Spring

Add a Third Whereas

Add a Third Whereas

Whereas, Finkin and Post (2009) remind educators that “academic freedom consists of the freedom to pursue the scholarly profession according to the standards of that profession” [1] and professional ethics and responsibilities prohibit educators from weaponizing their right to academic freedom to create educational or work environments hostile to protected classes or diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism work.

Withdraw 13.04.02 Define Academic Freedom in Title 5

Motion To Withdraw Resolution 13.04.01

Add a Third Whereas:

Whereas, Since 1940, the American Association of University Professors, (AAUP) in their Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure [1] defined academic freedom, which continues to serve as the current standard definition that most educators refer to for guidance and direction, yet, the context and demographics of higher education have changed significantly over the last 80 years since the AAUP definition was crafted, showing a need for an updated definition of academic freedom;

Whereas, In July 2021, the California State Senate passed Senate Resolution 45 (Min, 2021) [1] “recogniz[ing] the lack of consistent academic freedom policies across the state, [and] declar[ing] that academic freedom is essential for teaching and learning in California’s community colleges” [2]; and

Whereas, The document Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges [1], commonly referred to as the Disciplines List, establishes the specific degrees that qualify faculty to teach in the California Community Colleges system;

Whereas, The bylaws of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges include procedures and criteria for conferring the status of senator emeritus for the purpose of recognizing the meritorious service of a faculty member upon or after retirement, and Wheeler North has satisfied those requirements as a faculty member of the California Community Colleges system whose service has well exceeded the required five years of significant service to the Academic Senate;

Whereas, AB 928 (Berman, 2021) presents unintended consequences for students in many disciplines, including kinesiology, health, physical education, dance and nutrition, within the California Community Colleges system;

Whereas, The California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) includes a component titled “Critical Thinking and Composition,” [1] the name of which would seem to exclude such philosophy courses as Introduction to Logic (C-ID 110) and Symbolic Logic (C-ID 210);