Rule 3335-5-48.9 | Committee on academic freedom and responsibility.
(A) Membership.
The committee on academic freedom and responsibility shall consist of ten members.
(1) Eight faculty, at least four of whom are senators or senators-elect at the time of their appointment by the faculty council. The term of service begins in the summer term following election and extends through the summer term following the third year of service.
(2) One graduate teaching, research, or administrative associate, appointed by the council of graduate students.
(3) One staff member, appointed by the university staff advisory committee.
(B) Terms of service.
(1) Term of service for the committee begins on May sixteenth following election and extends until May fifteenth of the final year of service.
(2) Faculty members serve a three-year term, renewable once. After six years of continuous service, faculty are ineligible for reelection or reappointment until one full year has elapsed.
(3) The staff member serves a three-year term, renewable once. After six years of continuous service, staff are ineligible for reelection or reappointment until one full year has elapsed.
(4) The graduate student member serves a one-year term, renewable once.
(5) A chair serves as chair beginning on May sixteenth. The chair shall be a faculty member and may not serve as chair for more than two successive years.
(6) A chair-elect is selected in April to serve as chair-elect during the subsequent year. The chair-elect serves as chair beginning on May sixteenth the following year.
(C) Duties and responsibilities.
(1) Study all conditions which may affect the academic freedom or responsibility of the faculty and other employees of the university engaged in teaching and/or research, including, but not limited to:
(a) The review of proposed changes in Chapter 3335-6 of the Administrative Code (rules of the university faculty concerning faculty appointment, reappointments, promotion and tenure); and
(b) Such changes in the office of academic affairs policies and procedures volume three promotion and tenure as may impinge upon academic freedom, responsibility, or tenure. If the committee finds that any such condition or proposed change adversely affects academic freedom, responsibility, or tenure, it shall report that finding promptly to the senate for its review.
(2) Hear and investigate complaints by individual faculty members concerning alleged infringements upon academic freedom or responsibility in the university; report findings and recommendations to the parties involved with the hope of mediating a dispute and report to the senate if further action by the senate is appropriate.
(3) Hear and investigate complaints by individual faculty members concerning alleged improper evaluation under the procedures of rule 3335-5-05 of the Administrative Code.
(D) Organization.
(1) A quorum consists of four members from August fifteenth to May fifteenth and three members from May sixteenth to August fourteenth.
(2) As a standing committee of the senate, this committee is also governed by the provisions of rules 3335-5-46 and 3335-5-48 of the Administrative Code.
(3) Graduate student and staff members are recused in cases pertaining to promotion and tenure of faculty members.
Last updated June 25, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Supplemental Information
Amplifies: 3335.08
Prior Effective Dates: 3/13/1978, 8/8/1978, 11/28/1983, 5/11/1984, 6/16/1986, 3/5/1988, 6/21/1993, 1/27/1995, 7/11/1996, 3/26/1998, 8/6/2004, 7/1/2005, 6/30/2012, 7/1/2014, 11/9/2020, 10/16/2023