Evolution of Academic Freedom in the US Higher Education System as Part of Constitutional Principles

8 Pages Posted: 8 Aug 2019

See all articles by Mindia Ugrekhelidze

Mindia Ugrekhelidze

Caucasus International University

Ekaterine Bakaradze

International Black Sea University

Date Written: June 30, 2019

Abstract

The present paper aims at analyzing the development of academic freedom in the USA as a part of Constitutional principles. The main objective of this research is to identify legal approaches regarding academic freedom, reveal the positive and negative sides of its development. It is essential to study the professional and legal definition of the term to determine its international context, what the notion of academic freedom means for modern society. The research indicates that modern legal constitutional analysis of academic freedom is incomplete for the protection of the interests of academic society. Constitutionally guaranteed academic freedom is limited by state action doctrine, restriction of the principles of freedom of expression of the public figure and judicial decisions, which gives freedom only to the universities and leaves professors’ interests without protection when their interests are contrary to the university’s interests. Academic freedom guaranteed by the constitution may be incompatible with the concept that implies freely exchanging ideas in the marketplace of ideas, which are likely to be limited by universities. To completely understand and evaluate the importance and purpose of academic freedom, it is necessary to study those cases which led to the establishment of the American Association of University Professors - AAUP and the protection of academic freedom in American universities.

Keywords: Academic Freedom, Freedom of Speech, US Constitution, Higher Education, HEI, First Amendment, Supreme Court

Suggested Citation

Ugrekhelidze, Mindia and Bakaradze, Ekaterine, Evolution of Academic Freedom in the US Higher Education System as Part of Constitutional Principles (June 30, 2019). RAIS Conference Proceedings - The 13th International RAIS Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3434055 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3434055

Mindia Ugrekhelidze (Contact Author)

Caucasus International University ( email )

Tbilisi
Georgia

Ekaterine Bakaradze

International Black Sea University ( email )

David Agmashenebeli Alley
13km, 2
Tbilisi, 0131
Georgia

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