Understanding Academic Freedom in the Classroom: Frequently Asked Questions
Wake Forest University is committed to fostering an environment where ideas can be freely explored, debated, and advanced. This information provides guidance to help faculty, staff, and students within the College, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Schools of Business, Divinity, Law and Professional Studies, and ZSR Library to understand academic freedom as affirmed by the University’s statement, procedures, and policies.
While some content within this document may apply to faculty within the School of Medicine, it is recommended that Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty refer to their policies and practices or consult with their Office of Faculty Affairs.
This content does not introduce any new policies, but rather explains the University’s current statement, procedures, and policies in relation to this topic. The content is subject to change as University policies and procedures are created or revised.
1. How is academic freedom defined at Wake Forest University?
All Wake Forest University community members are encouraged to carefully read The University’s Statement of Free Expression and Academic Freedom (referred to as “the Statement” in the rest of this document), which was adopted by the Board of Trustees in April 2025. The University’s commitment to Academic Freedom is reflected in the Board of Trustees’ bylaws and aligns with the AAUP’s 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, as noted in the University Faculty Handbook.
2. Where can I find resources to discuss academic freedom with colleagues or my students?
The Center for Advancement of Teaching developed conversation guides to enable faculty, staff, and students within our community to explore the Statement and reflect on their personal views. The conversation guides were developed for facilitators with various levels of experience in facilitating discussions to encourage dialogue related to academic freedom and freedom of expression.
3. How do other University policies and procedures relate to the university’s statement of academic freedom (as expressed within the Statement of Free Expression and Academic Freedom)?
The Statement affirms broad principles, but it exists alongside specific university policies that regulate conduct and protect the community. Policies such as the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy and the Demonstration, Chalking and Posting Policy place reasonable limits on behavior to promote a respectful and safe learning environment (see explanations in the Draft Statement Community Feedback Responses)
In July 2025, the Student Code of Conduct was updated, which applies to all undergraduate and graduate/professional students (except for the School of Medicine). The updated code includes a statement on student expression, which is consistent with the University’s Statement of Free Expression and Academic Freedom.
4. I have concerns that the description of my course in the catalog or my syllabus could be viewed as controversial, especially if taken out of context. Should I change the course description or syllabus?
As described in the University’s Statement, faculty have autonomy to make choices regarding the title, description, and content in their course when they possess expertise of the subject matter. The course description and course syllabus is expected to accurately reflect the course’s current content.
5. I teach sensitive topics or encourage discussion of alternative viewpoints, and I am concerned that students recording classroom content may limit robust debate or student discussion. If I do not want students recording course-related discussions, what are my options?
As an instructor, you have choices regarding how you prefer to manage your learning spaces, including whether students may make audio or visual recordings.
The most effective practice is to clearly state your policy on recording, photos, transcriptions, or streaming on your syllabus and in Canvas.
- Accommodation Exception: Be aware that a student’s disability accommodation may include the ability to record course content. Students with an approved accommodation to record course content from the Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success (CLASS) should disclose their accommodation to record course content with the instructor. All students approved for this accommodation sign a Classroom Lecture Recording Agreement each academic year they use this accommodation. Students in the School of Law should follow the accommodations process as prescribed in the School of Law Student Handbook. Questions about accommodations or reasonable alternatives that allow for class recordings should be directed to CLASS.
It is ideal to set policies, such as recording policies, at the start of the semester. However, it is possible to update course policies mid-semester. If an instructor changes their policy, this should be announced during meeting times and posted in writing (such as on Canvas and an updated syllabus) to ensure students are properly informed of the change in policy.
6. If I expect the subject matter of an upcoming class to be provocative or controversial, what can I do to prepare to manage the discussion effectively?
To facilitate the transformative learning experiences Wake Forest promises its students, instructors should continue to facilitate vigorous discussion of provocative and controversial ideas. To prepare for these discussions, you can take several proactive steps:
- Set Community Discussion Standards: Clearly establish and communicate standards for respectful and constructive dialogue at the start of the discussion (or at the beginning of a course that relies on class discussion). Emphasize that all participants should remember that we can disagree with an individual’s ideas while also respecting them as a conversation partner.
- Define Terms: Clearly define key terms or concepts to ensure the class is operating from a shared understanding of the material.
- Prepare Responses: Anticipate potential disagreements and prepare to respond in a way that keeps the conversation moving, that allows all voices to be heard, or redirects students to the question at hand. Know when and how you will intervene to keep the discussion on topic or de-escalate tension.
- Utilize Resources: Consult with the Center for Advancement on Teaching (CAT) for ideas on how to manage difficult conversations in class.
7. If a student becomes disruptive during a course discussion, what should I do?
Since disruptive behavior can undermine the learning environment for all students, your response may vary based on the nature and severity of the incident. Instructors are encouraged to use ordinary classroom management for minor disruptions (e.g., a heated, but non-threatening exchange; student talking, texting, or initial refusal to follow classroom instructions).
