Academic Freedom for a Free Society

News and Events

Dues Reduction for New Members

In an effort to to attract more members and retain new ones, the University of Iowa chapter has chosen to subsidize new member dues for 50% for three years. New members may expect to pay only 50% of the published rate for the first three years of their membership. If you or your colleagues are eligible for this rate, please contact the chapter treasurer, Kathy Clark.

National Organization

The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) 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. AAUP is the leading organization primarily dedicated to protecting the academic freedom of professors. The AAUP establishes and maintains standards for academic due process and faculty participation in academic decision making. Through AAUP, faculty determine the principles of our profession and the procedures by which to protect them.

The AAUP's Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure is the definitive articulation of these 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.

Current membership is about 45,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations. Academe magazine is published bimonthly and analyzes higher education issues from faculty members' perspectives.

Local Chapter

The University of Iowa Chapter of AAUP has about 140 paying members. The chapter holds regular fall and spring meetings, a fall social for new faculty, and a spring Symposium on Promotion and Tenure. (See current schedule or list of past meetings)

Some of the most important work of our local chaper is performed by the members of Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure. Committee A

  1. issues position papers on topics of current interest to faculty and works closely with the Faculty Senate in drafting changes to official University documents, revising current policies, and creating updates to the Operations Manual.

  2. provides confidential advice and assistance to faculty members who experience problems or disputes. Committee A is especially concerned with issues involving academic freedom, tenure, and due process guarantees.

The chapter has its own constitution and is governed by a 13-member Executive Committee that includes 4 officers. The Executive Committee usually meets monthly. (See schedule of meetings or archives of past minutes)

Iowa State Conference

Colleges and universities throughout the State of Iowa are members of the Iowa State Conference. Statewide meetings are held each fall and spring at rotating locations. The state conference newsletter, the Iowa Academe, is published several times throughout the year and sent to all chapter members.

 

last updated November 16, 2006
University of Iowa Chapter
American Association of University Professors
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