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The Academic Compass

An authoritative exploration of the American Association of University Professors' enduring commitment to academic freedom, tenure, and institutional integrity.

About AAUP ๐Ÿ‘‡ Core Principles ๐Ÿ“œ

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About the AAUP

Foundational Organization

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a distinguished organization dedicated to advancing the interests of professors and other academics within the United States. Established in 1915 in New York City, its headquarters are now situated in Washington, D.C. The AAUP comprises over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations, reflecting its widespread influence and reach across American higher education.

Affiliation and Reach

Since June 2022, the AAUP has been formally affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). This strategic alliance enhances its capacity to advocate for academic professionals. The organization's membership is drawn from professors and professional university staff, united by a common commitment to the principles of higher learning.

Historical Significance

Founded by prominent intellectuals Arthur O. Lovejoy and John Dewey, the AAUP has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of American higher education. Its work has been instrumental in developing and upholding standards for educational quality and safeguarding academic freedom in colleges and universities nationwide.

Core Mission

Academic Freedom

A cornerstone of the AAUP's mission is the vigorous defense and advancement of academic freedom. This principle ensures that faculty members have the liberty to pursue research, publish findings, and engage in classroom discussions without fear of institutional censorship or retribution, provided their conduct is professional and relevant to their subject matter.

Shared Governance

The AAUP champions shared governance, advocating for meaningful faculty involvement in the crucial decisions that shape academic institutions. This includes participation in personnel matters, the selection of administrators, budget preparation, and the formulation of educational policies, ensuring a collaborative approach to institutional management.

Professional Values & Common Good

The organization is dedicated to defining and upholding fundamental professional values and standards for higher education. Furthermore, the AAUP emphasizes higher education's vital contribution to the common good, striving to ensure that academic institutions serve societal needs and promote intellectual inquiry for the benefit of all.

Historical Context

Precursors to the AAUP

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed several contentious incidents involving the dismissal of faculty members, often due to their research or public statements. Notable cases, such as those involving Richard Ely at the University of Wisconsin and Edward Alsworth Ross at Stanford University, highlighted the precariousness of academic freedom and tenure, underscoring the need for a collective voice to protect these principles.

Foundation and Early Impact

In January 1915, the Association of University Professors was formed in New York City. With John Dewey as its first president and Arthur O. Lovejoy as secretary, the organization immediately addressed critical issues. The dismissals at the University of Utah in February 1915 spurred the AAUP's first academic freedom inquest, demonstrating its commitment to action from its inception.

The 1915 Declaration

The inaugural volume of the Bulletin of the American Association of University Professors, published in December 1915, included the seminal 1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure. This foundational document articulated the rights and responsibilities inherent in the academic profession and has served as a guiding framework for higher education standards ever since.

Foundational Principles

Academic Freedom Defined

The AAUP's enduring principles define academic freedom through three core tenets:

  1. Research and Publication: Faculty possess full freedom in research and the dissemination of findings, with financial gains subject to institutional agreements.
  2. Classroom Conduct: Instructors are entitled to freedom in the classroom, though they should exercise care not to introduce controversial matter unrelated to the subject.
  3. Citizenship: Professors, as citizens, are free to speak and write on public issues without institutional censorship, while being mindful that their utterances may reflect upon their profession and institution.

Tenure and Due Process

The AAUP's framework emphasizes the importance of tenure as a means to protect academic freedom. Key principles include:

  • Written terms of appointment.
  • Clearly stated conditions and timelines for achieving tenure.
  • Granting full academic freedom during the probationary period.
  • Joint judgment by faculty and governing boards on tenure decisions, with clear appeal processes.
  • Ensuring financial exigency claims are demonstrably bona fide when used to deny tenure.

The 1970 interpretation of the 1940 Statement views it as a dynamic document adaptable to changing times. It reiterates the importance of professionalism and careful consideration when introducing controversial topics. The AAUP has also developed detailed policies on academic freedom and due process for contingent faculty appointments.

Academic Freedom and the Courts

Landmark Supreme Court cases, such as Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957) and Keyishian v. Board of Regents (1967), have affirmed academic freedom as a constitutionally protected right under the First Amendment. While the AAUP initially held some ambivalence about judicial involvement, these rulings have significantly shaped university policies and solidified the legal basis for academic freedom principles.

Institutional Governance

Statement on Government

The AAUP, in collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), published the "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities." First issued in 1920 and refined over decades, culminating in the 1966 statement, it clarifies the distinct yet interconnected roles of governing boards, administrations, and faculties in institutional decision-making.

