-Our campus is physically located in Cookeville, Tennessee, which is on the land of the Cherokee People and the Yuchi tribe, also used or occupied by the Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Muscogee Creek people. We would like to acknowledge the indigenous stewards of this land both past and present.
-Academic freedom has been defined as “the freedom of a teacher or researcher in higher education to investigate and discuss the issues in his or her academic field, and to teach or publish findings without interference from political figures, boards of trustees, donors, or other entities. Academic freedom also protects the right of a faculty member to speak freely when participating in institutional governance, as well as to speak freely as a citizen.”
Your professors have earned these privileges, which are protected by the law, as well as by the customs and regulations of higher education as a profession; even though these rights are protected, they can be threatened or revoked and are only maintained via vigilance. Students' rights to freedom of expression, in the classroom and in their academic work, are also protected. But at the same time, the guidance and expertise of the teachers are there to help inspire that these rights are practiced with responsibility. In our classroom as it relates to this topic, we will try to balance freedom and boldness with fairness and understanding, and when we fail to live up to our ideals, we will try to practice forgiveness and compromise.
-Please understand that class discussions, required films and/or readings, and writing assignments may include mature subject matter, controversial topics, and diverse or unpopular views. This frankness of subject matter comes from the curriculum itself, supports critical thinking, and encourages interaction with the educational process.