Concordia University School of Law Academic Freedom Statement
Concordia University, a University affiliated with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, embraces academic freedom. Academic freedom stands at the heart of the Lutheran university. Indeed, Lutheranism began as a curricular reform movement in the University of Wittenberg.
CU affirms its commitment to be a place of free and open inquiry. CU understands this freedom to be a duty to search for truth, wherever it may be found. Such academic freedom is consonant with the long heritage of higher education in general and Lutheran higher education in particular. Such inquiry and the attendant open discussions, unrestricted exchanges of ideas, and examinations of widely divergent materials are all essential components of academic freedom. CU expects its faculty and students to conduct research, publish findings, and discuss ideas according to the principles, methods, and practices of their respective disciplines.
Academic freedom to pursue the truth must involve tolerance for students and faculty to make mistakes of inquiry. In embracing academic freedom, CU pledges to defend this quest for truth by its officers, faculty, staff, and students. Furthermore CU seeks to create an environment in which students and faculty may pursue truth aware that errors and mistakes are necessarily part of the process. According to the methods and best practices of the various academic disciplines pursued at Concordia University, the pursuit of truth is encouraged.
Concordia also acknowledges the responsibilities which attend academic freedom and welcomes them as concordant with its Lutheran heritage and the Christian faith. These responsibilities begin with a commitment to honesty and integrity in dealing with officers of the institution, faculty, students, and the public. That integrity furthermore means a commitment to excellent scholarship. Therefore, we pursue truth under the mission of the university and according to the best methods and practices of the respective disciplines in which the members of the institution have been trained. We are open to correction from peers.
Concordia recognizes academic freedom in tenure and promotion decisions, research, scholarship, publication, teaching, and public statements as private citizens. As a Lutheran university, we are committed to our long, rich heritage of academic freedom in the pursuit of truth.
Approved: August 4, 2014 by Charles E. Schlimpert, President