The leaders of the Association are drawn from colleges and universities throughout the country.
Campus-based chapters elect leaders locally. In many states, chapters form state conferences to work on statewide issues. State conference leaders are also elected locally.
At the national level, officers are elected every four years, and are assisted in governing the Association by an elected national Council that meets three times a year and by an Executive Committee that meets as needed. A constitutional amendment proviso approved by the 105th Annual Meeting as part of the AAUP’s restructuring plan stipulated that during the period January 1, 2020, through the close of the June 2020 biennial meeting, or the close of any connected Council meeting:
(a) the officers of the AAUP shall consist of the four AAUP officers serving on December 31, 2019,
(b) the Council of the Association shall consist of the AAUP officers and council members serving on December 31, 2019, and the AAUP-CBC Executive Committee serving on December 31, 2019, and
(c) the Executive Committee of the Council shall consist of the Executive Committee members serving on December 31, 2019.
