AAUP standing committees work on a variety of topics of importance to higher education and to faculty. In addition to topical standing committees, listed below, the AAUP has the following leadership committees:
Elsewhere on the AAUP Web site, you can read
A description of each standing committee follows, along with a list of committee members. Members are appointed to committees by the president of the Association. The date of appointment expiration is given after each name. Members of the national AAUP staff are assigned to assist the committees in their work. The Constitution provides that the president shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee, the Election Committee, and the Election Appeals Committee.
Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure
Committee on Academic Professionals
Committee on Accreditation
Committee on College and University Governance
Committee on Community Colleges
Committee on Contingent Faculty and the Profession
Committee on the Economic Status of the Profession
Committee on Government Relations
Committee on Graduate and Professional Students
Committee on Historically Black Institutions and Scholars of Color
Committee on Professional Ethics
Committee on Retirement
Committee on Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity
Committee on Teaching, Research, and Publication
Committee on Women in the Academic Profession
Promotes principles of academic freedom, tenure, and due process in higher education through the development of policy documents and reports relating to these subjects and the application of those principles to particular situations that are brought to its attention. The staff is authorized to receive, on behalf of the committee, complaints of departures from these standards and, where appropriate, to undertake formal investigations. Such investigations may lead to a recommendation from the committee to the Association’s national council and annual meeting that the administration of an institution be censured for failure to adhere to the principles of academic freedom and tenure as endorsed by the AAUP and hundreds of other professional and educational organizations. Read Committee A reports or investigative reports.
Committe A Members
David M. Rabban (Law)
University of Texas at Austin, chair, 2012
Ronald M. Atlas (Biology)
University of Louisville, 2012
Michael Bérubé (English), Pennsylvania State
University, 2012
Sheldon Krimsky (Biomedical Ethics and Science Policy)
Tufts University, 2012
David Montgomery (History)
Yale University, 2012
Adolph L. Reed Jr. (Political Science)
University of Pennsylvania, 2010
Andrew T. Ross (American Studies)
New York University, 2012
Ellen W. Shrecker (History)
Yeshiva University, 2012
Gary Rhoades (Higher Education)
ex officio as general secretary
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Martha S. West (Law)
University of California, Davis, ex officio as general counsel, 2010
Ernst Benjamin (Political Science)
Silver Spring, Md., consultant, 2012
Joan E. Bertin (Public Health)
Columbia University, consultant, 2010
Matthew W. Finkin (Law)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, consultant, 2012
Robert A. Gorman (Law)
University of Pennsylvania, consultant, 2010
Jeffrey R. Halpern (Anthropology)
Rider University, consultant, 2012
Robert C. Post (Law)
Yale University, consultant, 2010
Jeffrey Kraus (Government and Politics)
Wagner College, liaison from the ASC, 2011
Gregory Scholtz, staff
Academic Professionals
Deals with issues involving college and university professionals who work in positions other than faculty appointments. Such issues include recruitment and appointment, compensation, job security, and protection of professional autonomy and responsibility. The committee also promotes the inclusion of academic professionals in the AAUP.
Members
Thomas E. Matthews (Higher Education)
College at Geneseo, State University of New York, chair, 2011
Iris Delutro (Labor Education and Advancement Program)
Queens College, City University of New York, 2010
Vijay Nair (Library Science)
Western Connecticut State University, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Gary Rhoades, staff
Accreditation
Works on issues relating to accreditation. Monitors the activities of accrediting bodies and seeks to enhance the quality of higher education by advocating the inclusion of Association-supported principles (academic freedom, collegial governance, and due process) in accreditation standards and processes. The committee collaborates with the Association’s Committee on Governance to expand the participation of faculty in the accreditation process, and with the Committee on Government Relations to take appropriate action on legislative and regulatory developments at the federal and state levels.
Members
Jack Rossmann (Psychology)
Macalester College, chair, 2011
A. Lee Fritschler (Public Policy)
George Mason University, 2012
Gregory Gilbert (Communications)
Copper Mountain College, 2010
Roxane H. Gudeman (Psychology)
Macalester College, 2011
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Anita Levy, staff
College and University Governance
Promotes meaningful faculty participation in institutional governance through the development of policy statements and reports related to shared governance and application of those principles to particular situations that are brought to its attention. The staff is authorized to receive, on behalf of the committee, complaints of departures from these standards and, where appropriate, to undertake formal investigations. Such cases may lead to a recommendation from the committee to the Association’s national council and annual meeting that an institution be sanctioned for "substantial noncompliance with standards of academic governance."
