Academic Freedom Council

*All faculty complaints and grievances are managed by the Office of Faculty Affairs*

Reminder: Questions pertaining to academic freedom must (1) clearly indicate the issues that relate to academic freedom and (2) be submitted in writing along with any existing evidence or documentation.

When a grievance or complaint related to academic freedom is received by the Faculty Affairs office, Faculty Affairs will direct the issue to the Academic Freedom Council. Upon receipt, the Council chair will:

• Constitute a Review Committee to only evaluate the issues relevant to academic freedom and responsibility
• The Review Committee will have five (5) business days to evaluate the academic freedom issue and report their findings to the Council Chair or Vice Chair
• The Council Chair (or Vice Chair) will provide Faculty Affairs written reports detailing the Review Committee's evaluation of issues relating to academic freedom for distribution to all parties involved
  • In matters relating to complaints or grievances, the evaluation(s) will be part of the evidentiary basis for appeals, grievances, or complaints that involve issues pertaining to academic freedom
  • In matters relating to speech or presentation of information or opinions in public or academic contexts, the Review Committee's evaluation will be distributed for further consideration by the office responsible for review of the issue

Note: Appeals to the Committee on Academic Freedom, Responsibility and Tenure (CAFRT) will not be reviewed by the Academic Freedom Council. However, all appeals will be sent to the CAFRT chair for the committee members to serve as the reviewing body.

Request an Evaluation

• Faculty members who are involved in grievances or complaints at any level can request that the process include an evaluation of academic freedom issues from the Academic Freedom Council
• Staff members whose primary appointment relates to education and/or scholarship (librarians and research scientists) can also request that their grievance or complaint processes include an evaluation of academic freedom issues from the Academic Freedom Council
• Additional university employees whose primary appointment does not relate to education and/or scholarship, but who have taken on that role on either an in excess or temporary basis, can also request an evaluation regarding issues of academic freedom from the Academic Freedom Council
• Administrative units (including, but not limited to, departments, colleges, and university offices) that are charged with investigating allegations of misconduct or deciding on personnel actions within the university can request the Academic Freedom Council provide an evaluation regarding issues of academic freedom for situations within the scope of their review where such issues are potentially relevant
• Offices responsible for reviewing issues of misconduct against a faculty member or staff member (whose primary appointment involves education and/or scholarship; librarians and research scientists) that receive a complaint related to speech, presentation of information, or opinions in a public or academic context will request a review by the Academic Freedom Council before further investigation or review

• To request that the Academic Freedom Council conduct a review of academic freedom related to an issue you are experiencing, submit a request with a description of the academic freedom issue and any relevant evidence or documentation to tamuafc@tamu.edu. The council will return an evaluation of academic freedom and responsibility back to you.
• To request that the Academic Freedom Council conduct a review of a general issue or concern within the university, send a request with any relevant information to tamuafc@tamu.edu. The council will consider this information and potentially advise the provost and/or president regarding the issue. Their evaluation will not be returned to you as an individual.