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American Association of University Professors
Formation1915
TypeNonprofit charitable organization
HeadquartersWashington D.C.
Location
Membership
Professors and professional university staff
Official language
English
Executive Director
Nancy Long (interim)
Key people
Todd Wolfson, President
Websitewww.aaup.org

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership includes over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations.[1]

The AAUP's stated mission is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915 by Arthur O. Lovejoy and John Dewey, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in the country's colleges and universities.

History

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In the 1890s and early 1900s, there were a number of attempts to dismiss college faculty members from their academic posts, including a failed attempt to dismiss Richard Ely at the University of Wisconsin in 1894. The following year Edward Bemis was dismissed from a post at the University of Chicago and George D. Herron from one at Grinnell College in 1899.

Perhaps most prominent of these incidents was the 1900 dismissal of eugenicist, economics professor, and sociologist Edward Alsworth Ross from Stanford University. Ross's work criticizing the employment of Chinese laborers by the Southern Pacific Railroad, run by Stanford's founder Leland Stanford, led Leland's widow, Jane Stanford, to intervene and, over the objections of the president and the faculty, to succeed in getting Ross eventually dismissed.[2] A number of faculty colleagues resigned in protest, including Arthur O. Lovejoy.[3]

Fifteen years later, In January 1915, the AAUP formed as the "Association of University Professors" after a series of meetings held at the Chemists' Club in New York City.[4] John Dewey would serve as President of the organization, with Lovejoy, who had by then moved on to Johns Hopkins, serving as Secretary.

In February 1915, the dismissals of two professors and two instructors at the University of Utah by President Joseph T. Kingsbury—and the subsequent resignations of 14 faculty members in protest—launched the AAUP's first institutional academic freedom inquest. An earlier 1911 controversy at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, had involved some of these same professors.

The AAUP published, in December 1915, its inaugural volume of the Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors, including the document now known as the 1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure—the AAUP's foundational statement on the rights and corresponding obligations of members of the academic profession.

Since 2010 the AAUP has published the Journal of Academic Freedom, an online-only open-access annual journal.[5][6]

In June 2022, the AAUP affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers.[7]

In 2024, AAUP president Todd Wolfson referred to United States Senator JD Vance as a “fascist.” The remark was in relation to Vance’s conduct during that year's presidential election, during which Vance was the vice presidential nominee.[8]

Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure

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AAUP

As the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) details the history of their policy on academic freedom and tenure, the association maintains that there "are still people who want to control what professors teach and write."[9] The AAUP's "Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure"[10][11] is the definitive articulation of the principles and practices and is widely accepted throughout the academic community. The association's procedures ensuring academic due process remain the model for professional employment practices on campuses throughout the country.

The association suggests that "The principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure" date back to a 1925 conference.[12] R. M. O'Neil's history suggests that the formal origins of the statement of academic freedom in the United States begins with an earlier 1915 "declaration of principles," when the "fledgling" AAUP first convened.[13]

While it seems common sense that academic freedom aligns with the values of democratic rights and free speech, O'Neil also notes the ideas of academic freedom at the time were not entirely well received, and even the New York Times criticized the declaration, but that today the statement remains "almost as nearly inviolate as the U.S. Constitution."[13] The AAUP notes that following a series of conferences beginning in 1934, the association officially adopted the "1925 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure," which started to become institutionalized in universities only in the 1940s.

The AAUP offers the original principles, including the 1940 interpretations of the statement and a 1970 interpretation, which codified evaluation of the principles since the time they were adopted. The statement is straightforward, based on three principles of academic freedom. Briefly summarized, the first principle states that teachers are entitled to "full freedom in research and in publication of the results" and that the issue of financial gains from research depends on the relationship with the institution. The second principle of academic freedom is that teachers should have the same freedom in the classroom. The third asserts that college and university professors are citizens and should be free to speak and write as citizens "free from institutional censorship."[14]

The 1970 interpretation believes that the statement is not a "static code but a fundamental document to set a framework of norms to guide adaptations to changing times and circumstances." The commentary iterates key points of the 1940 interpretations. The statement does not discourage controversy but emphasizes professionalism, believing that professors should be careful "not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject."

