5.1.1.p. Procedure: Southeastern Technical College Academic Freedom

Statement of Academic Freedom and Due Process

Southeastern Technical College fully supports the right to academic freedom for all faculty members. The procedure below outlines the freedoms which faculty members possess. This procedure is in accordance with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) State Board Policy IV.C. Academic Freedom.

Academic Freedoms

Faculty at Southeastern Technical College enjoy the following academic rights:

a.  To develop curriculum, including academic programs, courses, course descriptions, course outlines, course goals, objectives, and standards in accordance with college procedures that have been mutually agreed upon by the Technical College System of Georgia, the Vice President for Academic Affairs of Southeastern Technical College and in conformity with state requirements and existing articulation agreements with other institutions of higher education faculty.

b.  To develop course instructional content consistent with faculty-generated course outlines.

c.  To experiment with and choose methods of instruction and evaluation consistent with approved course outlines; and, where appropriate, agree as a faculty within a discipline to use common methods of instruction and/or evaluation in certain courses for program consistency.

d.  To choose what kinds of technology will be used to support achievement of course objectives; and, where appropriate, to agree as a faculty within a discipline to use common technological devices, methods, and/or programs in certain courses for program consistency.

e.  Within a discipline, to select the textbook(s) and other instructional materials that will be used in that discipline to cover the content of the approved course outlines; and, where appropriate, to agree as a faculty within a discipline to use a common textbook(s) in certain courses for program consistency.

f.  To assign student grades in a manner that is consistent with the college's grading policy; and to serve as the final authority for those grades.

g.  Freedom of the faculty to express themselves, to foster critical thinking, and to support the expression of alternative points of view.

h.  To express themselves candidly when writing articles and/or books, developing media, writing music, creating art, and/or conducting research, so long as they make a clear distinction between when they are acting as individuals and when they are acting as representatives of the college.

i.   To demonstrate and foster critical thinking and to encourage opportunities for different sides of issues to be shared and debated, not only among students within the classroom, but also among their colleagues.

Due Process Regarding Academic Freedom

Due process in academic freedom disputes between a faculty member and a supervisor, or between faculty members is to follow the guidelines laid out in the Technical College System of Georgia State Board Policy 4.4.3. Complaint Resolution. A Complaint Resolution Procedure has also been adopted by the TCSG and is located on the Department’s website. In addition, Southeastern Technical College follows the TCSG State Board policy on complaint resolution and has developed a procedure, 4.4.3. Procedure: Southeastern Technical College Complaint Resolution, outlining the College’s process.

Adopted: June 25, 2009
Reviewed: August 20, 2018; August 19, 2019; September 16, 2019; August 10, 2020; August 16, 2021; August 23, 2023;
Revised: August 15, 2016;