The basis for Sheridan College’s commitment to academic freedom is found in a fractious group of English exiles living in Amsterdam in the early 17th century. In confrontational tracts and sermons, the first Baptists were among the earliest advocates in England for two foundation principles of modern democracy: freedom of conscience and freedom of association.
Persuaded of human fallibility and suspicious of interpretive creeds, Baptists asserted that truth should not be delivered by an authoritative church and enforced by the state, but discovered through personal investigation and embraced according to one’s own conscience. They were strident critics of coercion in religion, arguing that the state’s authority should be limited to worldly matters, fulfilling its God-given mandate to establish and preserve a just and free society.
Baptists were equally committed to defending the rights of individuals and churches to freely associate with one another on the basis of shared beliefs, and to separate from each other if those beliefs diverged. Argumentative and independent, Baptists lived out freedom of association with enthusiasm, planting democratically-governed churches, moving into voluntary associations while retaining local church autonomy, uniting and dividing over confessions, causes and personalities, even as the state continued to harass them as dissenters from orthodoxy.
Baptist experiments in democratic governance and free association were influential models in the formation of modern democracy and open academic institutions. The Rhode Island colony charter enshrining political democracy, the separation of church and state, and freedom of conscience, was a blueprint for the United States constitution. When England’s medieval universities denied entry to students who did not belong to the Church of England, Baptists formed their own associations and started their own academic institutions. Baptist ministers Isaac Backus and John Leland were influential advocates for freedom of religion during the American Revolution. In the 20th century, the Reverend Martin Luther King’s inspiring oratory and non-violent campaign for civil rights helped bring an end to decades of government policy enforcing black segregation.
Religious liberty, freedom of conscience and freedom of association continue to have immense relevance for the 21st century, and it is in the context of its rich Baptist heritage that Sheridan College affirms the following five principles of academic freedom:
In the context of the above principles, faculty have the right and responsibility to exercise their professional and personal judgment in teaching and research. They are encouraged to disseminate the results of that research without undue interference from the College administration or from outside institutions and individuals. Should a complaint be made to the College, the administration shall protect faculty from requests to retract or modify their research, publication, or teaching. If any member of the faculty believes that their academic freedom has been unreasonably constrained, they may pursue resolution through the Sheridan College Staff Grievance Policy.
Link to List of Sources for SC Statement of Academic Freedom
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Sheridan College and Sheridan Research Institute are located at
18/7 Aberdeen St, Perth, in the Piccadilly Square West building.
For students, it conveniently places Sheridan College next door to McIver Train Station and a 9-minute walk from Perth Train Station. 10 parking bays will also be available for the exclusive use of staff and students, and the Aberdeen St entrance to the Newcastle St Carpark is across the road.
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