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American Association of University Professors

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a prominent organization comprised of professors and academics in the United States. Established in 1915, the AAUP has played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of higher education across the United States. Its mission focuses on promoting high standards of academic freedom, advancing shared governance, and ensuring quality in education.

History and Influence

The AAUP was founded during an era of laissez-faire economics, which saw burgeoning efforts towards labor unionization across various sectors, including academia. The association arose from the need for university professors to organize themselves to safeguard their rights and interests in an evolving educational environment. Over the years, the AAUP has been influential in developing the standards and principles that maintain academic integrity and freedom in American universities.

One of the AAUP's significant contributions is the establishment of the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, which has become a widely adopted guideline in North American institutions. This document delineates the essential principles of academic freedom and tenure, thereby protecting scholars from undue censorship and fostering an environment conducive to intellectual exploration.

Censure and Sanction

The AAUP also holds the authority to censure or sanction academic institutions that violate the established norms of academic governance and freedom. The List of colleges and universities censured by the American Association of University Professors serves as a means to identify institutions where conditions for academic freedom are unsatisfactory. Conversely, the List of colleges and universities sanctioned by the American Association of University Professors highlights violations of shared governance principles.

Advocacy and Publications

The AAUP actively engages in advocacy by addressing policies that threaten academic freedom. For example, it recently collaborated with 36 other organizations to confront the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University over policies that led to faculty censorship. The AAUP's magazine features articles on a wide array of topics concerning higher education, including book reviews, association news, and opinion columns.

Governance and Tenure

The AAUP's work extends to governance in higher education, having drafted the influential Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities, which delineates the roles of faculty, administration, and governing boards. Its efforts have significantly shaped the governance structures within American academic institutions.

Moreover, the association has been pivotal in framing the concept of academic tenure in North America, providing a framework that balances the need for academic freedom with institutional accountability.

Related Topics

The AAUP continues to be a bulwark for academic values, ensuring that institutions across the United States adhere to the principles that foster robust, independent, and high-quality higher education.