Academic Rights & Responsibilities
Academic freedom and intellectual diversity have been hallmarks of the ethic of The Ohio State University since it opened its doors in 1873. The Office of Academic Affairs has led our institutional effort to inform faculty and students about relevant policies and procedures and to promote frank, open, and respectful discussion about the issues of freedom of thought and expression.
Following discussions with the Council of Deans, the school directors and department chairs, the leaders of Ohio State's student governance organizations, the vice-provosts, the University Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (CAFR) and the Senate Steering Committee, we have taken the following steps:
ONGOING INITIATIVES
- At the beginning of each academic year, the provost e-mails all faculty to remind them of the university's mechanisms for addressing the concerns of students who believe they have experienced treatment that is inconsistent with Ohio State's commitment to freedom of thought and expression
- An item about academic rights and responsibilities annually appears in several Ohio State e-news outlets, along with links to appropriate web sites.
- The ACE statement (distributed to student orientation planners and the Office of Faculty and TA Development in April 2006) is included in their orientation sessions and workshops.
STEPS TAKEN
- Provost Joe Alutto sends a letter to Anne Neal, President of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, outlining what Ohio State has done to implement the principles of the ACE statement on academic rights and responsibilities. (August 2008)
- onCampus features an article about the InterAct Diversity Players and their presentation on academic rights and responsibilities. (February 2007)
- keyNotes features an article underscoring our commitment to academic rights and responsibilities. (Spring 2006)
- Provost Barbara Snyder sends an e-mail message to all Ohio State faculty, staff, and students publicizing the ACE statement and reaffirming our commitment to it. (April 2008)
- Provost Barbara Snyder sends a memo to all deans, chairs, and school directors reiterating the ACE principles and explaining the processes for addressing complaints. (April 2006)
- Vice Provost for Academic Administration, Mike Sherman, sends a letter to the student governance organizational leaders asking them to distribute a memo to their constituents regarding academic rights and responsibilities. (April 2006)
- Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Dean for Undergraduate Education, Martha Garland, sends a letter to all academic advisors. (April 2006)
- Interim Dean of the Graduate School, Carole Anderson, sends a letter to all Graduate Studies Committee chairs. (April 2006)
- Article OSU reaffirms principles of academic freedom appears in onCampus. (April 2006)
- Vice Provost for Academic Administration, Mike Sherman, sends a letter to the Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility (CAFR). (March 2006)
- A detailed communications plan is developed by the Office of University Communications to disseminate information about our commitment to academic rights and responsibiities. (March 2006)
- Members of the Office of Academic Affairs discuss the ACE statement with faculty governance representatives and student governance repesentatives. (January 2006)
- University department chairs discuss the ACE statement at their quarterly meeting. (January 2006)
- The deans discuss the ACE statement at their monthly Council of Deans meeting. (December 2005)
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
- OAA Policies and Procedures Handbook: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Office of Enrollment Services and Undergraduate Education: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Office of Student Affairs: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- University Registrar: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Graduate School: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Faculty and TA Development: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Rules of the University Faculty: Academic Rights and Responsibilities Statement
This list will be updated as we take additional steps to ensure that all members of the university community remain informed about the principles of academic rights and responsibilities--and to demonstrate our unflagging commitment to them.
