The measurement of academic freedom

Abstract

On the basis of 73 returns of an Academic Freedom Survey directed to 200 college administrators, professors, and student leaders, the author reports that "The most entrenched freedoms are: for faculty, freedom from special requirements (oaths), of association in faculty organizations, of citizenship activities, and of research; and for students, freedom of choice of faculty advisors. For faculty, the least secure freedoms relate to faculty self-government, to tenure (security) and freedom to criticize curriculum and administration. For students, the least secure are to hear outside speakers, to criticize faculty and administration, to organize associations and affiliate nationally, of press, of petition, and of reasonable off-campus activity." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)