The Robert Morris University Policy of Ethical Practice affirms the fundamental value of academic freedom as stated in the American Association of University Professors' "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure." The purpose of the 1940 statement is to ensure that faculty and students in American universities are free to read, write and speak about the truth as it is articulated and debated in the academic disciplines:

Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student to freedom in learning. It carries with it duties correlative with rights.