President, provost sign Magna Charta Universitatum in Bologna, Italy

TU is one of only two U.S. institutions selected to sign the document this year

President Robert L. Caret and Provost James P. Clements signed the Magna Charta Universitatum in support of institutional autonomy and academic freedom on September 20 in Bologna, Italy.

The Magna Charta was first signed in January 1988.

The document celebrates the deepest values of university traditions and encourages strong bonds among European and extraeuropean universities. TU joins 19 U.S. colleges and university signatories.

This event is a great accomplishment for TU, which is one of only two U.S. institutions selected to sign this year.   

To be considered as a signatory, TU was required to:

• Discuss the Magna Charta with the University Senate and agree that TU will “abide by the goals of the Magna Charta Universitatum” 
• Send a copy of the University Senate minutes with its application 
• Send a letter from President Caret to the president of the collegium asking to sign the Magna Charta Universitatum
• Receive recommendations from three of U.S. institutions that have already endorsed the document.

In his letter requesting to be a signatory on the Magna Charta Universitatum, Caret wrote, “The Magna Charta brings together hundreds of international colleges and universities to shape the missions we share. It would be a privilege to join this unique union.”

For more information, go to

http://www.magna-charta.org/pdf/mc_pdf/mc_english.pdf