Academic freedom is the long-standing principle — formalized by the American Association of University Professors in 1915 — that faculty have the right to teach, research, and publish without fear of political or institutional retaliation. It covers both individual freedom (a professor's classroom decisions) and institutional autonomy (a university's right to set curriculum free from political dictate). State legislatures have historically funded universities while leaving curriculum decisions to faculty senates and accredited academic units. When legislatures designate which specific units may offer required courses, critics argue they breach the firewall between political authority and academic governance.