LAUC - Academic Freedom Education Initiative

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Academic Freedom Education Initiative

This initiative is endorsed by the LAUC Executive Board and is designed to educate and spark discussion about APM-011. This important new policy launched just before the COVID-19 shutdown, and details academic freedom rights and responsibilities for librarians and thousands of others working under 60 academic titles in the UC system.

Academic Freedom Reading List

It is important to read the following sections of the Academic Personnel Manual (APM), where you will find all the policy language relevant to AF for LAUC librarians:

APM-010: Academic Freedom
APM-011: Academic Freedom, Protection of Professional Standards, and Responsibilities of Non-Faculty Academic Appointees
APM-015: The Faculty Code of Conduct
APM-140: Non-Senate Academic Appointees/Grievances

APM-011 was announced in November 2019 and became part of UC policy on February 1, 2020. Read the Provost’s issuance letter and its accompanying FAQ.
APM-011 applies to more than just librarians - it also covers all UC employees working under the academic titles listed in APM-112-4-b.
The APM’s definition of academic freedom can be traced back to the milestone definition fromm the American Association of University Professors (AAUP): The 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure

Webinar Series

Introduction to Academic Freedom and APM-011

Presented Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

View Webinar Slides

This panel discussion, featuring Professor Robert May and several LAUC members, explores the creation of the newest section of the APM. It explains the policy’s definition of academic freedom, describes the framework for formally addressing disputes through the policy, and begins to explore LAUC’s role in the process.

Robert May is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Philosophy at UC Davis. As a former Chair of the UC Academic Senate, as well as the co-Chair of the working group that composed the initial draft of APM-011, he offers unique insights into the impetus and goals of this groundbreaking policy.

Other Recommended Resources

May 3, 2021 LAUC Statewide Assembly Academic Librarians’ lived experiences with Academic Freedom event:
“Power And Status (And Lack Thereof) In Academe: Academic Freedom And Academic Librarians” by Danya Leebaw and Alexis Logsdon
Academic Freedom Scenarios (developed for the May 6, 2021 LAUC Statewide Assembly event, Exploring Academic Freedom challenges through scenario

LAUC members: we need your help

Throughout this initiative, we will be gathering volunteers to help us accomplish the following tasks:

Gathering Campus-specific pathfinders for adjudicating Academic Freedom disputes
Collaborative preparation of a formal LAUC statement on Applicable National Professional Standards and Responsibilities
Defining scope and qualification criteria for LAUC division-level ambassadors to provide confidential AF consultation and adjudication support to LAUC members
Creating portable educational materials on APM-011, for the benefit of the thousands of UC colleagues in the 60 other academic titles covered by APM-011.

Feel free to approach any member of the AF Education Initiative Taskforce to pitch in to our efforts:

Scenarios

Academic Freedom Scenarios

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