Based upon five principles, the statement on academic tenure is equally simple and to the point. The first principle maintains that the terms of appointment are to be stated in writing. The second details the conditions and length of time professors are given to attain tenure. The third notes that during the probationary period before attaining tenure, the teacher "should have all the academic freedom that all other members of the faculty have." Detailing terms for appeal of the decision to deny tenure, the fourth point notes that both faculty and the institution's governing board should judge whether tenure is to be granted or denied. The final point suggests that if the faculty member is not granted tenure appointment for reasons of financial restraint upon the university, the "financial exigency should be demonstrably bona fide."

The interpretive statement also maintains that while professors have the rights of citizens, both scholars and educational officers "should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances," noting that every effort should be made "to indicate they are not speaking for the institution." The comments provide for further insights into the evaluation for tenure appointment and direct to the "1968 Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure," which recommends policy based upon the 1940 statement and a later documents on standards for faculty dismissal.

Academic freedom and the Supreme Court

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In Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957), the Supreme Court of the United States acknowledged the essential role of academic freedom as a protected right under the First Amendment. This case set a precedent that significantly influenced university policies across the United States, affirming the importance of academic discourse and inquiry without governmental interference. However, "at the time of the Sweezy decision, the AAUP was deeply ambivalent about the constitutionalization of academic freedom, because some members feared the long-term consequences of having judges rather than professors elaborate and apply the protective rules of academic life."[15]

In Keyishian v. Board of Regents (1967), the constitutionality and legal basis for AAUP's principles of academic freedom were established.

Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities

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Main article: Governance in higher education

The American Association of University Professors published its first "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities" in 1920, "emphasizing the importance of faculty involvement in personnel decisions, selection of administrators, preparation of the budget, and determination of educational policies. Refinements to the statement were introduced in subsequent years, culminating in the 1966 "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities."[16]

The statement was jointly formulated by the American Association of University Professors, the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB). The statement clarifies the respective roles of governing boards, faculties, and administrations. The document does not provide for a "blueprint" to the governance of higher education.

Also, the purpose of the statement was not to provide principles for relations with industry and government although it establishes direction on "the correction of existing weaknesses." Rather, the statement aimed to establish a shared vision for the internal governance of institutions. Student involvement is not addressed in detail. The statement concerns general education policy and internal operations with an overview of the formal roles for governing structures in the organization and management of higher education.

Conflict with religious institutions

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The AAUP has censured numerous religious institutions, including The Catholic University of America in 1990 and Brigham Young University in 1998.[17] Some have criticized the AAUP's stance regarding academic freedom in religious institutions as contradicting its 1940 statement on academic freedom, which permits religious institutions to place limits on academic freedom if those limitations are clearly stated.[18][19] In 1970, the AAUP criticized its 1940 statement, positing that most religious institutions "no longer need or desire" to place limits on academic freedom.[20]

In 1988, the AAUP offered up another interpretation, stating that the "1970 de-endorsement clause" requires a religious institution to forfeit its "right to represent itself as an 'authentic seat of higher learning.'"[20] But the AAUP's Committee A did not endorse it, thus the issue on whether a religious institution can place limits on academic freedom if those limitations are clearly stated appears to be unresolved.[20]

Contingent faculty

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The AAUP has released a number of reports on contingent faculty: in 2008, a report on accreditors' guidelines pertaining to part-time faculty and a report of an investigation involving alleged violations of the academic freedom and due process rights of a full-time contingent faculty member; and in 2006, an index providing data on the number of contingent faculty at various colleges. Also in 2006, the AAUP adopted a new policy dealing with the job protections that should be afforded to part-time faculty members. In 2003, it had released its major policy statement Contingent Appointments and the Academic Profession. The statement makes new recommendations in two areas: increasing the proportion of faculty appointments that are on the tenure line as well as improving job security and due process protections for those with contingent appointments.

