Our Programs

The AAUP has been protecting the rights of faculty and other higher education professionals for ninety-five years. Through assistance and advice to individuals, state and federal lobbying, amicus briefs, support for collective bargaining, and other means, the AAUP helps shape American higher education and ensure higher education's contribution to the common good.

Protecting Academic Freedom

Protecting academic freedom is the AAUP's core mission. For almost a century we have been developing standards for sound academic practice and in working for the acceptance of these standards by the community of higher education.

The AAUP's Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure promotes principles of academic freedom, tenure, and due process through the development of policy documents and reports and the application of those principles to particular situations. 

Promoting Shared Governance

Since 1916, the AAUP has been working to ensure meaningful faculty participation in institutional governance. Our first statement on the subject, emphasizing faculty involvement in personnel decisions, selection of administrators, budgeting, and determination of educational policies, was published in 1920.

Today,  AAUP staff and leaders provide advice and assistance to faculty members throughout the country on matters of academic governance. And our Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities is academia's central policy document relating to governance.

Government Relations

The AAUP's government relations program tracks legislation that is relevant to our mission at both the federal and state levels. We also communicate legislative information to members and encourage them to become active in the issues affecting higher education in general and faculty in particular.

Research

The AAUP research program tracks trends in higher education and produces reports on topics including faculty compensation, gender equity, and contingent faculty.

Legal Program

The AAUP's legal office supports the activities of the Association in a variety of ways. The office responds to inquiries on higher education law from professors, academic administrators, attorneys, and others; monitors legal developments in higher education around the country; and leads workshops and presentations on higher education law. (See a list of resources broken down by topic.)

Coalitions

AAUP leaders have joined with faculty leaders from across the country and from many different organizations to form coalitions to work toward a common goal. Learn more about what these coalitions do and how you can get involved.