Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Community Colleges and Universities Have Academic Freedom Policies; Relatively Few Grievances Filed

Report 06-22, March 2006




Report Summary

  • All of Florida's public community colleges and universities have established academic freedom policies that are governed by rule, institutional policy, and collective bargaining agreements. These policies generally share common language and, while mentioning students, are generally faculty-focused. While there are system-wide academic freedom rules for the state university system, there are no such rules for community colleges.
  • Student academic freedom is most commonly addressed in student codes of conduct, student rights and responsibilities statements, and similar documents. All institutions publish their academic freedom statements in their school catalog and/or faculty and student handbooks.
  • Faculty and students can file academic freedom grievances through informal and formal means. However, most grievances are resolved informally and these cases are not tracked. Formal academic freedom grievances are relatively rare and account for less than 1% of all student and approximately 9% of faculty grievances over the past three years.
  • While faculty and student opinions and beliefs are protected by academic freedom policies, institutions have varying restrictions on campus speakers, presentations, and exhibits.


Related Reports
  1. OPPAGA Technical Report: Activity and Service Fee Use Varies Among State Universities and Community College
    Report 06-43 May 2006
  2. OPPAGA Report: Student Activity and Service Fees Are Spent to Benefit the Entire Student Body
    Report 06-42 May 2006
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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