Academic Freedom
Statement
At NOSM University, the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, and the advancement of learning are fundamental to our mission. Academic Freedom and collegial governance are essential to these purposes. Academic Freedom ensures that inquiry, teaching, scholarly activities, publication, debate, and participation in the affairs of the University and community can take place without interference. Collegial governance provides the framework of shared responsibility that protects and upholds academic freedom and is the way in which that academic staff can play the decisive role in the governance of academic affairs through such bodies as the Senate. Together, academic freedom and collegial governance safeguard the integrity of the University’s academic mission and its capacity to support and sponsor scholarly research.
The common good of society depends upon the search for knowledge and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the freedom to examine, question, teach, discuss, and learn, and it involves the right to investigate, speculate, and comment without reference to prescribed doctrine. Academic Freedom does not require neutrality on the part of the individual; on the contrary, Academic Freedom makes commitment to a position or course of action possible.
NOSM University is dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge. Its members enjoy certain rights and privileges essential to these twin objectives. Central among these rights and privileges is the freedom within the law to pursue what in their opinion are fruitful avenues of inquiry, to teach and to learn in an environment unhindered by external or non-academic constraints, and to engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion.
This freedom extends to members of NOSM University and to all who are invited to participate in its activities. All members of NOSM University are deemed to recognize this fundamental principle and are deemed to share responsibility for its support, its safeguard and preservation. Behaviour obstructing free and full discussion of ideas which are safe and accepted and those which may be unpopular or abhorrent threatens the integrity of NOSM University and shall not be tolerated.
Suppression of Academic Freedom will prevent NOSM University from carrying out its primary functions. In particular, as an autonomous institution NOSM University shall shield and protect its members from any efforts by the state or its agents, the officers of NOSM University or its agents, its members, private individuals, corporations and other entities to limit or suppress Academic Freedom.
NOSM University is committed to supporting ethical and independent scholarly inquiry, consistent with the professional, regulatory, and research ethics standards that guide responsible academic and clinical research.
With respect to Academic Freedom and risks associated with research involving human subjects, all contracts, protocols or investigator agreements for industrial sponsorship of clinical trials or for participation in such clinical trials shall be deemed to provide that the clinical investigators shall not be prevented by the sponsor or anyone else from informing participants in the study, members of the research group, other physicians administering the treatment, research ethics boards, regulatory agencies and the scientific community, of risks to participants that the investigators identify during the research. These provisions also apply to any risks from a treatment so identified following the conclusion of a trial if there are patients being administered the treatment in a non-trial setting. The term “risk” includes but is not limited to the inefficacy of the treatment and direct safety concerns.
This declaration shall apply to all contracts, protocols or investigator agreements for industrial sponsorship of clinical trials or for participation in such clinical trials.
Should any provision in this policy limit academic and professional staff rights under collective agreement provisions, the collective agreement provisions prevail.
Academic Freedom Statement 2026 – approved at the May 13 Board Meeting / Endorsed by Senate April 9
FAQ
How does NOSM University define academic freedom, and to whom does it apply?
At NOSM University, Academic Freedom supports the University’s core purposes of teaching,
learning, research, and scholarly inquiry. It protects the freedom to examine, question, investigate,
speculate, teach, learn, and comment without adherence to prescribed doctrine and without
institutional censorship. Academic Freedom does not require neutrality; rather, it makes intellectual
discourse, critique, and commitment possible. Academic Freedom applies to NOSM University,
including academic staff— faculty, professional librarians, Clinical Faculty in academic roles,
learners, adjuncts, and invited scholars. The University, the administration and all members of the
University’s community share responsibility for supporting and safeguarding this principle.
Academic Freedom is an institutional commitment. Within NOSM University, it coexists with the
professional, ethical, and legal obligations that govern medical education, research, and clinical
practice. These responsibilities—including regulatory standards, human rights obligations, research
ethics requirements, and clinical policies—continue to apply.
NOSM University’s commitment to Academic Freedom is inseparable from its responsibility to
uphold the Integrity of Research, ensure ethical conduct, and protect investigators from undue
influence or interference in the communication of research findings, including risks identified in
human‑subject research.
Who protects academic freedom?
At NOSM University, all members of the University share responsibility for supporting and safeguarding
Academic Freedom, as set out in University policy and the Collective Agreement. The University is
committed to promoting and protecting Academic Freedom, and is upheld through the collective
agreement, University policies, governance structures, and shared collective responsibility.
See: OPSEU NOSM University Local 677 Unit 1 Collective Agreement (JULY 1, 2023, TO JUNE 30, 2026)
Section: ARTICLE 1.3 – ACADEMIC FREEDOM
See also: Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), Universities Canada/Universités Canada
(formerly AUCC), and UNESCO.
What about institutional responsibility?
NOSM University has a positive obligation to support academic freedom, The university seeks to put in place structures, procedures, and practices that promote independent thinking and that safeguard the institution and its members from external political, religious, commercial or other undue interference.
How are concerns or breaches of Academic Freedom reported or addressed?
Concerns about potential breaches are addressed through the existing, collective agreement and University policies that apply to the nature of the issue. Depending on the circumstances, an Academic Freedom–related concern may fall under one or more of the following:
- Collective Agreement and Faculty Relations processes (e.g., concerns involving working conditions, academic responsibilities, or alleged interference with academic freedom).
- Professionalism, clinical governance, or regulatory standards, for concerns arising in clinical teaching and practice environments.
- Human rights, anti‑discrimination, workplace harassment, or equity policies, when the issue involves discrimination, intimidation, or a poisoned environment.
- Safe disclosure (whistleblowing) or protected disclosure policies, for situations where an individual reports misconduct, wrongdoing, or systemic concerns.
Faculty—including Clinical Faculty—are entitled to raise concerns in good faith through these mechanisms without fear of retaliation. Protections under safe‑disclosure, human rights, and collective agreement provisions prohibit reprisals for reporting legitimate concerns.
If a faculty member is unsure where their concern fits, their Union or Association or the University (if they are not represented by a union or Association) can guide them to the appropriate policy or process. Faculty are encouraged to seek confidential advice through their Faculty Association or Union on relevant institutional offices.
Does academic freedom apply in clinical settings?
Yes. Clinical faculty retain academic freedom in their teaching, research, and intramural and extramural
expression. In clinical environments, however, this freedom is exercised within the professional, ethical,
and legal frameworks that govern the practice of medicine. Patient safety, quality of care, regulatory
requirements, and site-specific policies take precedence in the delivery of clinical services.
Academic Freedom includes the freedom to examine, question, teach, learn, investigate, speculate, and
comment—even critically—without institutional censorship or adherence to prescribed doctrine. It
protects clinical faculty in conducting academic work, pursuing research and scholarship, and publishing
or disseminating the results. It does not require neutrality and fully permits informed scholarly
commitment.
At the same time, Clinical Faculty must comply with the standards and responsibilities set by regulatory
bodies, applicable laws, and clinical policies, including those related to patient referral, informed
consent, and continuity of care.
Some additional information can be found on the following link from the CAUT Clinical Faculty
Committee site https://www.caut.ca/our-governance/executive-committee/clinical-faculty-committee/
Can academic freedom override patient safety requirements?
No. Patient safety, regulatory requirements, and legal obligations take precedence in clinical care
settings.
Can faculty conscientiously object to providing certain treatments?
Faculty may hold and express personal or scholarly views; however, when engaged in clinical care, they
must comply with regulatory requirements, including transfer-of-care obligations where applicable.