Academic Freedom Is It a Legal Right?
Academic freedom is a legal concept in the United States that refers to faculty members' ability to talk and publish about their topics without fear of disciplinary action. It is also a right that students and others at public and private colleges and universities have. Academic freedom is designed to preserve society's long-term interests by ensuring that professors and students are not restricted in their educational activities. It is also designed to protect scientists from financial, political, or social influences. Academic freedom is a legal notion that all students and faculty members must be free to study and teach without fear of retaliation or penalty. Its mission is to protect academic communities as a bulwark of unfettered inquiry, free from public opinion and political feeling. Academics have historically been targets of persecution for teaching or expressing thoughts and facts that are unpopular with external political parties or authorities. This often results i...