DISCLAIMER:

If there is a discrepancy between this electronic policy and the written copy held by the Policy owner, the written copy prevails.

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McMaster University is dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. Its members enjoy certain rights and privileges essential to these twin objectives. Central among these rights and privileges is the freedom, within the law, to pursue what seem to them fruitful avenues of inquiry; to teach and to learn unhindered by external or non-academic constraints; and to engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion. This freedom extends not only to members of the university but to all who are invited to participate in its forum. All members of the University must recognize this fundamental principle and must share responsibility for supporting, safeguarding and preserving this central freedom. Behaviour which obstructs free and full discussion, not only of ideas which are safe and accepted but of those which may be unpopular or even abhorrent, vitally threatens the integrity of the University, and cannot be tolerated.

Suppression of academic freedom would prevent the University from carrying out its primary functions. In particular, as an autonomous institution McMaster University is protected from any efforts by the state or its agents to limit or suppress ac ademic freedom. Likewise, neither officers of the University nor private individuals may limit or suppress academic freedom.

The common good of society depends upon the search for knowledge and its free exposition. Academic freedom does not require neutrality on the part of the individual; on the contrary, academic freedom makes commitment to a position or course of action pos sible.

Academic freedom carries with it the duty to use that freedom in a manner consistent with the scholarly obligation to base research and teaching on an honest search for knowledge.

Approved by Senate
December 14, 1994

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Contact Department:University Secretariat

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MUFA - pdk
October 1999