MECC Academic Freedom Working Group

1. MECC Academic Freedom Working Group 19 October 2011 Dr. Leslie Cordie Air University

2. Overview • Part I - Review of Tasker from the HASC Report • Academic Freedom • Review of the Policies and Practices from the Institutions • School Policy Implementation • Best Practices • Part II – Review of Faculty Surveys

3. HASC Report Recommendation #33: All institutions should review their policies and practices for sponsored research and ensure that faculty has access to documentation specifying criteria for application and selection procedures Discussion: MECC WG members determined this recommendation actually deals with sabbatical processes rather than sponsored research policies

4. Tasker Perform an informal look at school policies including CISA, JSOU,NDIC) related to academic freedom ….

5. AAUP Statement • …full freedom in research and publication • …full freedom in the classroom • …should be free from institutional censorship

6. Faculty of DoD • …additionally have obligations that go beyond those in civilian institutions… • Active duty members are subject to UCMJ • Faculty should not reveal classified information • If express opinion, must use explicit disclaimers

7. Policy Analysis • Most schools had policies related to main 4 areas much like civilian academia • Sabbaticals or leave • Publishing • Academic integrity • Academic Freedom • Policies accessible through faculty orientation, meetings, web sites, portals, and handbooks • “A certain level of professionalism is expected of all faculty regardless of the function of the institution due to the innate responsibility to provide quality curriculum and instruction…”

8. Best Practices • Partnering of instructors • Policies developed by faculty and students’ responses to academic freedom over a period of years • Work is only reviewed if there is a classification issue – no policy review • Academic integrity acknowledgement letter signed by faculty and students • New faculty briefed and given policies/documents (faculty orientation)

9. Part II – Faculty Surveys • 3 Faculty Surveys • Air University • Army War College • Marine Corps University

10. AAUP Statement - Questions • …full freedom in research and publication • …full freedom in the classroom • …should be free from institutional censorship

11. Questions…. (Air University Faculty Survey) • My organization uses professional development of the faculty as a means of improving the academic program (82% slighty agree to strongly agree). • My organization provides me with appropriate opportunities for promotion or professional advancement (80%). • My organization provides reasonable release time for my professional development and growth activities (81%). • My organization provided adequate financial support for my professional development activities (68%). • I took advantage of the professional development opportunities available to me this year (77%). • Senior faculty members contribute to my professional development (59%). • I am provided adjustments to my workload to ensure adequate time for research activities (62%).

12. Questions… (Army War College Faculty Survey) • There is an adequate process for incorporating faculty input into curriculum content and instructional methodology • The curriculum encourages creative thinking and open expression of thought • Lectures by visiting scholars and SMEs enhance the academic program • Experimentation with methods to improve instruction is adequately supported

13. Questions… (Army War College Faculty Survey) • Respondents: • agreed that academic freedom encouraged free discussion and inquiry (88% very satisfied to satisfied). • possessed subject matter expertise that would be valuable for research and publication (78%) • aware of the Individual Development Plan (68%).

14. Questions… (Marine War College Faculty Survey) • Academic Freedom is detailed in a policy. Are you familiar with the policy? • Freedom to discuss any material or ideas in the seminar relevant to the subject matter as provided in the course objectives (non-attribution).

15. Questions… (Marine War College Faculty Survey)

16. Summary • Observations: • Lack of a common language regarding faculty workplace satisfaction and an instrument to measure it. • Lack of comparisons of faculty satisfaction across institutions. • Research finds a large number of climate studies conducted with poorly conceived and worded instruments that had never been validated • Further Research? • Develop a common set of faculty-oriented survey questions for MECC institutions to implement • Examine a uniform interval for executing surveys across MECC institutions

17. Next Steps - Faculty Surveys • Purpose • Methods and Participation • Response Rate • Demographics • Gender • Number of Years Experience in Academia • Number of Courses Taught • Frequency of Faculty scholarship within the last five years

18. Discussion

19. MECC WG COP MECC WG Study Academic Freedom COP https://afkm.wpafb.af.mil/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=25774

20. The Intellectual and Leadership Center of the Air Force We Produce the Future … One Student at a Time One Faculty Member at a Time One Idea at a Time