Academic freedom, accompanied by responsibility, attaches to all aspects of a teacher's professional conduct.
Teachers shall have full freedom of investigation, subject to adequate fulfillment of academic duties. No limitation shall be placed upon teachers' freedom of exposition of their subjects inside or outside of the classroom. Teachers should not subject students to discussion in the classroom of topics irrelevant to the content of the course. In public utterances, teachers shall be free of institutional control, but when writing or speaking as citizens, they should endeavor to avoid the appearance of speaking for the university. Teachers should recognize the obligation to be accurate, to exercise appropriate restraint, and to show respect for the right of others to express their views.
The Code of Academic Ethics in the Indiana University Academic Handbook describes in detail the rights and responsibilities of faculty members at all IU campuses and the procedures for enforcement of the code. It should be studied closely by all members of the faculty.
IU maintains the highest ethical standards for faculty research and creative activities and adheres to federal policies regarding research with live human and animal subjects and hazardous materials, as well as those policies regarding research misconduct and fraud. Appropriate definitions and actions are outlined in the document, Research Ethics: Policies and Procedures (September 1989) and the IU Southeast Research Policy Manual, which are available from the Office of Academic Affairs.