The principal mission of the University is the discovery and dissemination of truth through teaching, research and service. The Board of Trustees for The University of Tennessee (“Board”) recognizes that freedom of inquiry and expression is indispensable for this purpose and believes that it and the administration and faculty should cooperate to that end. In the University’s program of teaching, research and service, it is essential that the Board, administration and faculty cooperate voluntarily, each contributing freely, according to his or her qualifications, in a mutually beneficial exchange of information and ideas.

2.1.1. Academic Freedom and Responsibility of the Faculty Member

The Board’s policy governing academic freedom and responsibilities (UT Policy BT0006) states the following about academic freedom and the responsibility of faculty members:

A healthy tradition of academic freedom and tenure is essential to the proper functioning of a University. At the same time, membership in a society of scholars enjoins upon a faculty member certain obligations to colleagues, to the University, and to the State that guarantees academic freedom.

1. The primary responsibility of a faculty member is to use the freedom of his or her office in an honest, courageous, and persistent effort to search out and communicate the truth that lies in the area of his or her competence.
2. A faculty member is entitled to full freedom in research and in publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of his or her other academic duties, but research for pecuniary gain either within or beyond the scope of his or her employment must be based upon an understanding with the University administration, according to the University’s policies (e.g., Compensated Outside Services, Conflict of Interest).
3. A faculty member should maintain a high level of personal integrity and professional competence, as demonstrated in teaching, research, and service. Academic freedom does not exempt a faculty member from an evaluation by colleagues and administration of his or her qualifications for continued membership in their society.
4. Although faculty are free in the classroom to discuss subjects within areas of their competence, faculty shall be cautious in expressing personal views in the classroom and shall be careful not to introduce controversial matters that have no relationship to the subject taught, and especially matters in which they have no special competence or training and in which, therefore, the faculty’s views cannot claim the authority accorded statements they make about subjects within areas of their competence; provided, that no faculty will face adverse employment action for classroom speech, unless it is unreasonably germane to the subject matter of the class as broadly construed, and comprises a substantial portion of classroom instruction.
5. A faculty member should recognize that the right of academic freedom is enjoyed by all members of the academic community. He or she should be prepared at all times to support actively the right of the individual to freedom of research and communication as defined herein.
6. In addition to the normal responsibilities of a citizen of the State and nation, including the duty to uphold their Constitutions and obey their laws, a faculty member also should conduct himself or herself professionally with colleagues. He or she should strive to maintain the mutual respect and confidence of his or her colleagues. He or she should endeavor to understand the customs, traditions, and usages of the academic community.
7. When, as a citizen, a faculty member speaks outside the classroom or writes for publication, he or she should be free, as a citizen, to express his or her opinions. Each faculty member should conduct himself or herself professionally, should be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make clear that he or she speaks for himself or herself and not for the University.
8. This policy is intended to be consistent with UT Policy BT0010 – Policy Affirming Principles of Free Speech for Students and Faculty, and shall be interpreted accordingly.

2.1.2. Academic Freedom and Responsibility of the University Administration

The Board’s policy governing academic freedom and responsibilities (UT Policy BT0006) states the following about academic freedom and the responsibility of the University administration:

1. The University is committed to recruiting, appointing, retaining and promoting faculty members by processes which are thorough, thoughtful, equitable, and in which the professional judgments of faculty members are of major importance.
2. Administrative officers should actively foster within the University a climate favorable to freedom of teaching and research. In its pursuit of excellence, the University should reward its outstanding faculty members.
3. The administration is responsible for enforcing all Board and campus policies applicable to faculty members. It is the duty of the administration—beginning with department heads, deans, and chief academic officers—to remove from the faculty any faculty member who has been found, through proper procedures, seriously derelict in his or her responsibilities as a member of the academic community.