Academic freedom is the life blood of the modern university. It is the right to teach, learn, study and publish free of orthodoxy or threat of reprisal and discrimination. It includes the right to criticize the university and the right to participate in its governance. Tenure provides a foundation for academic freedom by ensuring that academic staff cannot be dismissed without just cause and rigorous due process.
CAUT actively promotes and defends academic freedom and tenure. CAUT undertakes investigations of alleged violations and monitors cases across the country. Where violations are established, CAUT intervenes to bring about appropriate changes.
| CAUT Policy Statements and Resolutions |
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Guiding Principles for University Collaborations
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Policy Statement on Academic Freedom
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Policy Statement on Academic Appointments
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Policy Statement on Academic Appointments Held Jointly in a University and a Related Institution
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CAUT Procedures in Academic Freedom Cases
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CAUT Procedures in Academic Freedom Cases Involving Allegations of Requirement of an Ideological or Faith Test as a Condition of Employment
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| International Policy Statements |
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UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel
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| Reports: General Inquiries |
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No Debate: The Israel lobby and free speech at Canadian universities
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| Reports: Independent Committees of Inquiry |
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Interim Statement CAUT Committee of Inquiry Regarding Allegations of Lack of Informed Consent in Research Conducted by Dr. Anne Duffy and Dr. Paul Grof (2011)
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Popadiuk/Memorial Independent Committee Report (Mar 2008)
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The Chun Independent Committee Report (Dec 2006)
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Supplement to the Olivieri Report (Jan 2002)
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The Olivieri Report (2001)
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| Reports: CAUT Ad Hoc Investigatory Committees |
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Report on the situation and treatment of Dr. Michael Mason at Queen's University (2012)
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Report on the Termination of Dr. Ramesh Thakur as Director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs Affiliated with the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and the Waterloo-based Centre for International Governance Innovation (2010)
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Report into the Situation of Dr. Larry Reynolds at The University of Manitoba and The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (2010)
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Report on the Firing of Professor Colin Wightman by Acadia University (2008)
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Report on Trent University and the Denial of Professor George Nader's Reappointment (2007)
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Report into the tenure review of Dr. Eileen Hogan at Acadia University (2006)
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Report on the discontinuance of Dr. Laurent Leduc at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto (2006)
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Report: McMaster University Senate Guidelines for Members of the McMaster University Community regarding Interactions with the Media (2005)
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Report into the complaints of Professor David Noble against Simon Fraser University (2003)
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Report of the Committee of Inquiry into a Complaint by Professor Michael Thorpe at Mount Allison University (2001)
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Report on the Matter of the Tenure Applications of Dr. James Kepron at Brandon University (2001)
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Report of the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee into the Complaint of Professor Ken Westhues at the University of Waterloo (1996)
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Report on the Decision of the University of Calgary Not to Appoint Dr. Aleksandra Vinogradov to the Department of Civil Engineering (1991)
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Report on the Denial of a Fair Hearing to Prof. Vivian Walsh at the University of Waterloo (1979)
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Report on the Non-Renewal of the Probationary Contract of Dr. Marlene Webber in the School of Social Work at Memorial University (1978)
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Report on the Non-Renewal of the Contract of Dr. George Abouna in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary (1978)
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Report on the Non-Renewal of the Probationary Contract of Professor Samuel McClelland in Communications Studies at the University of Windsor (1977)
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Report on the Removal of Censure of Simon Fraser University (1968)
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Report on the Failure of Communications at Simon Fraser University (1968)
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Report of the investigation into the dismissal of Professor H.S. Crowe by United College, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1958)
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| Statements and Letters |
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CAUT Declares an Alert for Concordia University College of Alberta (Oct 2012)
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Universities must serve the public interest, not private ones (Mar 2012)
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CAUT letter to the Hon. Chris Bentley regarding the arrest of Mr. Alex Hundert on Friday, September 17th, 2010, following his invited participation in a panel discussion at Ryerson University (Sept 2010)
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CAUT announces inquiry into firing of Director of Balsillie School of International Affairs at Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier (Jun 2010)
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CAUT criticizes the University of Ottawa for admonishing Ann Coulter about speech rights in Canada (Mar 2010)
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| Task Force Reports |
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Defending Medicine: Clinical Faculty and Academic Freedom (2004)
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| Universities that Impose a Faith or Ideological Test |
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Canadian Mennonite University
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Crandall University (formerly Atlantic Baptist University)
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Providence University College
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Redeemer University College
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Trinity Western University
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| Major Canadian Academic Freedom Cases |
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Nancy Olivieri
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David Healy
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Gabrielle Horne
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David Noble
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Mary Bryson
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Stéphane McLachlan and Ian Mauro
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| Current Independent Committees of Inquiry |
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Independent Committee of Inquiry to examine the situation of Dr. Denis Rancourt at the University of Ottawa
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Clinical Faculty at the Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and the Department of Medicine at Capital District Health Authority
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Seizure of the research records of Drs. Anne Duffy, Paul Grof and Martin Alda at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research and the Royal Ottawa Hospital
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| Links |
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Harry Crowe Foundation
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CAUT Academic Freedom Fund
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