AAUP standing committees work on a variety of topics of importance to higher education and to faculty. The president of the Association serves as an ex officio member of all committees. 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 Contingency 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.
Committee A Members
Hank Reichman (History)
CSU-East Bay, chair, 2015
Ernst Benjamin (Political Science)
Silver Spring, Md., 2013
Michael F. Bérubé (English),
Pennsylvania State University, 2015
Don Eron (Writing and Rhetoric)
University of Colorado, 2015
Marjorie Heins (Communications)
New York University, 2015
Risa L. Lieberwitz (Law)
Cornell University, 2015
Debra Nails (Philosophy)
Michigan State University, 2015
Cary Nelson (English)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015
Karen G. Thompson (English)
Rutgers University, 2015
Hans-Joerg Tiede (Computer Science),
Illinois Wesleyan University, 2015
Theresa Chmara, ex officio as general counsel
Joan E. Bertin (Public Health)
Columbia University, consultant, 2013
Robert A. Gorman (Law)
University of Pennsylvania, consultant, 2013
Gregory F. 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
Iris Delutro (Labor Education and Advancement Program)
Queens College, City University of New York, 2013
John Marino (Radiology)
Stony Brook Health Sciences Center, State University of New York, 2013
Vijay Nair (Library Science)
Western Connecticut State University, 2013
Thomas E. Matthews (Higher Education),
College at Geneseo, State University of New York, consultant,
2014
Martin D. Snyder, 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, 2014
A. Lee Fritschler (Public Policy)
George Mason University, 2015
Greg Gilbert (Communications)
Copper Mountain College, 2013
Roxane H. Gudeman (Psychology)
Macalester College, 2014
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, 2014
Charles A. Baker (French)
College of the Holy Cross, 2015
Lenore A. Beaky (English)
LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, 2013
Jeffrey A. Butts (Biology)
Appalachian State University, 2014
Hans-Joerg Tiede (Computer Science),
Illinois Wesleyan University, 2014
Gerald M. Turkel (Sociology)
University of Delaware, 2014
David D. Witt (Family and Consumer Sciences)
University of Akron, 2014
Purificación Martínez (Hispanic Studies)
East Carolina University, liaison from the ASC, 2013
Paul W. Davis (Behavioral and Social Sciences),
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, liaison from the Collective Bargaining Congress, 2013
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
Lenore A. Beaky (English),
LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, 2014
Samuel Echevarria-Cruz (Sociology),
Austin Community College, 2015
Kimberley Reiser (Biology),
Nassau Community College, 2015
Paul Davis (Behavioral and Social Sciences),
Cincinnati State University, 2015
Lisa Higgins (English),
College of DuPage, 2014
Jeremy Nienow (Anthropology),
Minneapolis Community and Technical College and Inver Hills Community College, 2014
Carl Cuttita (Communications)
Union County College, consultant, 2014
Lantz Simpson (English)
Santa Monica College, consultant, 2014
Craig D. Flanery, staff
Contingency 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, chair, 2014
Joe Berry (Labor Studies and History)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013
Mary Ellen Goodwin (ESL)
De Anza College, 2013
Vincent Tirelli (Political Science)
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2013
Marcia Newfield (English)
Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York, consultant, 2013
Jeanette Jeneault (Writing),
Syracuse University, 2015
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, 2014
Mary King (Economics),
Portland State University, 2015
Barbara Hopkins (Economics),
Wright State University, 2015
Ronald Ehrenberg (Industrial and Labor Relations, Economics),
Cornell University, 2015
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, 2014
Jonathan Karpf (Anthropology)
San Jose State University, 2014
Steve London (Political Science),
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, 2015
Ed Marth (Labor Education),
University of Connecticut, 2015
David B. Patton (Political Science),
Ohio State University, 2013
William F. Trimble (History),
Auburn University, 2013
Beulah Woodfin (Biochemistry),
University of New Mexico, 2015
Howard Bunsis (Accounting)
Eastern Michigan University, ex officio as chair of the CBC, 2013
Donna L. Potts (English)
Kansas State University, ex officio as chair of the ASC, 2013
Gerald M. Turkel (Sociology)
University of Delaware, consultant, 2014
John W. Curtis, staff
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, 2014
Rana Jaleel (American Studies),
New York University, 2014
Michael G. Livingston (Psychology)
Saint John’s University, 2014
Andrew Yale (English),
University of Chicago, 2014
Christopher Simeone, 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
M. Evelyn Fields (Early Childhood Education),
South Carolina State University, chair, 2014
Charles Betsey (Economics),
Howard University, 2015
Cecil Canton (Criminal Justice),
California State University, Sacramento, 2014
Doris Johnson (Teacher Education),
Wright State University, 2015
Lorenzo Morris (Political Science),
Howard University, 2014
Terrell Strayhorn (Education),
Ohio State University, 2014
Marybeth Gasman (Higher Education),
University of Pennsylvania, consultant, 2014
Jennifer Nichols, 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
Claire Elise Katz (Philosophy)
Texas A&M University, chair, 2013
Linda Farmer (Philosophy)
Wright State University, 2015
Arthur Greenberg (Chemistry)
University of New Hampshire, 2015
David A. Hoekema (Philosophy)
Calvin College, 2014
Robert F. Miller (Neuroscience)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2014
Craig Vasey (Philosophy)
University of Mary Washington, 2013
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, 2014
Ronald G. Ehrenberg (Labor Economics)
Cornell University, consultant, 2014
John W. Curtis, 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, 2014
Sine Anahita (Sociology)
University of Alaska, 2015
Jeanne Laurel (English)
Niagara University, 2015
John Stanley (Communications),
North Central College, 2013
Zuleyma Tang-Martinez (Biology)
University of Missouri-Saint Louis, 2013
José Gabilondo (Law)
Florida International University, consultant, 2013
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
Louis Kirschenbaum (Chemistry)
University of Rhode Island, chair, 2013
Kevin Mattson (History)
Ohio University, 2013
Susan Michalczyk (Honors Program),
Boston College, 2015
Karen G. Thompson (English)
Rutgers University, 2013
Linda L. Carroll (Italian)
Tulane University, consultant, 2014
Michael Ferguson, 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 Green (English),
Saint Joseph’s University, chair, 2013
Donna L. Potts (English),
Kansas State University, 2014
Wendy W. Roworth (Art History),
University of Rhode Island, 2015
Anne Sisson Runyan (Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies)
University of Cincinnati, 2015
Suzanne Taylor (Labor Relations),
University of Rhode Island, 2014
Paula A. Treichler (Communication and Media Studies),
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2013
Martha E. Chamallas (Law),
Ohio State University, consultant, 2014
Mary Gibson (Philosophy),
Rutgers University, consultant, 2013
Ann R. Higginbotham (History),
Eastern Connecticut State University, consultant, 2013
Anita Levy, staff
(updated 9/12)