Academic freedom is affected by stepping into an administrative role: Opinion

In a recent article for University Affairs, University of Regina Dean of Arts Shannon Dea discusses how academic freedom can be affected by taking on an administrative role. Dea reflects on the experience of becoming a dean and finding it necessary to refrain from “extramural expression” such as walking out in protest of a speech or speaking publicly about difficult topics in which they are not an expert. Dea also notes that criticizing the university becomes more complicated, as administrators need to be critical and tell the truth without damaging the university. Working in administration, they write, led to navigating matters of academic freedom using people-centred, restorative approaches. “I didn’t say goodbye to academic freedom,” writes Dea. “Rather, I came to understand, use and defend it in new ways.” University Affairs Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.

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