The University of North Carolina Board of Governors unanimously adopted a new systemwide definition of academic freedom that preserves faculty rights to teach and research controversial ideas but makes explicit that that freedom “is not absolute.” The policy includes language requiring a demonstrable pedagogical connection between classroom material and course discipline and instructs that faculty activities should “align with” the university mission. Board president Peter Hans and system lawyers framed the definition as precision that balances rights and responsibilities. Faculty groups and the AAUP criticized the move as constraining classroom judgment and warned the pedagogical‑connection clause may be applied unevenly. UNC officials say the policy responds to heightened public scrutiny of public‑system instruction and will accompany implementation guidance.