Statement in Support of Academic Freedom and Tenure
October 22, 2024
On behalf of the national engineering professional societies listed below, we are writing to express our views about pending and current state legislation that may weaken academic freedom and tenure in higher education.
We believe that freedom to express differing viewpoints strengthens both higher education and society as a whole. Academic freedom allows faculty to perform research without pressure to reach a particular conclusion, and it empowers scholars to explore ideas, challenge norms, and engage in open discourse. It fuels innovation, embraces diverse perspectives, and drives social progress.
We also believe that a strong tenure system is essential to helping ensure academic freedom. Tenure safeguards intellectual independence. It allows professors to pursue ambitious research, mentor students, and contribute to a long-term vision for their institutions and for society as a whole. Faculty members who are tenured cannot be summarily dismissed from the faculty of the institution, but tenured faculty members may be removed for cause (such as violating the institution’s policies or procedures or for committing academic dishonesty). They may also be removed from employment based on financial constraints or when a program is terminated.
Laws that are currently being considered and others that have already been passed in certain state legislatures are weakening academic freedom and tenure and threaten to eliminate them entirely.
The signatories of this letter emphasize our support of academic freedom and the tenure system, and we oppose any law that acts to weaken them.
Sincerely,
Ershela Sims, Ph.D.
Executive Director and CEO
Women in Engineering Proactive Network (WEPAN)
www.wepan.org |
Kathy Renzetti, CAE
Executive Director
DiscoverE
www.discovere.org |
Karen Horting
Chief Executive Officer
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
www.swe.org |
Rochelle L. Williams, PhD
Executive Director
Graduate Fellowship for STEM Diversity
www.stemfellowships.org |
Jacqueline El-Sayed, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
www.asee.org |
James J. Robinson
Executive Director
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)
www.tms.org |
Dr. Michael D. Smith
Executive Director of NAMEPA
www.NAMEPA.org |
Khánh Vũ
CEO & Executive Director
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
www.saseconnect.org |
Sarah EchoHawk
President
Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES)
www.aises.org |
John R Janowiak
Executive Director
ECEDHA
www.ecedha.org |
Click here to read the latest version of this letter with all current signatories.
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