Below are two statements you can include in your syllabi to show your commitment academic freedom. The first was developed by the Academic Freedom Committee; the second is adapted from a statement suggested by the national American Federation of Teachers.
Faculty and students alike are free to express their viewpoints at appropriate times in class, including perspectives that differ from most in the Rutgers University community. Students may be exposed to views they find challenging, uncomfortable, or distressing. But since Rutgers is a public institution, First Amendment speech protections apply. Legally, feelings of discomfort are not sufficient to restrict speech. Pedagogically, exposing people to different ideas—even challenging their most deeply held beliefs—is a feature, not a flaw, of academic life. Free inquiry is essential to a robust learning environment. Students and professors are at our best–and best able to contribute to society–when we are exposed to a wide range of challenging ideas.
Together, we will uphold the principles of academic freedom. Academic freedom is a principle that supports an academic environment where open inquiry, critical analysis, and intellectual growth are not only possible but welcome, and where respectful debate is valued. By ensuring the right to express thoughts, challenge assumptions, and pursue knowledge freely, the principle of academic freedom not only enriches individual growth but also upholds the integrity of higher education as a site of innovation and discovery.