Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).
Discussant(s): Michael Buchler (Florida State University), Adrian Childs (University of Georgia), Chris Endrinal (Florida Gulf Coast University), J. Daniel Jenkins (University of South Carolina), Ji Yeon Lee (University of Houston), Rachel Lumsden (Florida State University), Horace Maxile (Baylor University), Noel Painter (Stetson University)
In 1940, higher-education representatives codified a set of free-speech policies known as the Statements of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure. Key to this collection was the universal belief that instructors should have the freedom to discuss, both in the classroom and in publication, controversial issues germane to the topic at hand without fear of institutional retaliation. Indeed, the representatives viewed such controversial issues as central to the goals of higher education; in a comment added to the Statements in 1970, the representatives clarified that “[c]ontroversy is at the heart of the free academic inquiry which the entire statement is designed to foster.”
But despite this blanket philosophy, academics in today’s fraught cultural and political climates increasingly sense the erosion of these freedoms. They may regularly ask:
How do I teach potentially sensitive topics in the classroom, and how do I navigate topics that may elicit strong and often opposing reactions from students of all backgrounds?
How do I—or should I—apply and interview for a position in a climate I view as hostile or antithetical to my personal values?
I believe in the value of diversity statements; how do I apply to and work in a state or institution where such statements are banned?
How might I navigate the tenure process—a minefield already fraught with difficulties—when these sensitive topics add further complexity to the interpersonal dynamics?
This ninety-minute session aims to address these and related obstacles. The session will begin with introductory thoughts from an array of panelists before proceeding to a moderated panel discussion. Audience members will also have opportunities to voice individual concerns and questions and receive feedback. Attendees can expect to learn practical advice, often based on real-world experiences both in and outside of the academy, to inform their own practices. Attendees will also receive a brief guide to pertinent resources curated by the panelists. The aim of the session is to be non-political, and we aim to create an inclusive space for a broad audience where all participants, no matter their backgrounds or beliefs, will be respected, included, and feel they belong.
Name of sponsoring group Professional Development Committee
