POLICY STATEMENT

This policy provides guidelines to promote and protect academic freedom for the PSU community; particularly faculties and students. PSU believes that the restriction of academic freedom affects intellectual and professional accomplishments. Hence it is the guarantee of the university to allow the faculties and the students to learn in an atmosphere where they can freely share their ideas, do research in any topic of interest, and speak publicly in their chosen areas. The academic freedom however is limited to values and practices agreed upon by the University Council, College Council and Department Committee. Faculties are expected not to introduce into their teaching controversial matters that have no relation to their courses.

BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

Being a higher education institution, it is vital for PSU to create an open academic environment which encourage expression of ideas and knowledge sharing without fear of any oppression. Faculties shall have opportunities to explore all possible methods in teaching and learning as well as in research. The same opportunities shall be made available for students. In celebrating the freedom of academic compliance with highest standards, ethics and conducts are highly commendable. The University has ethical and legal duty to develop the PSU communities’ understanding and awareness on academic freedom.

SCOPE AND PURPOSE

1. This policy applies across the community in the University, including the University Council, Colleges and Departments Councils and other decision-making bodies included in academic governance. The above-mentioned entities are required to take personal duty to understand the requirements of the policy and its day-to-day application
2. The purpose of the academic freedom policy of the University is to develop teaching and learning by utilizing all means to support the optimal progress of the educational philosophy of the institution.
3. The University encourages a diversity of teaching and learning methods including plans aimed to help the students to work and learn in autonomous environment of conviction and freedom of thought.
4. This policy is read together with the other University’s policies:
   • Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy: https://www.psu.edu.sa/en/GV0007-accessibility-non-discrimination-and-harassment-policy
   • Compliance Investigation Policy: https://psu.edu.sa/en/cop004-compliance-investigation-policy
   • Compliance Reporting Policy: https://psu.edu.sa/en/cop003-compliance-reporting-policy
   • Disciplinary Policy:https://psu.edu.sa/en/cop005-disciplinary-policy

PRINCIPLES OF THE POLICY

• To ensure that faculties and students have academic freedom within the law to hold and express opinions and ideas; develop and advance new concepts and proposals; and present variety of points of view, without placing themselves at risk of losing their privileges or jobs;
• To enable faculties to fulfil their functions without discrimination or suppression of any kind.
• To permit faculties manage their activities resourcefully, to teach without intrusion, subjected to accepted professional principles with regards to standards and methods of teaching.
• To maintain an effective, harmless, and supportive learning environment and promote an equitable and fair atmosphere in faculties’ relationships with students.
• To support faculties to maintain academic standards by allowing them to decide how to teach the courses for which they are assigned to.
• To allow the faculties to develop and improve his/her scholarly capabilities, to adhere to voluntary self-discipline and judgment in transmitting knowledge.
• Faculties’ curricular conduct may be monitored intermittently, but such monitoring shall not be excessive, unwarranted, or derogatory towards their academic integrity. Monitoring that belittles, abuses, or insults a faculty’s curricular abilities shall be avoided at all times.
• The class observation exercise shall give due respect to this policy in which it shall not become stagnant based on evaluator’s own interpretation of teaching methodology.

DEFINITIONS

Academic freedom:The freedom of students and faculties to teach, engage in scholarly activity and participate in academic activities without being subject to undue interference or reprisals.

Academic integrity:The expectation that faculties and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and act professionally within the code of conduct of the University.

Curricular conduct: A conduct of a faculty related to matters essential for teaching and learning, so that every student has access to rigorous academic experiences. The respective faculty is in control of the course and shall be given flexibility in managing his/her class.

Research: An undertaking intended to extend knowledge through disciplined inquiry or systematic investigation. The production of research is part of the role of PSU faculties.

Class observation:It refers to yearly class observation or teaching evaluation on the faculties which is conducted by the chair or associate chair of the Department.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

• The PSU senior and middle level administration are responsible for ensuring that faculties and students are protected in their rights of academic freedom.
• All these stakeholders are responsible to be familiar with this policy.
• The Compliance and Legal Office is responsible to take suitable actions if any of the stakeholders, faculties or students complain about non-compliance with this policy.
• The strategies to be adopted by the University shall be as follow; (but not limited to)
  1. focus on promoting awareness on respecting the academic freedom;
  2. ensure academic freedom is exercised within the limit allowed by the University;
  3. minimizing excessive and unwarranted monitoring of the faculties of their curricular conduct which may result to derogatory towards their academic integrity.

PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING POLICY VIOLATION

Modes of initiation of complaints on violations: (Any one of the following modes will be accepted)

• Report to the line managers

  Line managers are responsible for ensuring the implementation of this policy:

  1. to record the complaint received from his employees
  2. to investigate the complaint and verify the accuracy of the report and evidence
  3. to submit the complaint to the disciplinary board through the Compliance Office
• Report to the Compliance Office

  The report can be verbal or written.

• Report through Google Form

  The form is available online at: https://forms.gle/AmnUEUgawRH6J4ud8

Procedures of the Office of Compliance and Legal Manager

1. Upon receiving the report of violation from any mode either (1) or (2) or (3) above the Senior Compliance and Legal Manager shall analyze the report and identify the type of cases either it is no basis (no prima facie) or disciplinary or a grievance.
2. On the other hand, if the report received from the complainant is not complete, the Senior Compliance and Legal manager may request further evidence from the complainant (if necessary) upon which the complainant shall response within 7 days. Otherwise, the report shall be considered as not valid and consequently it will be closed.
3. In a situation where the Senior Compliance and Legal Manager is satisfied there is a case (prima facie), it shall be presented either before the Grievance Board or Disciplinary Board, as the case maybe.
4. The respective Board shall conduct the hearing and gives initial recommendations. Such recommendations shall be forwarded to the Senior Compliance and Legal Manager for final decision.
5. Within 7 days after the final decision is issued by the Senior Compliance and Legal Manager, the affected party/ies may file an appeal. Such an appeal shall be presented before the Higher Disciplinary & Grievance Board (HDGB). The Senior Compliance & Legal Manager will update the decision/verdict of the HDGB who shall then release the said decision/verdict to the Office of President.
6. If no appeal is filed, the Senior Compliance & Legal Manager shall releases the decision/verdict directly to the Office of President.

REFERENCES

PSU’S Teaching and Learning Quality Framework Quality Framework (TLQF) https://www.psu.edu.sa/psu/articles/2021/06/10/tlqf-may-2021-final-version_1623312389.pdf

Research Policy (RS0001), Prince Sultan Universityhttps://www.psu.edu.sa/en/Research%20Policy