Monthly Archives: September 2021
Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity: New Resources for Faculty
ShareThursday, September 30, 2021
In the summer term, we provided an update on Florida House Bill 233: Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity, and the law went into effect on Thursday, July 1, 2021. The flash work team that was charged with developing guidelines and resources to assist faculty and deans shared resources associated with the syllabus in late July. Since then, the team has developed additional resources to help with two specific components of the law: the shielding and recording provisions.
Composed of faculty, deans, Organizational Development and Human Resources, legal counsel and Faculty Development, the Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity work team was asked to consider questions such as:
- How do we ensure that the sanctity of trusting, collaborative faculty-student relationships, and safety therein, is upheld, in contrast to the adversarial relationship that the “threat” of recording may elicit?
- What is our best guidance for faculty and deans regarding the prohibition of shielding students, faculty or staff from protected, free speech and certain expressive activities?
- How might we minimize unintended consequences; for instance, that faculty shy away from engaging in difficult/courageous conversations with students?
- How will the law intersect with existing course policies restricting the use of technology in the classroom?
The work team developed four resources associated with the recording and shielding provisions of Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity legislation:
- Sample Syllabus Language — provides recommendations for faculty members who would like to update their course syllabi in light of this legislation. The syllabus recommendations also encourage faculty members to review their syllabi for policies or rules that may be in conflict with these new provisions, for instance, a “no technology use” policy.
- Intellectual Viewpoint and Diversity (HB233): Guide for Classroom Conversations and Lecture Recording for Faculty — provides guidance and resources to assist faculty in supporting students’ rights to engage in academic inquiry and to record lectures.
- Intellectual Viewpoint and Diversity (HB233) and Recording Lectures: Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty — provides responses to commonly asked questions from faculty and deans related to the recording provision of the legislation.
- Recording Lectures: Frequently Asked Questions for Students — provides responses to likely questions from students related to the recording provision of the legislation. This document will also assist faculty with responding to student questions. We encourage faculty members to share this important new resource with their students.
We will continue to update these resources throughout the academic year. If you have questions or need additional support, please reach out to your dean.