AAUP@UT

We champion academic freedom, advance shared governance, and organize faculty and staff to promote economic security and quality education.

Contact: Chapter President Karma Chavez aaup.utaustin@gmail.com

AAUP at UT Austin Expresses Concerns about UT’s “Statement on Academic Integrity”, Nov. 11, 2025

AAUP at UT Austin Stands in Solidarity with Faculty in the Texas A&M System, Nov. 11, 2025

AAUP Chapter at UT Austin Responses to the Trump Compact

• AAUP Chapter at UT Austin Statement on the Trump Administration “Compact”, Oct. 14, 2025
• AAUP Chapter at UT Austin Resolution on the Trump Administration “Compact”, Oct. 14, 2025
• Trump Administration, Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, Oct. 1, 2025

National Petitions Against the Trump Compacts

• University Administrations: Reject Trump’s “Loyalty Oath” Compacts, by Student, Staff, and Faculty organizations including Higher Ed Labor United.  Anyone can sign.
• To: University Presidents and Trustees: STAND WITH YOUR SCHOOL: Federal government attacks 9 universities. Sign the alumni petition now.  Anyone can sign.

Texas AAUP-AFT Response to Degree Audits and New State Laws

• Faculty Rights: Standing Against Censorship, Sept. 25, 2025. Here’s more info about your faculty rights in the UT System
• Upholding Faculty Rights to Academic Freedom and Due Process, an open letter to college and university administrators, Sept. 22, 2025
• Higher Ed Laws from the 2025 Texas Legislature, Aug. 4, 2025

AAUP Chapter at UT Austin 2025

• Advocacy: AAUP at UT Austin Expresses Concerns about UT’s “Statement on Academic Integrity”, Nov. 3, 2025
• Teach-In: Learn about Trump’s Proposed Compact with UT and What We Can All Do About It, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, 4-6pm, University Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe, Austin, TX. Flier.
• Advocacy: “Authoritarian Shift at UT Austin: AAUP Chapter Condemns Faculty Governance Overhaul“, Sept. 27, 2025
• Advocacy: “AAUP Executive Committee Letter to UT Austin Interim President Jim Davis,” concerning lack of a consultative committee for a national search for the new Provost hire, June 2, 2025.
• Advocacy: “Letter from AAUP Chapter at UT Austin: Revocation of International Student Visas“, March 9, 2025.
• Advocacy: “Statement on President Jay Hartzell’s Resignation“, Jan. 7, 2025.
• AAUP Principles in UT Policies: Curriculum – Academic freedom
• Meetings: Fall 24 – Fall 23 – Spr 23 – Fall 22 – Spr 22 – Fall 21
• Officers: 2025-27 and By-Laws

AAUP Chapter at UT Austin 2024 Highlights

• Chapter Meeting: Agenda, slides & highlights, Dec. 11, 2024.
• Testified at Texas Senate hearing on faculty senates and curriculum, Nov. 11, 2024.
• Join the AAUP Chapter at UT Austin Handout, Oct. 13, 2024
• Message to President Jay Hartzell About Not Following Due Process in Non-Renewal of Dean Stevens, Oct. 11, 2024
• Testified at Texas Senate hearing on implementation of anti-DEI SB 17 and Governor’s Order on antisemitism & free speech, May 14, 2024.
• UT Faculty have No Confidence in President Hartzell due to mass firings and militarized response to campus protests, Apr. 25, 2024.
• Response to mass firings of staff, faculty, administrators, Apr. 2, 2024.
• Academic freedom presentation to Dean’s Council, Mar. 2, 2024.

Slides & Fliers

All AAUP members affiliated with UT Austin are automatically members of AAUP@UT. If you are affiliated with UT Austin and would like to join the AAUP@UT mailing list, please email Brian Evans.

Our advocacy is amplified by teaming with Texas AAUP, AAUP, Texas AFT, AFT, Texas Council of Faculty Senates, Texas Faculty Association, Texas State Employees Union, Black Brown Dialogues on Policy, Texas Students for DEI, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Pen America, Texas NAACP, Every Texan, ACLU Texas, and other orgs. AAUP is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, and Texas AAUP is affiliated with Texas AFT.