Collective bargaining

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In 2009, AAUP began its reorganization amongst its thinktank, its non-organized advocacy chapters and its support for collective bargaining chapters. AAUP currently represents approximately 70 affiliates across the United States in such institutions as University of Connecticut, Portland State University, University of Alaska, the California State University system, Rutgers, University of Oregon, Eastern Michigan University, University of Illinois Chicago, University of Rhode Island, State University of New York, and many others in both the public and private sector.

Unlike the American Federation of Teachers and other more traditional labor unions, AAUP is not a servicing parent organization. All of its affiliates (at least those that are not affiliated with any other labor union) are independent organizations that completely provide for all their own services, such as staff, attorneys, consultants and organizers. Also, the AAUP does not have the power of receivership in its constitution and so it can not take over any of its affiliates, supplant any of its elected leaders, or dictate policy or bargaining proposals or agenda upon them.

Several university chapters have been involved in labor strikes, including at Boston University in 1979, Wright State University and Oregon Tech in 2021, and Rutgers University in 2023.

Censured and sanctioned institutions

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The AAUP censures institutions that violated standards of academic freedom and tenure[21] and sanctions institutions that have infringed university governance standards through "serious departures by the administration and/or governing board from generally accepted standards of college and university government".

In 1930, the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women, were placed on a list of "non-recommended" institutions, after Mississippi Governor Theodore Bilbo and member of the Ku Klux Klan fired the presidents of all three institutions as well as 179 faculty members.

The censure list was officially created in 1938. Between that year and 2002, 183 colleges and universities were placed on the list at various times.[22] As of 2024, there are 59 institutions on AAUP's censure list.[23]

Fourteen colleges in the United States are currently on AAUP's list of sanctioned institutions for violations of shared governance.[24]

Community colleges Colleges and universities Graduate schools
Miami Dade College (2000)[25] Elmira College (1995)[25] Vermont Law and Graduate School (2019)[26]
Union College (2016)[27] Antioch University (2010)[25]
Spartanburg Community College (2024)[28] Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2011)[29]
Canisius University (2021)[30][31]
Keuka College (2021)[30]
Marian University, Wisconsin (2021)[30]
National University (2021)[30]
Wittenberg University (2021)[30]
Illinois Wesleyan University (2021)[30]
New College of Florida (2024)[28]

