Equity and Anti-racism in Academic Freedom

Academic Freedom is essential to student-centered equity and anti-racism work in the California community colleges as identified in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Call to Action and the ASCCC Mission and Strategic Plan. The connection between academic freedom and equity is fundamental. Without the rights of faculty to speak, research, and pursue diverse ideas, equity is not possible. Academic freedom allows faculty to academically challenge racist ideology and structures in the context of their subject matter expertise.