Academic Freedom

Section 4.A – Academic Freedom

The College believes that academic freedom supports the pursuit of knowledge, allowing faculty, staff, and students to participate in learning that is appropriate for each discipline. Vance-Granville Community College is dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge; the engendering and development of skills, competencies and understandings; and to the nurturing of those personal and intellectual habits and attitudes, which are peculiar to responsible individuals in a free, open, democratic society. The Board of Trustees, therefore, encourages academic freedom in the College. The Trustees shall likewise require the exercise of responsible judgment on the part of personnel of the College as they exercise academic freedom in accomplishing the objectives of the institution.

Academic freedom means that both faculty members and students can engage in intellectual debate without fear of censorship or retaliation. It preserves the intellectual integrity of our institution. More broadly, academic freedom encompasses both the individual and institutional right to maintain academic standards.

Academic freedom does not give students or faculty the right to ignore College policies. Academic freedom does not protect faculty members’ educational philosophy and practices from challenges by colleagues or students. Academic freedom does not mean a faculty member can harass, threaten, intimidate, ridicule, or impose on students.

Academic freedom does not protect students or faculty from disciplinary action, but it does require that they receive fair treatment and due process as outlined in the student code of conduct and College personnel policies.

(approved July 16, 2018)