Leadership

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Presidents

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Number Name Dates Subject Institution
1 John Dewey 1915–1916[32] Philosophy Columbia University
2 John Henry Wigmore 1916–1917[32] Law Northwestern University
3 Frank Thilly 1917–1918 Philosophy Cornell University[33]
4 John Merle Coulter 1918–1919 Botany University of Chicago
5 Arthur Oncken Lovejoy 1919–1920 Philosophy Johns Hopkins University
6 Edward Capps 1920–1921 Philology Princeton University
7 Vernon Lyman Kellogg 1921 (acting) Zoology National Research Council
8 Edwin R. A. Seligman 1921–1922 Political Science Columbia University
9 J. V. Denney 1922–1924 English Ohio State University[34]
10 Armin Otto Leuschner 1924–1926 Astronomy University of California, Berkeley
11 William T. Semple 1926–1928 Classics University of Cincinnati[35]
12 Henry Crew 1928–1930 Physics Northwestern University
13 William B. Munro 1930–1932 Government Harvard University
14 Walter Wheeler Cook 1932–1933 Law Johns Hopkins University[36]
15 Samuel Alfred Mitchell 1934–1936 Astronomy University of Virginia
16 Anton Julius Carlson 1936–1938 Physiology University of Chicago
17 Mark H. Ingraham 1938–1940 Mathematics University of Wisconsin[37]
18 Frederick S. Deibler 1940–1942 Economics Northwestern University
19 William Thomas Laprade 1942–1944 History Duke University[38]
20 Quincy Wright 1944–1946 International Law University of Chicago
21 Edward C. Kirkland 1946–1948 History Bowdoin College
22 Ralph H. Lutz 1948–1950 History Stanford University
23 Richard Harrison Shryock 1950–1952 History Johns Hopkins University
24 Fred B. Millett 1952–1954 English Literature Wesleyan University
25 William E. Britton 1954–1956 Law University of Illinois
26 Helen C. White 1956–1958 English University of Wisconsin
27 Hiram Bentley Glass 1958–1960 Biology Johns Hopkins University
28 Ralph F. Fuchs 1960–1962 Law Indiana University
29 Fritz Machlup 1962–1964 Economics Princeton University
30 David Fellman 1964–1966 Political Science University of Wisconsin
31 Clark Byse 1966–1968 Law Harvard University
32 Ralph S. Brown, Jr. 1968–1970 Law Yale University
33 Sanford H. Kadish 1970–1972 Law University of California, Berkeley
34 Walter Adams 1972–1974 Economics Michigan State University
35 William Warner Van Alstyne 1974–1976 Law Duke University
36 Peter O. Steiner 1976–1978 Law and Economics University of Michigan
37 Martha Friedman 1978–1980 Library University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
38 Henry T. Yost 1980–1981 Biology Amherst College
39 Robert A. Gorman 1981–1982 Law University of Pennsylvania
40 Victor J. Stone 1982–1984 Law University of Illinois, Urbana
41 Paul H. L. Walter 1984–1986 Chemistry Skidmore College
42 Julius G. Getman 1986–1988 Law University of Texas at Austin
43 Carol Simpson Stern 1988–1990 Performance Studies Northwestern University
44 Barbara Bergmann 1990–1992 Economics American University
45 Linda Ray Pratt 1992–1994 English University of Nebraska
46 James Perley 1994–1998 Biology College of Wooster
47 James Richardson 1998–2000 Judicial Studies University of Nevada, Reno
48 Jane Buck 2000–2006 Psychology Delaware State University
49 Cary Nelson 2006–2012 English University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
50 Rudy Fichtenbaum 2012–2020 Economics Wright State University
51 Irene Mulvey 2020–2024 Mathematics Fairfield University
52 Todd Wolfson 2024–Present Media Studies Rutgers University–New Brunswick[39]

Secretaries, general secretaries, and executive directors

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Apart from the elected leadership, the AAUP has been led in its day to day operations by what has been at various times called a secretary, later a general secretary, and most recently an executive director, and includes the following individuals:[40]