The Legislative priorities for certain Republicans and their allies for the Texas Legislature are to stifle free speech, suppress academic freedom, and silence faculty. They will also double down on bans on DEI student services.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Second Wave of Senate Interim Legislative Charges, Higher Education Committee, September 10, 2024

• Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce: Examine programs and certificates at higher education institutions that maintain discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Expose how these programs and their curriculum are damaging and not aligned with state workforce demands. Make recommendations for any needed reforms to ensure universities are appropriately educating students to meet workforce needs.
• Core Curriculum Course Accessibility: Review student access to core
  curriculum courses at Texas institutions of higher education. Examine the availability of these courses both online and in-person, as well as any issues that would prevent or reduce in-person access. Make recommendations for any needed reforms to ensure that all students have equal in-person access to core courses.

Texas Senate Higher Education Subcommittee Interim Hearings, May 14, 2024

• Hearing notice
• Testimony from 85 people on anti-DEI SB 17, 46 on free speech, and 23 on antisemitism. Some testified on more than one topic.
• Videorecording. Public testimony begins at 5:55:00.
• See “Senate Higher Ed Subcommittee Convenes to Study DEI, Free Speech, & Antisemitism“, Texas AFT, May 16, 2024

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Senate Interim Legislative Charges, Higher Education Committee, April 11, 2024

• “Faculty Senates”: Review and analyze the structures and governance in higher education, focusing on the role of “faculty senates,” and like groups, in representing faculty interests to higher education institution administrations. Make recommendations to establish guidelines for the role and representation of faculty by “faculty senates,” and like groups, at higher education institutions in Texas.
• Innovation and Technology in Higher Education: Investigate the opportunities and challenges of emerging technology on teaching and learning, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), online education, and digital resources. Examine aspects of intellectual property as they relate to the development of AI programs and platforms by institutions of higher education and explore the ethical issues institutions of higher education should contemplate when developing AI programs and platforms. Make recommendations to responsibly and ethically utilize emerging technology to enhance learning in higher education
• Monitor the Ban on Discriminatory DEI Policies: Examine the implementation of Senate Bill 17, 88th Legislature, which bans discriminatory “DEI” initiatives at institutions of public higher education. Review and report on the progress each institution has made in aligning university policies and procedures with the provisions of Senate Bill 17, ensuring Texas college campuses foster equal opportunity and reward individual merit and achievement.
• Faculty Tenure Revisions: Monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 18, 88th Legislature, relating to the tenure and employment of faculty members at certain public institutions of higher education. Review and report on each institution’s progress toward policies and procedures aligned with the provisions set forth in Senate Bill 18.
• Combating Antisemitism on Texas College Campuses: Review campus policies to prevent antisemitism. Study the oversight Texas institutions of higher education have over the formation and operations of student organizations, including access to campus facilities and use of campus property. Make recommendations to prevent antisemitism on college campuses, while protecting First Amendment rights.
• Public Junior College State Finance Program: Monitor the implementation of the new community college funding model as recommended by the Texas Commission on Community College Finance. Report on whether the rulemaking process is being successfully completed to focus on student outcomes and enhancing the role of public junior colleges in workforce training and preparation.
• Campus Free Speech: Examine the procedures of Texas public institutions of higher education designed to protect the First Amendment free speech rights of faculty, staff, and students. Monitor and report on compliance Senate Bill 18, 86th Legislature, and make recommendations for any needed reforms.

