The University of Colorado Board of Regents on Friday affirmed the university鈥檚 longstanding commitment to free speech and clarified the difference between academic freedom and freedom of expression in a vote to revise its laws and policies.
The board approved additions and refinements to its Laws and Policies that enact broad protections for both freedom of expression and academic freedom, while clarifying the responsibilities of members of the university community when events occur on the campus, when discussions occur in classroom and in the pursuit of knowledge and research.
CU 麻豆影院's new Free Expression website serves as a听clearinghouse for students, faculty and staff about policies, speakers and values related to free expression.
The move came after more than a year of work that was part of a comprehensive review of Regent Laws and Policies. Faculty, staff and student groups collaborated with the Board of Regents during the process, offered improvements that were incorporated into the final documents and endorsed the result.
The vote was unanimous.
鈥淭he university needs to be a place where we debate ideas with respect and rigor, and this makes clear where the university stands,鈥� said Regent Steve Ludwig. 鈥淲e鈥檙e in a better place.鈥�
The revisions recognize for the first time that faculty and students have academic freedom and also balances their respective rights and responsibilities. The Board of Regents has long recognized a broad definition of academic freedom that encompasses faculty member鈥檚 ability to teach truth as the faculty member sees it within disciplinary standards. New provisions recognize that, while faculty members have the ability to direct the course of classroom discussions, students have the ability to raise questions and take reasoned exception to the views and data presented by others.
While the university has always been subject to the First Amendment, the revisions also spell out how speakers and events occur on campus. The policies address freedom of expression separately from academic freedom because of the need to distinguish what happens in the classroom (academic freedom) and what happens in people鈥檚 private lives and on forums around campus (freedom of expression). While encouraging expression across the campuses on all matters of social and political significance, the policy also works to ensure a safe educational environment.
鈥淭he university exists for no greater purpose than to have students challenge their beliefs. What鈥檚 taught in the university today is reflected in our society tomorrow,鈥� said Regent Heidi Ganahl. 鈥淓veryone in this community 鈥� students, faculty, staff 鈥� are doing things and not just talking about them.鈥�
The new policies are consistent with Colorado鈥檚 Senate Bill 62 and the U.S. Constitution, said Patrick O鈥橰ourke, CU鈥檚 general counsel. Senate Bill 62, passed in the 2018 legislative session, ensures that free speech can occur in public spaces on campuses, prohibits universities from confining expression to 鈥渇ree speech zones鈥� and allows universities to enact viewpoint neutral rules to guard against disruptions to the learning environment.
鈥淭he changes affirm the university鈥檚 commitment to being a place where both free speech and academic freedom are valued, supported and protected,鈥� O鈥橰ourke said. 鈥淯niversities should be places where ideas are explored.鈥�
While the Board of Regents has been revising its laws and policies for more than a year, the amendments dealing with academic freedom and freedom of expression come at a time when many universities across the nation have faced challenges to how they promote both free speech and a respectful learning environment.
Higher education traditionally identifies academic freedom and freedom as expression as fundamental. Without these freedoms, a university cannot meet its mission, but sometimes an environment that places a premium upon them allows faculty and students to express views that some consider unorthodox, insulting or offensive. At the same time, members of the university community value diverse and inclusive learning environments, and they expect universities to promote a culture of respect and civility.
O鈥橰ourke said supporting free expression and supporting an inclusive environment are not mutually exclusive, and that the revisions to CU鈥檚 policies create a framework that allows them to co-exist.
The CU 麻豆影院 campus also launched a Free Expression website after the vote, which serves as a clearinghouse for students, faculty and staff about policies, speakers and values related to free expression.