Members
Larry G. Gerber (History)
Auburn University, chair, 2011
Lenore A. Beaky (English)
LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, 2010
Marshall S. Clough (History)
University of Northern Colorado, 2010
Neil W. Hamilton (Law)
University of Saint Thomas, 2011
Irene T. Mulvey (Mathematics and Computer Science),
Fairfield University, 2012
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Mary A. Burgan (English)
Washington, D.C., consultant, 2011
Lawrence S. Poston (English)
University of Illinois at Chicago, consultant, 2010
David D. Witt (Family and Consumer Services)
University of Akron, liaison from the CBC, 2010
Purificación Martínez (Hispanic Studies)
East Carolina University, liaison from the ASC, 2010
B. Robert Kreiser, staff
Community Colleges
Deals with issues of concern to faculty in the nation’s community colleges. Advances AAUP principles on community college campuses in such matters as faculty workload, shared governance, academic freedom, and the over-reliance on contingent academic labor.
Members
Lacy Barnes (Psychology)
Reedley College, chair, 2012
Carl Cuttita (Communications)
Union County College, 2011
Anne Friedman (Special Education)
Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, 2012
Rachel C. Jackson (English)
Seminole State College, 2011
Lantz Simpson (English)
Santa Monica College, 2011
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Craig D. Flanery, staff
Contingent Faculty and the Profession
Deals with issues related to contingent faculty appointments. Works to improve conditions for contingent faculty members and to reverse the trend towards part-time and non-tenure-track appointments.
Members
Mayra Besosa (Spanish)
California State University, San Marcos, co-chair, 2011
Marc Bousquet (English)
Santa Clara University, co-chair, 2011
Nina Allen (English)
Suffolk University, 2010
Marcia Newfield (English)
Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, 2010
Jeremy Nienow (Anthropology)
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Inver Hills Community College, 2010
Christine Rack (Sociology)
University of New Mexico, 2010
Flo Hatcher (Art)
Southern Connecticut State University, consultant, 2011
Richard S. Schneirov (History)
Indiana State University, 2011
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Gwendolyn Bradley, staff
Economic Status of the Profession
In collaboration with the Association’s research office, prepares the annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, using data collected in the AAUP’s annual faculty compensation survey. The report describes national trends in faculty compensation, as well as issues in the financial organization and condition of higher education, and is a valued resource throughout the higher education community.
Reports
Members
Saranna Thornton (Economics)
Hampden-Sydney College, chair, 2011
Anna Mari May (Economics)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2010
Ronald L. Oaxaca (Economics)
University of Arizona, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Ronald G. Ehrenberg (Labor Economics)
Cornell University, consultant, 2012
John W. Curtis, staff
Government Relations
Works on government relations at all levels of government, advocating positions that are beneficial to the higher education community. Members of the committee analyze bills before Congress and state legislatures, recommend Association policy with regard to proposed legislation, and, on occasion, testify at legislative and executive hearings on mattes of concern to higher education.
Members
Brian Turner (Political Science)
Randolph-Macon College, chair, 2011
Patricia W. Bentley (Library and Women's Studies)
College at Plattsburgh, State University of New York, 2012
Bob Bruck (Plant Pathology), North Carolina State
University, 2012
Flo Hatcher (Art)
Southern Connecticut State University, 2011*
Jonathan Karpf (Anthropology)
San Jose State University, 2011
Joseph A. Losco (Political Science)
Ball State University, 2010
David Patton (Political Science)
Ohio State University, 2010
Gwen Sharp (Sociology)
Nevada State College, 2012
William Trimble (History)
Auburn University, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Howard Bunsis (Accounting)
Eastern Michigan University, ex officio as chair of the CBC, 2009
Judith L. Johnston (English)
Southern Connecticut State University, ex officio as chair of the ASC, 2011
Edward C. Marth
University of Connecticut AAUP, consultant, 2012
Gerry Turkel (Sociology)
University of Delaware, consultant, 2011
John W. Curtis, staff
*Appointed to complete the term of Judith L. Johnston.
Graduate and Professional Students
Deals with issues of special concern to graduate students, such as intellectual and academic freedom, institutional policy, collective bargaining, and those points outlined in the Association’s Statement on Graduate Students. Monitors and reports on the status of graduate students in the context of AAUP policies and principles.