Name Dates Title
Arthur Oncken Lovejoy 1915–1929[41] Secretary
Harry Walter Tyler 1929–1933[41] General Secretary
Walter Wheeler Cook 1934–1935 General Secretary
Harry Walter Tyler 1935–1936 Acting General Secretary
Ralph Himstead 1936–1955 General Secretary
George P. Shannon 1955 Acting General Secretary
Ralph F. Fuchs 1955–1957[42][43] General Secretary
Robert K. Carr 1957–1958 General Secretary
William P. Fidler 1958–1967 General Secretary
Bertram H. Davis 1967–1974 General Secretary
Joseph Duffey 1974–1976 General Secretary
Jordan E. Kurland 1977 Acting General Secretary
Morton S. Baratz 1977–1979 General Secretary
Martha Friedman 1979–1980 Interim General Secretary
Irving J. Spitzberg, Jr. 1980–1984 General Secretary
Ernst Benjamin 1984–1994 General Secretary
Mary A. Burgan 1994–2004 General Secretary
Roger W. Bowen 2004–2007 General Secretary
Ernst Benjamin 2007–2008 Interim General Secretary
Gary Rhoades 2009–2011 General Secretary
Martin Snyder 2011–2013 Senior Associate General Secretary
Julie Schmid 2013–2023 Executive Director
Nancy Long 2023–2024 Interim Executive Director
Aaron Nielson 2024–present Interim Executive Director[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mission – AAUP". www.aaup.org. August 19, 2006.
  2. ^ "History of the AAUP". American Association of University Professors. June 30, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  3. ^ "History of Stanford's Philosophy Department | Department of Philosophy". philosophy.stanford.edu. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  4. ^ "History of the AAUP". AAUP. June 30, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  5. ^ Howard, Jennifer (January 26, 2010). "New Online Journal From AAUP Will Focus on Academic Freedom". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "Journal of Academic Freedom". AAUP. January 22, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Historic affiliation finalized: AAUP and AFT join forces | American Federation of Teachers". www.aft.org. June 22, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Ryan Quinn (August 9, 2024). "New AAUP president calls JD Vance a fascist". Inside Higher Ed.
  9. ^ "History of the AAUP – AAUP". www.aaup.org. June 30, 2006.
  10. ^ "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure – AAUP". www.aaup.org. July 10, 2006.
  11. ^ "AAUP's 1915 Declaration of Principles". December 31, 1915.
  12. ^ "Timeline of the First 100 Years | AAUP". www.aaup.org. February 12, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  13. ^ a b O'Neil, R. M., "Academic Freedom: Past, Present, and Future beyond September 11," in P.G. Altbach, R.O. Berdahl, and P.J. Gumport, (eds.), American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century: Social, Political, and Economic Challenges, 2nd ed. (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005), 92–94
  14. ^ "1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure – AAUP". www.aaup.org. July 10, 2006.
  15. ^ Byrne, J. Peter (November 1, 1989). "Academic Freedom: A 'Special Concern of the First Amendment'". The Yale Law Journal. 99 (2): 291.
  16. ^ "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities."[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Censure List – AAUP". www.aaup.org. July 18, 2006.
  18. ^ "BYU Magazine: The Magazine of Brigham Young University". BYU Magazine.
  19. ^ Nuechterlein, James (December 1993). "The Idol of Academic Freedom". First Things. 38: 12–16. ISSN 1047-5141.
  20. ^ a b c The Value of Limitations Archived May 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ "Censure List". AAUP. July 18, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "The AAUP's Censure List". AAUP. July 18, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Censure List". AAUP. July 18, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  24. ^ "Sanctioned Institutions". AAUP. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Chiddister, Diane (June 17, 2010). "AAUP: college closing not necessary". The Yellow Springs News. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "VLS Response to AAUP Sanction". Vermont Law and Graduate School. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  27. ^ "Union County College Slammed With Sanction by AAUP". American Federation of Teachers New Jersey. June 26, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Quinn, Ryan (February 26, 2024). "AAUP Sanctions New College of Fla., Spartanburg Comm. College". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  29. ^ June, Audrey Williams (June 12, 2011). "AAUP Sanctions 2 Universities and Censures Another". Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Schwartz, Natalie (June 10, 2021). "AAUP council sanctions 6 colleges over governance violations". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  31. ^ "AAUP Recap". The Griffin. Buffalo, New York. September 20, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Presidents of the Association". AAUP. September 3, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "Frank Thilly, Professor of Philosophy".
  34. ^ "Denney Hall | Buckeye Stroll". Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  35. ^ "History of the Department". classics.uc.edu. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  36. ^ "Walter Wheeler Cook: In Memoriam".
  37. ^ "Ingraham Hall - UWDC - UW-Madison Libraries". search.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  38. ^ "William Thomas Laprade papers, 1660-1975 (bulk 1898-1975) - Archives & Manuscripts at Duke University Libraries". David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  39. ^ "Todd Wolfson". School of Communication and Information | Rutgers University. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  40. ^ "Staff Leadership". AAUP. September 9, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  41. ^ a b "The AAUP's Censure List". AAUP. July 18, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  42. ^ "Ralph F. Fuchs Professor of Law and Public Service: Faculty legacies: Support Indiana Law: Alumni: Maurer School of Law: Indiana University Bloomington". Maurer School of Law. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  43. ^ Fuchs, Ralph F. (1957). "Report, 1955-57, by the Retiring General Secretary". AAUP Bulletin. 43 (3): 415–429. ISSN 0001-026X. JSTOR 40222196.
  44. ^ "Staff". AAUP. July 18, 2006. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
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