- Immediate Response: You may choose to respond in the moment by attempting to redirect the student, inviting the student to step outside for a private conversation, or asking them to leave class early, if necessary.
- Follow-Up Action: If the behavior may constitute a violation of the Student Code of Conduct (which applies to all undergraduate students and students in the Schools of Business, Divinity, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Law, and Professional Studies), report incidents related to undergraduate students by emailing or calling the Dean of Students Office. For graduate/professional students, contact the appropriate person within the school to report student misconduct. The Student Code of Conduct explains the procedures that are followed when there is an alleged violation of the code or other relevant policies.
For disruptions that threaten safety or for other emergencies, call 911. For those on the Reynolda Campus or Wake Downtown, you can also contact University Police at 336-758-5911 or use a room’s panic button (if available). Those on other campuses (e.g., Wake Washington, Charlotte) can also contact building security for additional assistance. The Wake Safe app can also be used to notify University Police.
If you are unsure if a given situation presents a threat to the student or other members of our campus community, discuss the matter with University Police or a member of the University’s threat assessment team (e.g., the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs (Provost’s Office), the Director of Employee Relations (HR), the Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, or the CARE Team) who can review the situation.
University Police offers Wake Alert Emergency Response training through Workday Learning, which provides strategies for prevention and protective actions in the event of an emergency.
8. My course-related policy is that students cannot record my content unless they have an accommodation or have received approval from the instructor. What should I do if a student posts a video or content from my class to a website or distributes this information?
If an instructor has prohibited recording and/or distribution on their syllabus, the instructor may first choose to discuss the matter with the student. Also, when a student distributes course content inconsistent with the syllabus, this may be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, an honor code violation, or an intellectual property infringement. Faculty can pursue one or more of the following pathways depending on the nature of their concern.
- Student Code of Conduct Violation: If the student’s actions are a violation of course policies, this could be a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
- To report an incident by an undergraduate student, the incident can be reported by emailing or calling the Dean of Students Office
- To report an incident by a graduate/professional student in the School of Business, Divinity, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Law, or Professional Studies, contact the appropriate person within the school to report student misconduct.
- An Honor Code Violation: If the student’s actions relate to academic misconduct (e.g., deceive any member of the community, stealing, cheating, or plagiarizing academic work), this can be reported to the Undergraduate Honor Council or to the School’s honor council.
- Intellectual Property Infringement: Course materials and lectures are typically considered the intellectual property of the instructor and, in some cases, sharing a recorded lecture may violate the intellectual property rights of the owner. For those on the Reynolda Campus, refer to the Intellectual Property and Copyright policies for more information.
9. Content from my course has gone viral on social media and is leading to targeted, biased, intimidating, threatening, or harassing communications. What should I do?
If anyone within the Wake Forest University community receives targeted, biased, intimidating, or harassing communications, Wake Forest University has a protocol to provide support.
Individuals who are targeted by these communications should take one or more of the following immediate steps:
- Contact University Police if there is any concern for personal safety or an immediate threat at 336-758-5911 or via the Wake Safe app.
- File a report with the University’s Bias Incident Response System.
- File a report with the Office of Institutional Equity to report harassment as defined and explained in the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy.
It is important that you contact one of the above reporting resources in a timely manner so the University can respond. In addition to the above reporting resources, you may also choose to notify one of the following people who are members of the University’s threat assessment team:
- Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs (Provost’s Office)
- Director of Employee Relations (HR)
- Dean of Students Office
The University’s full protocol details the specific steps that will be taken once a report or alert is received.
10. What if I have a student who wants to express concerns or make a complaint about the content taught in a course?
The University has established procedures for addressing student complaints regarding course content.
- For undergraduate students, official University procedures are specifically outlined in the undergraduate bulletin.
When students have complaints in a classroom, lab, or performance setting, the student must first notify the instructor—either through conversation or a written complaint—to attempt to resolve the conflict directly. If the conflict is unresolved, the student may then turn to the department chair for assistance (or the Dean’s Office for classes in the School of Business). The chair will communicate with both parties, seek to understand their individual perspectives, and reach a conclusion and share it with both parties within a reasonable time.
Undergraduate students who continue to have concerns should consult with the Office of Academic Advising for assistance. The Associate Dean for Academic Advising will consult with the parties to obtain a resolution. Finally, a student may appeal to the Committee on Academic Affairs, which will study the matter, taking input from all parties, and reach a final decision concerning resolution. - Graduate/professional students should refer to their school’s academic bulletin or student handbook for the appropriate pathway to make a complaint about course content.
Any undergraduate or graduate/professional student who alleges discrimination or harassment may file complaints through the University’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). Students may also file a complaint for other types of concerns through the North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaint Office.
11. What if I have a student who expresses concerns about the course content and would like to withdraw?
Students who wish to withdraw from a course for any reason, including for course content, should consult the University’s academic calendar and the policies in the relevant College or School to determine the process and deadline for withdrawing from a course.
Created: October 2025