Members
David N. Huyssen (History)
Yale University, chair, 2011
Scott Bruton (History)
Rutgers University, 2010
Claire Kirchhoff (Anthropology)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2010
Michael G. Livingston (Psychology)
Saint John’s University, 2011
Christopher Simeone (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Jennifer Nichols, staff
Historically Black Institutions and Scholars of Color
Deals with issues of special concern to historically black institutions and to minority faculty members in general. The committee is concerned with access to opportunities in higher education for traditionally underrepresented groups and has focused its recent efforts on affirmative action and diversity, and outreach to faculty at minority serving institutions.
Members
Marybeth Gasman (Higher Education)
University of Pennsylvania, chair, 2011
Charles L. Betsey (Economics)
Howard University, 2012
Michele Moses (Education)
University of Colorado at Boulder, 2010
Terrell Strayhorn (Education)
University of Tennessee, 2011
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Gary Rhoades, Staff
Professional Ethics
Promotes the observance of professional and ethical standards by members of the higher education community through the development of policy statements and reports and the application of those principles to particular ethical situations.
Members
Debra Nails (Philosophy)
Michigan State University, chair, 2012
Michael Davis (Philosophy), Illinois Institute of
Technology, 2012
David A. Hoekema (Philosophy)
Calvin College, 2011
Claire Elise Katz (Philosophy)
Texas A&M University, 2010
Robert F. Miller (Neuroscience)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2011
Ruth Wachtel (Neuroscience)
University of Iowa, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
B. Robert Kreiser, staff
Retirement
Deals with issues affecting retired faculty, including pension and retirement plans, emeritus faculty concerns, and protection against age discrimination.
Members
Janet M. West (Economics)
University of Nebraska at Omaha, chair, 2011
Valerie Conley (Higher Education)
Ohio University, 2010
David S. Linton (Communication Arts)
Marymount Manhattan College, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Ronald G. Ehrenberg (Labor Economics)
Cornell University, consultant, 2011
Karen C. Holden (Consumer Science)
University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2010
Gary Rhoades, staff
Sexual Diversity and Gender Identity
Researches, monitors, and educates members of the higher education community and the public on issues relating to sexual diversity and gender identity. Works with other committees (government relations, governance, and Committee A, for example) to promote fair and inclusive policies on these matters on campuses and in the legislatures.
Members
Charles H. Ford (History)
Norfolk State University, chair, 2011
Sine Anahita (Sociology)
University of Alaska, 2012
Patricia W. Bentley (Library & Women's Studies)
College at Plattsburgh, State University of New York, 2010
Jeanne Laurel (English)
Niagara University, 2012
Zuleyma Tang-Martinez (Biology)
University of Missouri-Saint Louis, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Martin D. Snyder, staff
Teaching, Research, and Publication
Addresses issues of concern to all faculty, such as faculty workload, teaching evaluation, assessment, and curricular issues, through the development of policy documents and reports and the application of those principles to particular situations.
Members
Linda L. Carroll (Italian)
Tulane University, 2011
Mary W. Gray (Mathematics)
American University, 2009
Kevin Mattson (History)
Ohio University, 2010
Karen G. Thompson (English)
Rutgers University, 2010
Carol Simpson Stern (Performance Studies)
Northwestern University, consultant, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Eric Combest, staff
Women in the Academic Profession
Formulates policy statements, provides resources, and reports on matters of interest to women faculty and the academic community, addressing such issues as equity in pay, work and family balance, sexual harassment and discrimination, affirmative action and the status of female faculty in rank and tenure. Sponsors data reports on gender equity, prepared by the AAUP Office of Research.
Members
Ann R. Higginbotham (History)
Eastern Connecticut State University, chair, 2010
Anna Bellisari (Anthropology)
Wright State University, 2010
Martha E. Chamallas (Law)
Ohio State University, 2011
Ann Green (English)
Saint Joseph's University, 2011
Rosa Maria Pegueros (History and Women's Studies)
University of Rhode Island, 2011
Paula A. Treichler (Communication and Media Studies)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ex officio as president, 2010
Mary Gibson (Philosophy)
Rutgers University, consultant, 2010
Muriel Poston (Biology)
Skidmore College, consultant, 2010
Martha S. West (Law)
University of California, Davis, consultant, 2011
Anita Levy, staff
(updated 11/09)