The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee (AF&T) is responsible for all matters of policy related to academic freedom and faculty tenure, including Board of Regents Policy: Faculty Tenure. The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee reports to the Faculty Senate and does not deal with individual disputes.
2023-24 Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee Leadership
Meeting Schedule
2023-24 Meeting Schedule
The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee meets Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon, unless otherwise noted.
DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
September 22, 2023 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
November 3, 2023 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
December 8, 2023 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
January 26, 2024 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
February 23, 2024 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
March 22, 2024 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
April 26, 2024 | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
May 24, 2024 - Tentative | 10 a.m. - noon | Online Via Zoom |
Committee members will be automatically added to a Google Calendar invite for these meetings at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year.
Committee Charge
Faculty Senate Bylaws, Article IV., Section 5
A. ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND TENURE COMMITTEE
The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee is responsible for all matters of policy related to academic freedom and faculty tenure, including the Regents' policy, "Faculty Tenure." The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee reports to the Faculty Senate and does not deal with individual disputes.
Membership
The Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee shall be composed of:
- at least 7 faculty members (including at least 5 who are tenured and at least one from a system campus),
- 2 academic professional members whose responsibilities are primarily teaching or research,
- 1 postdoctoral fellow/associate,
- 2 graduate students, and
- ex officio representation as specified by vote of the Faculty Senate.
Faculty, academic professionals, and students shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees. The postdoctoral fellow/associate shall be appointed by the Postdoctoral Association. The academic professional, postdoctoral fellow/associate, and graduate student members may not vote on any issue related to faculty tenure; the decision about whether a matter relates to tenure shall be determined by the chair. The chair of the committee shall be a tenured faculty member.
Duties and Responsibilities
a. To review periodically the University’s policies on academic freedom, its underlying principles, and the tenure regulations.
b. To review periodically the tenure-and-promotion system for faculty appointments, and any related policies, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and to the appropriate senior academic administrators.
c. To review proposals from any source for amendment of the Regents Policy on Faculty Tenure and report its views to the Faculty Senate within the time limits provided by the Regents' Policy.
d. To review annually the use of contract and non-faculty instructional appointments in all departments and colleges, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and the appropriate senior academic administrators.
e. To provide Interpretations of the tenure policies in accordance with the Regents' Policy.
f. To monitor the post-tenure review process.
g. To review and monitor issues of academic freedom arising in, pertinent to, or affecting the University of Minnesota.
h. To promote understanding of the concepts and exercise of academic freedom across the University.
i. To advise senior academic administrators concerning issues of academic freedom, and of academic tenure and rank.
j. To make recommendations it deems appropriate to the Faculty Consultative Committee or other committees of the Faculty Senate.
(updated: 7/19/16)
Letters, Resolutions, and Statements
- Letter to Provost Regarding Administrative Response to Reporting Requirements - May 4, 2023
- Resolution Concerning Academic Freedom and Term Appointments at the University of Minnesota - November 3, 2022
- A Statement of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee on The Issue of Uniformity in Multi-section Courses and its Interaction with Academic Freedom - May 27, 2022
- Resolution Defending Academic Freedom as it Relates to Teaching about Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Critical Race Theory at the University of Minnesota - December 2, 2021
- A Statement of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee on Term Appointments and Academic Freedom Protections at the University - October 22, 2021
- A Statement of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee on A Holistic Approach to the Evaluation of Teaching and the Role of Student Rating of Teaching (SRT) Forms in the Process - February 26, 2021
- Recommendations Regarding the University of Minnesota's Policies and Procedures for Misconduct and its Impact on Faculty Tenure and Academic Freedom - June 22, 2020
- Statement on Academic Freedom and the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Fellowship Delay - April 26, 2019
- 2017 Proposal to the Minnesota Legislature to Amend the Data Practices Act - May 4, 2017
- Procedures for Faculty Moving Appointment Homes - April 10, 2015
- White Paper on Academic Freedom and Responsibility - December, 2011
- Statement on Academic Freedom and the Institutional Review Board - October 23, 2009