Gov. Greg Abbott, March 20, 2024

• Title IX regulations. Governor Abbott issued a letter on May 8, 2024, to direct Texas universities to ignore President Biden’s Administration Title IX rewrite.
• Free speech. Governor Abbott issued executive order GA44 “relating to addressing acts of antisemitism in institutions of higher education” on March 27, 2024. See Texas AAUP Response to Gov. Abbott’s Executive Order Relating to Antisemitism.
• On new bills related to banning DEI. Gov. Abbott gave the Opening Keynote for the Texas Public Policy Foundation Policy Summit, March 20, 2024, from the 44:24 to the 1:31:14 mark. Here are his comments on higher education from the 57:29 to the 59:10 mark: “another policy that worked on that we work together and finally pass what is now the strongest law of his effect and that is we are concerned about the ideology that’s being hammered into our kids when they go to our schools and our colleges and our kids are not learning the the core elements that will ensure that they’re going to be better qualified to compete against their peers across our country across the globe instead they’re being indoctrinated with ideologies from far-left socialistic based professors and universities and all of that is being used under the umbrella of what seems like is kind of a Kind thing it’s called DEI and DEI is used programmatically to indoctrinate our kids and our universities in working with TPPF I signed a law that bans DEI at our universities here in the state of Texas doesn’t mean that it’s working flawlessly there’s some scofflaws out there as we speak right now just know this uh we’re monitoring what our universities are doing and make sure they will be brought into compliance and knowing what we learn about ways in which they are not in compliance will be looking forward to implementing more compliance measures when we get into the next session uh to make sure we are holding these universities accountable …” [Automatically generated transcript on YouTube]

Texas Public Policy Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan foundation, Feb. 13, 2024

• “TPPF Announces Top Priorities for the Texas Legislative Session“, Feb. 13, 2024, which includes “Restore the Proper Mission of Higher Education: Texas should ensure that public higher education institutions foster diversity of thought, encourage innovation, resist ideological conformity, and return to their proper role of widening the sphere of knowledge for students. Taxpayers should not fund programs that divide, exclude, and indoctrinate students, nor should the accreditation organizations be able to extort schools into promoting one ideological agenda.”

Contacts: Brian Evans, Interim President, Texas AAUP Conference, aaup.texas@gmail.com, and Polly Strong, President, UT Austin AAUP Chapter, strongpolly@gmail.com.

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, the UT Austin Administration issued 60-day termination notices to more than 60 professional staff who once did DEI work but pivoted before January 1, 2024, to comply with SB 17. [Ref]  Several of the staff also hold faculty positions.  Academic advisors and other professional staff in a teaching or training role have academic freedom to be able to do their job effectively.  Additionally, at least 15 Assistant and Associate Dean positions will be eliminated on May 31, 2024; faculty members in these roles will  be demoted and take a significant cut in pay but retain their faculty positions. [Ref]  The UT Austin Administration refuses to provide the number of employees who were fired, but we know that most of them are women and/or members of underrepresented minority groups.

The UT Austin AAUP Chapter, the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP-AFT), and the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT).  In addition, we’ve been putting pressure on the UT Austin Administration:

• Joint Press Release by Texas AAUP & Texas NAACP, Apr. 3, 2024.
• UT Austin AAUP Letter to the UT Austin President, Apr. 4, 2024.

Both statements have been picked up by local, state, and national media.  Please follow us on X @TexasAaup and @aaup_utAustin for timely updates and shares of all relevant press coverage.

AAUP champions academic freedom, advances shared governance, and organizes all faculty to promote economic security and quality education.  Organizing with AAUP will help us fight against other attempts at wrongful termination of former DEI employees as well as erosion of academic freedom and shared governance.

Here’s the link to join AAUP and several reasons to consider joining.  AAUP membership is open to adjunct, lecturer, instructional, professional, tenure-track, tenure, and retired faculty members as well as graduate students, librarians, researchers, and academic advisors and other professional staff.  

#NotOurTexas #DEI #academicfreedom #sharedgovernance #AAUP #TexasAAUP #UTAustinAAUP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATED 04/03/2024

Texas NAACP & Texas Conference of American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

Contacts: Gary Bledsoe, President, Texas NAACP, gbledsoe@thebledsoelawfirm.com, and Brian Evans, Interim President, Texas AAUP Conference, aaup.texas@gmail.com

UT AUSTIN STAFF LAID OFF IN NEW SB 17-RELATED DEVELOPMENT

On April 2, 2024, a large number of University of Texas at Austin professionals who formerly worked in DEI assignments received pink slips notifying them that their days at the University will come to an end in 60 days. Estimates are that approximately 60 persons received these pink slips, with some offices to be closed by May 31st. 40 persons who were notified that they would be laid off were with the Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE), formerly the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement.

