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41 <br />Learnet is concerned with students' privacy, especially when matters of a medical or personal <br />nature are concerned. As long as such information is not required for police or security <br />purposes, Learnet shall maintain student information in confidence, but the information is <br />subject to release to authorized school personnel on a need -to -know basis. An exception to <br />this rule exists when the student signs a release for the transfer of such information to <br />designated persons or agencies. <br />Academic Freedom and For Learnet, academic freedom Is of paramount importance. Within the guidelines <br />Faculty Governance established by the directors, faculty and students are able to explore the many avenues of <br />inquiry necessary to seek answers to questions in their field of study. It is the policy of the <br />Academy that instructors and students are entitled to full freedom in exploring the many <br />facets of the program they are involved with, subject to the adequate performance of their <br />other academic duties. <br />Instructors and students are entitled to freedom in the classroom to discuss course subjects, <br />but they should be careful not to introduce controversial matter that has no relation to the <br />course. <br />Learnet's instructors are citizens and members of a learned profession. When they speak or <br />write as citizens, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their <br />special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars they should <br />remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their <br />utterances. Hence, they should at all times be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show <br />respect for the opinions of others, and make every effort to indicate that they are not <br />speaking on behalf of Learnet. <br />Academic freedom faces its greatest threat in expressions of dissent, in settings of sharp <br />controversy, and in connection with attempts to produce social change. It should be made <br />clear, however, that controversy as such must not be stilled. It can have beneficial as well as <br />adverse effects, and it can produce these effects both on society and on educational <br />Institutions. <br />The democratic process itself thrives on the resolution of conflicting viewpoints in the <br />interest of the general welfare. Controversy characterizes every healthy, free society. Its <br />absence makes for totalitarian attitudes and political controls. <br />Postsecondary education also flourishes in settings where conflicting points of view can be <br />expressed. Intellectual competency emerges out of such circumstances. Thus, controversy <br />becomes a major educational tool. It need not be eliminated or avoided. <br />Since controversy is educationally useful, a means for keeping inquiry open and free must <br />remain. The faculty should not avoid controversy by insisting on single points of view. <br />Faculty governance applies to the following: <br />• The development of the educational program of the institution <br />• The selection of course materials, instructional equipment and other educational <br />resources <br />• Systematic evaluation and revision of the curriculum <br />• Assessment of student learning outcomes <br />• Planning for institutional effectiveness <br />Last Revision Date on April 4, 2023 <br />