American Association of University Professors

American Association of University Professors is a non-profit organization that aims to advance academic freedom, shared governance, and the economic security of faculty members at institutions of higher education such as Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The organization was founded in 1915 by John Dewey and other prominent academics like Arthur Lovejoy and Frank Aydelotte, with the goal of promoting the interests of professors and researchers at universities like University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. The organization has been involved in various academic freedom cases, including the Red Scare and the McCarthyism era, and has worked with other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association to protect the rights of faculty members at institutions like Yale University and Columbia University.

● History

The organization has a long history of advocating for academic freedom and faculty rights, dating back to its founding in 1915 by John Dewey and other prominent academics like Arthur Lovejoy and Frank Aydelotte. During the Red Scare and the McCarthyism era, the organization played a crucial role in protecting the rights of professors and researchers who were targeted for their perceived left-wing or communist sympathies, including Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn. The organization has also been involved in various court cases, including the landmark Keyishian v. Board of Regents case, which established the importance of academic freedom in higher education at institutions like University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of Texas at Austin. The organization has worked with other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association to promote the interests of faculty members at universities like Duke University and University of Chicago.

● Organization

The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has a membership of over 40,000 faculty members from institutions of higher education across the United States, including California State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The organization is led by a president, currently Irene Mulvey, who is elected by the membership, and has a governing board composed of faculty members from various institutions, including University of Washington, University of Florida, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The organization has a number of committees and task forces that focus on specific issues, such as academic freedom, shared governance, and faculty diversity, and works with other organizations like the Modern Language Association and the American Historical Association to promote the interests of faculty members at institutions like New York University and University of Southern California.

● Activities

The organization is involved in a range of activities, including advocacy and lobbying on behalf of faculty members, as well as providing resources and support for faculty members who are facing academic freedom or employment issues, such as tenure and promotion disputes at institutions like University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. The organization also publishes a number of publications, including the Academe magazine, which features articles and commentary on issues related to higher education and faculty life, and works with other organizations like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academy of Sciences to promote the interests of faculty members at institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and University of California, Los Angeles. The organization has also been involved in various research projects, including studies on faculty diversity and academic freedom, and has worked with other organizations like the National Center for Education Statistics and the Institute of Education Sciences to promote the interests of faculty members at institutions like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Virginia.

● Governance

The organization is governed by a constitution and bylaws that outline the structure and functions of the organization, including the roles and responsibilities of the president, governing board, and other officers, and has a number of policies and procedures in place to ensure the effective operation of the organization, including elections and appointments to the governing board and other committees. The organization also has a number of standing committees and task forces that focus on specific issues, such as academic freedom, shared governance, and faculty diversity, and works with other organizations like the American Council on Education and the Association of American Universities to promote the interests of faculty members at institutions like University of Michigan and University of California, San Diego. The organization's governing board is composed of faculty members from various institutions, including University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Texas at Austin, and Duke University, and is responsible for setting the overall direction and policy of the organization.

● Notable Cases and Controversies

The organization has been involved in a number of notable cases and controversies over the years, including the Keyishian v. Board of Regents case, which established the importance of academic freedom in higher education at institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University. The organization has also been involved in various disputes and controversies related to faculty rights and academic freedom, including the Ward Churchill case, which highlighted the importance of academic freedom and free speech in higher education at institutions like University of Colorado Boulder and University of Oregon. The organization has worked with other organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Education Association to protect the rights of faculty members at institutions like Yale University and Columbia University, and has been involved in various court cases, including the Grutter v. Bollinger case, which addressed issues related to affirmative action and diversity in higher education at institutions like University of Michigan and University of California, Berkeley.

● Policy Statements and Reports

The organization has issued a number of policy statements and reports on issues related to higher education and faculty life, including statements on academic freedom, shared governance, and faculty diversity, and has worked with other organizations like the Modern Language Association and the American Historical Association to promote the interests of faculty members at institutions like New York University and University of Southern California. The organization's policy statements and reports are developed through a process of consultation and deliberation involving faculty members from various institutions, including University of Washington, University of Florida, and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and are intended to provide guidance and support for faculty members and institutions of higher education like University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University. The organization has also published a number of reports on issues related to faculty diversity and academic freedom, including the Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, which provides data and analysis on issues related to faculty compensation and working conditions at institutions like University of California, Los Angeles and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.