Endorsing the AAUP Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure

AS-2661-04/FA - March 6-7, 2004

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) endorse the content and values embedded in the 1940 American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Statement on Academic Freedom and Tenure with 1970 Interpretive Comments; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU recommend to each CSU campus senate that it endorse this Statement and incorporate it into its policies on academic freedom and tenure; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU recommend this statement be taken to the Board of Trustees for ratification as a means of protecting the time-honored and traditional concept of academic freedom and tenure.

RATIONALE: One major right all teachers and professors have earned over a period of many centuries is that of academic freedom. This right has been vigorously guarded over time against attack from various critics-including those that purport to "expand" or "extend" freedom of expression but in fact do not.

The American Association of University Professors has developed the concept of academic freedom to fit American universities since 1940 (Redbook, http://www.aaup.org/statements/Redbook/1940stat.htm).