty Toward Students

2.4.1.1 Faculty members do not use their positions and authority to obtain uncompensated labor or to solicit gifts or favors from students. Faculty members do not ask students to perform services unrelated to legitimate requirements of a course unless the student is adequately compensated for such services.

2.4.1.2 Faculty members do not reveal matters told to them in confidence by students except as required by law, and then only to persons entitled to such information by law or institutional policy. Faculty members may, however, report their assessment of a student's performance and ability to persons logically and legitimately entitled to receive such reports.

2.4.1.3 Faculty members do not engage in the sexual harassment of students, or any other forms of harassment, prohibited by USU Policies (see USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics and USU Interim Policy 2102: Title IX Sexual Misconduct in an Employment or Education Program or Activity). Allegations of faculty misconduct involving sexual harassment, or any other form of harassment, of students will be handled under the policies and procedures outlined in USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics and USU Interim Policy 2102: Title IX Sexual Misconduct in an Employment or Education Program or Activity; USU Interim Policy 2103: Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct.

2.4.1.4 Faculty members do not engage in discrimination against students. This includes discrimination based on protected characteristics (see USU Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics). Allegations of faculty misconduct involving discrimination against students based on protected characteristics will be handled under the policies and procedures outlined in USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics.

2.4.1.5 Faculty members do not engage in disrespectful behavior toward students, including but not limited to, intimidation, humiliation, or abusive conduct. Allegations of faculty misconduct related to intimidation, disrespectful behavior, humiliation, or abuse of students will be handled under USU Policy 3002: Respectful Workplace.

2.4.2 Professional Conduct of Faculty Toward the Institution

2.4.2.1 Faculty members exercise Reasonable Care (see section 4002.6 of this Policy) in meeting their professional obligations.

2.4.2.2 Faculty members do not plagiarize nor do they permit the appearance that they are the author of work done by others.

2.4.2.3 Faculty members do not falsify, fabricate, or plagiarize data.

2.4.2.4 Faculty members do not claim ownership of others’ ideas or creative works, including that of students.

2.4.2.5 Faculty do not misuse privileged or otherwise confidential information.

2.4.2.6 Faculty members do not exploit their positions for personal or financial gain when supervising the professional work of others. Research for financial return should be conditional upon disclosure to and consent of the Vice President for Research.

2.4.2.7 Faculty members do not purposely destroy institutional property, disrupt institutional activities, inflict physical injury or threaten such injury to other persons on campus, or interfere with the Expressive Activity of other persons on the University Campus, or unlawfully incite others to engage in such destruction, disruption, injury, or interference. Faculty members comply with USU Policy 2105: Free Expression and Assembly. Faculty do not misappropriate institutional property or knowingly use it in violation of state or federal law.

2.4.2.8 Faculty members adhere to the drug- and alcohol-free workplace policy (Policy 3003, Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace, Drug and Alcohol Testing).

2.4.2.9 Faculty conduct themselves in an open, fair, civil, and humane manner in the course of all their professional duties. Faculty members do not harass or discriminate as outlined in USU’s Notice of Non-Discrimination.

2.4.2.10 Faculty members do not engage in the sexual harassment, or any other form of harassment, of other faculty members or any employee of the University (see USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics and USU Interim Policy 2102: Title IX Sexual Misconduct in an Employment or Education Program or Activity). Allegations of faculty misconduct involving sexual harassment, or any other form of harassment, of other faculty members or any employee of the University, will be handled under the policies and procedures outlined in USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics and USU Interim Policy 2102: Title IX Sexual Misconduct in an Employment or Education Program or Activity; USU Interim Policy 2103: Non-Title IX Sexual Misconduct.

2.4.2.11 Faculty members do not engage in discrimination against other faculty members or any other employee of the University (see USU Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics). Allegations of faculty misconduct involving discrimination against other faculty members or other employees of the University based on protected characteristics will be handled under the policies and procedures outlined in USU Interim Policy 2101: Discrimination based on Protected Characteristics.

2.4.2.12 Faculty members do not engage in disrespectful behavior toward other faculty members or any other employee of the University, including but not limited to intimidation, humiliation, or abusive conduct. Allegations of faculty misconduct related to intimidation, disrespectful behavior, humiliation, or abuse of students will be handled under USU Policy 3002: Respectful Workplace.

2.4.2.13 Faculty members do not engage in Research Misconduct. Allegations of Research Misconduct will be handled under the policies and procedures outlined in USU Policy 4110: Research Misconduct.

2.4.2.14 Faculty are expected to follow state and federal law. Faculty who violate state or federal law may expect no immunity or special protection by reason of faculty status. Breaches of legal duty by faculty are matters for disposition by the legal system. The University will not commence disciplinary proceedings for violations of law unless such violations directly relate to the University or adversely impact the University’s purposes and mission. The University reserves the right to bring disciplinary proceedings against faculty members who are charged with unlawful conduct which also constitutes a violation of standard of conduct of this Policy or broader University policies governing employment.

4002.3 REFERENCES

4002.4 RELATED USU POLICIES

Policy 4000: Composition and Authority of the Faculty

4002.5 DEFINITIONS

Expressive Activity has the same meaning as defined in USU Policy 2105: Free Expression and Assembly.
Reasonable Care means the level of performance required of a faculty member that is recognized in the profession as reasonable in the light of the obligations which the faculty member has assumed, competing demands upon their energy and time, nature and quality of their work, and all other circumstances which the academic community would properly take into account in determining whether the faculty member was discharging their responsibilities at an acceptable level.
University Campus has the same meaning as defined in USU Policy 2105: Free Expression and Assembly.

Information below is not included as part of the contents of the official policy. It is provided only as a convenience for readers/users and may be changed at any time by persons authorized by the President, subject to review by the USU Policy Committee.

RESOURCES

Contacts

Faculty Senate website
Executive Secretary: Michele Hillard

POLICY HISTORY

Original issue date: 1997/07/01
Last review date: 2026/08/07
Next scheduled review date: 2029/04/01
Previous revision dates: 2006/10/20, 2009/03/06, 2011/07/08, 2012/01/06, 2022/02/01