Organized by Pat Heintzelman, President Texas Faculty Association (TFA),
tfa.president@texasfacultyassociation.org, 409-454-3701.

Co-sponsored by the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors and the Texas American Federation of Teachers

Saturday, September 14, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m
Eleganté Hotel, 2355 I-10 South, Beaumont, TX 77705

Faculty from across the Lone Star state and Louisiana gathered in Beaumont to learn more about academic freedom, shared governance and the upcoming Texas legislative session.

Keynote speaker David Rabban spoke about his new book, Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right. Panelists included Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chief of Staff at SACSCOC as well as AAUP members. Conference participants were able to pick the brains of North Texas lawyer Frank Hill. Mr. Hill, who represents many faculty in cases across the state talked about the basics of what to expect when one contacts a lawyer about issues on campus. FIRE staff lawyer Josh Bleisch was also a featured speaker on academic freedom in the courts.

Finally, AAUP & AFT member David Albert and TFA, TACT & TCCTA lobbyist Beaman Floyd spoke about the upcoming legislative session. The two new Interim Higher ed charges released Tuesday sets the stage for defunding the humanities and social sciences.

Thanks to Pat Heintzelman for organizing the very successful Higher Education Summit in Beaumont, Texas!

TFA President Pat Heintzelman
Texas Higher Education Summit Chair

Dr. Patrick Smith, Pat Heintzelman, Beaman Floyd, and Dr. Cary Wintz

Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chief of Staff of SACSCOC, and Pat Heintzelman

UT Austin Law Professor David Rabban presenting his new book Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right.

Attorney Frank Hill presenting about faculty rights and the basics of
what to expect when one contacts a lawyer about issues on campus.

Attorney Joshua Bleisch from FIRE presenting on
Academic Freedom in the Courts.

Dr. David Albert and Lobbyist Beaman Floyd discuss the
higher education priorities in the next Texas Legislative session.

Dr. Leslie Bary, Secretary of the Louisiana AAUP Conference, asks a question during the panel on the upcoming Texas Legislative session,

Agenda

9:00 a.m. Welcome
9:30 a.m. Shared Governance panel: Donny Leo, Tony Villanueva, and Sandra Jordan
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Academic Freedom panel: Teresa Klein, Donny Leo, and Sandra Jordan
12:30 p.m. Lunch / Professor David Rabban to speak about his new book Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right
1:30 p.m. Faculty Rights questions for attorney Frank Hill
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. Academic Freedom in the Courts: Joshua Bleisch, FIRE attorney
4:45 p.m. Texas Legislative Session: Beaman Floyd and David Albert
5:45 p.m. Wrap up

Speakers from all over the state and beyond are gathering to present this unique opportunity for faculty. Among the speakers:

• Dr. David Albert is the Texas AAUP-AFT Vice President for Central Texas and the Austin Community College AFT Local President. He is also a Professor of Government at ACC.
• Joshua T. Bleisch, an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), will discuss Academic Freedom in the Courts.
• Frank Hill, a higher ed employment attorney currently representing about 20 Texas faculty, will answer legal questions from attendees.
• Dr. Sandra Jordan, Chief of Staff, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Committee on Colleges which accredits public and private colleges and universities in Texas and beyond, will participate on the academic freedom and shared governance panels.
• Dr. Teresa Klein is the Texas AAUP-AFT Vice President and the Del Mar College AAUP Chapter President. She is also a tenured Professor of Psychology and former Faculty Senate President at Del Mar College. She is also a TFA officer.
• Donny Leo has many years of experience actively advocating for academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, and faculty rights at community colleges and universities.
• Professor David Rabban, the Dahr Jamail, Randall Hage Jamail, and Robert Lee Jamail Regents Chair in Law, Distinguished Teaching Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, will talk about his new book Academic Freedom: From Professional Norm to First Amendment Right. Prof. Rabban also served as Counsel, General Counsel, and Academic Freedom Committee Chair of the National AAUP.
• Tony Villanueva is the Texas AAUP-AFT Vice President for South Texas. He is also a tenured Professor of Psychology at Palo Alto College in San Antonio where he served as Faculty Senate President 2019-2021. He is the convener of a new AAUP-AFT chapter for Alamo Colleges, which includes Palo Alto College and four other community colleges.

About AAUP.  Founded in 1915, we champion academic freedom, advance shared governance, and organize all faculty to promote economic security and quality education. Here’s a link to join and several reasons to consider joining.  Membership is kept confidential.  AAUP has 42,000 members and is affiliated with AFT with 1.8M members including 300,000 in higher ed. AFT is part of AFL-CIO with 12M members. Follow Texas AAUP-AFT on X @TexasAaup and @aaup_utAustin.

About TFA.  We support the freedoms of all faculty and staff, and vigorously supports its members.  We are stronger together and want to advocate for you!  Here’s a link to join TFA and several reasons to consider joining.  Membership is kept confidential.  TFA is affiliated with the Texas State Teacher’s Association, which is affiliated the 3M members of the National Education Association (NEA). Follow TFA on X @TXFacultyAssoc.