About the Journal

The AAUP Journal of Academic Freedom publishes scholarship on academic freedom and on its relation to shared governance, tenure, and collective bargaining. The journal, published by the organization most responsible for defining academic freedom, appears annually in an online-only format. See our editorial policy for general guidelines about submissions. We release a call for papers each fall.

Faculty Editors

2015- : Jennifer H. Ruth, Portland State University
2014-15 (Volume 6): Michael Bérubé, Pennsylvania State University
2013-14 (Volumes 4-5): Ashley Dawson, the Graduate Center, City University of New York
2010-13 (Volumes 1-3): Cary Nelson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Staff Editor

Kelly Hand

Contact us at jaf@aaup.org

Editorial Board

Cary Nelson
University of Illinois
Founding Editor

Aaron Barlow
New York City College of Technology of the City University of New York

Ernst Benjamin
Past AAUP General Secretary

Larry Gerber
Auburn University

Mary Gray
American University

Anita Levy
AAUP Associate Secretary

Debra Nails
Michigan State University

Robert Post
Yale University

Adolph Reed
University of Pennsylvania

Ellen Schrecker
Yeshiva University

Gregory Scholtz
AAUP Associate Secretary

Cat Warren
North Carolina State University

Journal of Academic Freedom Editorial Policy

Submission of an essay (including by invitation) does not guarantee its acceptance; the Journal of Academic Freedom is under no requirement to accept any submission. Submissions should not include defamatory statements or raise other significant legal concerns. Promotion or criticism of candidates running for office within the AAUP or in local, state, or national elections is not allowed in the journal; neither is misrepresentation of AAUP policy.

The Journal of Academic Freedom discourages the following:

  • Submissions primarily devoted to specific ongoing disputes involving individuals and their colleges or universities, except in cases of national significance. In such cases, submissions should focus on the wider implications and lessons.
  • Submissions that are primarily focused on another national higher education group or union.
  • Submissions primarily devoted to specific ongoing disputes involving individuals and AAUP entities including chapters, conferences, or affiliates. However, productive self-reflection and critique of an AAUP entity’s successes and failures are welcome.
  • Submissions of material previously published elsewhere. Such submissions must be clearly marked as previously published material.

The Journal uses the sixteenth edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. Authors should anticipate that accepted articles will need to be put into Chicago's "notes and bibliography" style.

Electronic submissions of no more than 8,000 words should be sent to jaf@aaup.org and must include an abstract of about 150 words. 

The journal's ISSN number is 21538492.