Defining Roles

This foundational statement provides a framework for institutional governance, emphasizing faculty involvement in academic policy, personnel decisions, and administrative selection. While not a rigid blueprint, it aims to foster a shared vision for the internal operations and management of higher education institutions, promoting collaboration and accountability.

Censure and Sanctions

AAUP Censure List

The AAUP maintains a list of institutions that have violated established standards of academic freedom and tenure. Censure serves as a formal condemnation, signaling to the academic community that an institution has failed to uphold professional norms. As of 2024, 59 institutions are on this list, reflecting ongoing challenges in maintaining these critical principles.

Sanctioned Institutions

Beyond censure for academic freedom violations, the AAUP also sanctions institutions for serious departures from generally accepted standards of college and university government, particularly concerning shared governance. Fourteen U.S. colleges are currently sanctioned for such violations, highlighting the AAUP's role in ensuring institutional integrity.

Historical Conflicts

The AAUP has engaged with numerous institutions throughout its history, including notable conflicts with religious institutions like The Catholic University of America and Brigham Young University. These cases often involve complex discussions about the balance between institutional mission and the universal principles of academic freedom.

Leadership History

Presidents of the Association

The AAUP has been led by distinguished academics since its inception. The role of president is crucial in guiding the organization's advocacy and policy development.

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

Staff Leadership

The day-to-day operations and administrative functions of the AAUP are managed by its professional staff, led by individuals holding titles such as Secretary, General Secretary, and Executive Director.

Staff Leadership of the AAUP
Name Dates Title
Arthur Oncken Lovejoy 1915โ€“1929 Secretary
Harry Walter Tyler 1929โ€“1933 General Secretary
Walter Wheeler Cook 1934โ€“1935 General Secretary
Harry Walter Tyler 1935โ€“1936 Acting General Secretary
Ralph Himstead 1936โ€“1955 General Secretary
George P. Shannon 1955 Acting General Secretary
Ralph F. Fuchs 1955โ€“1957 General Secretary
Robert K. Carr 1957โ€“1958 General Secretary
William P. Fidler 1958โ€“1967 General Secretary
Bertram H. Davis 1967โ€“1974 General Secretary
Joseph Duffey 1974โ€“1976 General Secretary
Jordan E. Kurland 1977 Acting General Secretary
Morton S. Baratz 1977โ€“1979 General Secretary
Martha Friedman 1979โ€“1980 Interim General Secretary
Irving J. Spitzberg, Jr. 1980โ€“1984 General Secretary
Ernst Benjamin 1984โ€“1994 General Secretary
Mary A. Burgan 1994โ€“2004 General Secretary
Roger W. Bowen 2004โ€“2007 General Secretary
Ernst Benjamin 2007โ€“2008 Interim General Secretary
Gary Rhoades 2009โ€“2011 General Secretary
Martin Snyder 2011โ€“2013 Senior Associate General Secretary
Julie Schmid 2013โ€“2023 Executive Director
Nancy Long 2023โ€“2024 Interim Executive Director
Aaron Nielson 2024โ€“2025 Interim Executive Director
Mia McIver 2025โ€“present Executive Director

Collective Bargaining

Advocacy and Representation

The AAUP actively supports collective bargaining efforts among faculty nationwide. It represents over 65 collective bargaining affiliates, primarily in the public sector. While the 1980 Supreme Court decision in NLRB v. Yeshiva University presented challenges for unionization at private institutions, the AAUP continues to represent faculty at numerous private colleges and universities, particularly where chapters existed prior to this ruling.

Contingent Faculty Focus

Recognizing the growing prevalence of contingent faculty appointments (adjunct, visiting, etc.), the AAUP has published significant reports addressing their job security, due process protections, and the need to increase tenure-line positions. The organization advocates for improved conditions and protections for all academic professionals, regardless of appointment type.

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References

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the American Association of University Professors Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily Wikipedia, and may not be entirely comprehensive, up-to-date, or reflect the most current nuances of the subject matter.

This is not professional advice. The information provided herein is not a substitute for consultation with qualified academic, legal, or institutional professionals. AAUP policies and interpretations are complex and best understood through direct engagement with the organization's official resources and expert guidance. Always consult official AAUP documents and seek advice from relevant experts for specific situations.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided. Users are encouraged to consult primary sources for definitive information.