None of the staff who received pink slips are currently working in DEI-related jobs. In order to comply with SB 17, all of the professionals had been given new responsibilities and some had been moved to new offices. Because of this, we have urgent concerns about these termination notices, which follow closely upon a recent communication to University officials around the State, including University of Texas at Austin officials, from Senator Brandon Creighton, warning them about continuing persons in their employment if the changes amounted to simple label changes. Senator Creighton also plans a meeting in May to assess DEI compliance.

A complete unit in DCCE was eliminated in this action, one originally created in response to the reduction of the Top 10 percent requirement at the University to 6 percent. At that time, the University reported to the Legislature that there was a need to continue to “show students of all backgrounds that going to school here at UT is a possibility.” DCCE houses many initiatives for the campus community, K-12 students, and the Austin community as a whole, including the University Interscholastic League, the UT Elementary School, Disability and Access, and many others. These programs will now be distributed to 9 different campus units. Given that DCCE had already been modified to comply with SB 17, its dismantling his appears to be an inappropriate and unnecessary response to SB17.

The Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), Texas NAACP, and other affiliated organizations will continue to gather information on these precipitous terminations, which we believe to be potential attacks on First Amendment freedoms. At the time when they were issued pink slips, all terminated employees were no longer in DEI-related positions. Therefore, these terminations clearly are intended to retaliate against employees because of their previous association with DEI and speech that they exercised prior to their current assignments.  In addition, the way cuts were made in DCCE make it clear that racial and ethnic discrimination was the clear purpose of this action. 

We call on University of Texas at Austin officials to be forthcoming about these terminations, their impact on University services to students and the community, and the provisions made to displaced staff, who until today had been assured that their positions were not in jeopardy.

References

Lily Kepner, “Sources: UT lays off at least 60 employees previously in DEI-related position, closes DCCE“, Austin American-Statesman, April 2, 2024.

Senator Brandon Creighton, “Senator Brandon Creighton Announces Oversight on Senate Bill 17 Implementation“, March 26, 2024.

Victoria May, “Texas’ Top 10% Rule makes little difference in diversity on campus, study says“, The Daily Texan, July 30, 2019. Article relates to the UT Austin Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and its function.

UT Austin AAUP Letter to the UT Austin President, Apr. 4, 2024.

Dear UT community,

Soon after the passage last year of Senate Bill 17 — which prohibits many activities around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) — the University embarked on a multiphase process to review campus portfolios and end or redesign the policies, programs, trainings, and roles affected by the new law. Our initial focus was to ensure we made the required changes by SB 17’s January 1 effective date, but we knew that more work would be required to utilize our talent and resources most effectively in support of our teaching and research missions, and ultimately, our students.

Since that date, we have been evaluating our post-SB 17 portfolio of divisions, programs, and positions. The new law has changed the scope of some programs on campus, making them broader and creating duplication with long-standing existing programs supporting students, faculty, and staff. Following those reviews, we have concluded that additional measures are necessary to reduce overlap, streamline student-facing portfolios, and optimize and redirect resources into our fundamental activities of teaching and research.

For these reasons, we are discontinuing programs and activities within the Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE) that now overlap with our efforts elsewhere. Following these changes, the scale and needs of the remaining DCCE activities do not justify a stand-alone division. As a result, we are closing DCCE and redistributing the remaining programs. This means that we will continue to operate many programs with rich histories spanning decades, such as disability services, University Interscholastic League, the UT charter schools, and volunteer and community programs. Going forward, these programs will be part of other
divisions where they complement existing operations. We know these programs and the dedicated staff who run them will continue to have positive impacts on our campus and community.

Additionally, funding used to support DEI across campus prior to SB 17’s effective date will be redeployed to support teaching and research. As part of this reallocation, associate or assistant deans who were formerly focused on DEI will return to their full-time faculty positions. The positions that provided support for those associate and assistant deans and a small number of staff roles across campus that were formerly focused on DEI will no longer be funded.

I recognize that strong feelings have surrounded SB 17 from the beginning and will shape many Longhorns’ perceptions of these measures. It is important that we respect the perspectives and experiences of our fellow Longhorns as the changes we are announcing today take effect. It is also important that this continues to be a welcoming, supportive community for all.

