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For the Renewal of the AAUP

Carol Bernstein

Academic freedom and tenure are being widely attacked at higher education institutions across the nation. It is not enough for the national office of the AAUP to support these concepts philosophically. The national office must take an effective, activist role. In order to do this, it must first get its own house in order.

Increase Support to Chapters and State Conferences

Currently, only about 4% of the $3.5 million income of the AAUP supports local Chapter and state Conference initiatives. This should be tripled. Local struggles to defend tenure and faculty governance need expanded support.

Provide Direct Services

It is important that national support for local activities be more than merely financial. We should provide local legal assistance programs and retirement planning services to members. We should also provide lobbying and public relation services to chapters and conferences.

Publish Institutional Performance Evaluations

Academic freedom is being widely attacked both by direct attempts to remove tenure and by replacement of tenure-track faculty with adjuncts (now 43% of all faculty). I propose that we evaluate institutions of higher education, yearly, on their support for academic freedom and tenure, their teaching and scholarly functions, and their provisions for part-time and adjunct faculty.

Enhance the Democratic Functioning of the AAUP

Procedures need to be refined to improve the Association's responsiveness to its members. For example, periodic evaluation of national staff by elected leadership should be implemented. This follows the recommendation of the Redbook, the policy titled "Faculty participation in the selection, evaluation, and retention of administrators" (p.125).

Unless AAUP has a president like Carol Bernstein - a steadfast defender of tenure with true integrity and understanding of AAUP principles - there is a risk the Association will not survive to serve the next generation of teachers and scholars. -- Dr. George Holmes, AAUP President, Howard Univ. Chapter.