Judgment of Compliance: The College certifies COMPLIANCE.

Narrative:

Academic freedom is essential to Wayne Community College's goal of educating its students. The college encourages, supports, and protects all faculty members in their academic pursuits---teaching, academic research, discussion, and publication. Each faculty member is free from restraints and penalties that would restrict responsible academic endeavors. The college's policies uphold the principle that adequate safeguards and protections must exist to ensure this academic keystone.

WCC's official policy supporting academic freedom and responsibility is found in the Board of Trustees Policy Manual and the CPM 03-0301. The policy states: "Wayne Community College is dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge, the engendering and development of skills, competencies, and understandings, and to the nurture of those personal and intellectual habits and attitudes which are peculiar to responsible individuals in a free, open, democratic society. The Board of Trustees, therefore, shall guarantee and protect judgment on the part of personnel of the College as they exercise academic freedom in accomplishing the objectives of the institution."

In addition to the formal policy on Academic Freedom, procedures for safeguarding and protecting academic freedom are outlined in the CPM 02-0601, "Grievance Procedures." In the event that a faculty member believes himself/herself to have been the victim of academic freedom infringement, he/she can seek resolution through the existing grievance procedure. This procedure clarifies the steps and the rights of appeal. During the twelve and one-half years of the current President's tenure at WCC, no instructor has registered a formal complaint of academic freedom infringement. Therefore, the college policies and procedures as outlined in the Board of Trustees manual and the CPM adequately define and protect academic freedom.