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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, A vibrant and dynamic system of higher education in |
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Texas is essential to the continued well-being and prosperity of |
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the state and its diverse citizenry, contributing to the |
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propagation of new ideas, the preservation of cultural legacies, |
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and the vitality of the political discourse that is the hallmark of |
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all healthy democracies; and |
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WHEREAS, While each college and university may serve one or |
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more specific purposes, higher education's overarching mission in |
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general is to promote the pursuit of truth and the advancement of |
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knowledge through rigorous scholarship and research and to promote |
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the transmission of knowledge to society at large through teaching |
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and the development of students into creative and responsible |
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individuals; and |
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WHEREAS, An institution of higher education cannot achieve |
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these goals or fulfill its central mission, however, unless it |
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respects the rights and privileges of each participant in the |
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process, student and faculty member alike, recognizing the |
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diversity of opinion that exists in the classroom and on campus; and |
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WHEREAS, Because the pursuit of truth inevitably entails a |
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spirit of questioning and the close study and reasoned criticism of |
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dogma, conventions, and traditions, the unfettered inquiry and the |
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attendant freedom to speak out and to challenge are indispensable; |
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without that spirit and freedom, the process, the participants, and |
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the outcomes are all diminished; and |
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WHEREAS, Given that higher education is enriched by |
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individuals from all walks of life and the diversity of traditions |
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that shape the ideas they bring to this marketplace, colleges and |
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universities must make and periodically renew their commitment to |
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valuing and respecting diversity in intellectual and political |
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viewpoints regardless of whose viewpoint it is or the position or |
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role of the individual who holds it; and |
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WHEREAS, The academic freedom accorded faculty and that |
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freedom to which students are entitled are both essential and |
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complementary components of success in intellectual endeavors, and |
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policies that protect one's freedom need not and should not |
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infringe upon or diminish the freedom of another; and |
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WHEREAS, To that end, it may be justifiably expected that |
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colleges and universities would periodically review their policies |
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with respect to faculty and student rights and grievance procedures |
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to ensure that intellectual and political diversity is recognized, |
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valued, and protected; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby encourage the state's colleges and universities to implement |
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policies to safeguard the academic freedom of faculty and students |
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alike and ensure the diversity of opinion not only in the classroom |
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and campus but beyond; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies |
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of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education and to |
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the chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. |