Respect for our students, faculty, and staff will be essential as we make these changes. The Division of Student Affairs will work to ensure that current student- facing services will continue to be available for the rest of this semester, and student workers also will retain their positions through the end of this term. Staff members whose positions are being eliminated will have the opportunity to apply and be considered for existing open positions at the University, and resources will be made available to support them.

UT Austin is a world-class public research university serving all of Texas and more than 50,000 incredible students. Our students, alumni, faculty, and staff continue to affect the world in meaningful ways each day. Other campus leaders and I appreciate your ongoing efforts as we seek to maximize the impact of our teaching and research.

Sincerely yours,

Jay Hartzell
President

Updated March 30, 2024, July 17, 2024, September 29, 2024, October 23, 2024, and October 1, 2025

Texas AAUP members took a historic vote on March 30, 2024, in favor of the Texas AAUP Conference affiliating with the Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Vote was 45 yes, 0 no, and 2 abstain. Approved!

Texas AAUP has become the first advocacy unit within AAUP to affiliate with a State Federation of AFT. The affiliation will allow Texas AAUP and Texas AFT to amplify advocacy on our campuses and across the state!

Amplified advocacy and benefits. By joining AAUP, those in Texas would automatically become a member of Texas AAUP, Texas AFT, and AFT. Here are the legal representation and other member benefits including

• Amplified advocacy. Texas AFT has 66,000 members and 45 dedicated full-time staff for organizing, advocacy, policy analysis, lobbying, and IT. Texas AFT has hired two organizers for the Texas AAUP-AFT Local.
• Amplified benefits include $8M professional liability coverage, up to $35,000 in legal aid to respond to criminal investigations, and advocates for meetings, investigations, and grievances. Officer benefits include Board of Directors insurance.

To access the legal defense fund for employment matters, see the next two items.

AAUP Lifetime Members. Anyone who was an AAUP Lifetime Member prior to the vote on March 30, 2024, by Texas AAUP members in favor of affiliating with Texas AFT will be grandfathered into Texas AAUP-AFT with full member benefits, including access to the legal defense fund.

Legal Defense Fund. To access the legal defense fund, with the exception for certain AAUP Lifetime Members noted above, you’ll need to join AAUP through the Texas AAUP-AFT registration link because the new dues will be used to build up the Texas AAUP-AFT legal defense fund for employment matters. Texas AAUP-AFT would split any legal costs equally with Texas AFT and AFT, and the latter two have already built up their legal defense fund. The new Texas AAUP-AFT annual dues are lower than the typical cost of one hour of lawyer time, which is between $600 and $1500 per hour. The new dues will also help cover the salaries for the Texas AFT staff who work with us including the attorneys who provide legal advice. In addition, Texas AAUP-AFT has relationships with organizations that provide pro-bono legal representation for free speech cases. New dues structure explained.

Link to Join. Here’s the link to join the Texas AAUP-AFT, which is AFT Local 8041A. By joining Texas AAUP-AFT, you’ll automatically be a member of Texas AAUP, Texas AFT, AAUP, and AFT as well as your AAUP campus chapter if there is one.  AFT has 1.8M members with 300,000 in higher ed.  AFT is affiliated with AFL-CIO, which has 12M members. Here are some additional reasons to consider joining AAUP.

New name, same autonomy. With the passage of affiliation agreement, Texas AAUP is now AFT Local 8041A and known as Texas AAUP-AFT. Texas AAUP would continue to operate under its by-laws and practices, e.g. Texas AAUP members can continue to be AAUP members from public or private institutions of higher education in Texas.

Attendees at the meeting on March 30, 2024, included Texas AAUP Officers Jeff Blodgett, Patrick Burkart, Brian Evans, Teresa Klein, Ann McGlashan, Lynn Tatum, Tony Villanueva, and our Secretary. Zoom capture taken shortly after the meeting from left to right and top to bottom are Brian Evans, Zeph Capo, Tony Villanueva, Shawn Fields, Texas AAUP Secretary, Teresa Klein, David Albert, Jim Klein, Lynn Tatum, Patrick Burkart, Jeff Blodgett, and Karen Anglin.

Texas AFT article. Amid Attacks on Higher Education, Texas AAUP Votes to Affiliate with Texas AFT, April 4, 2024.

AAUP.  We champion academic freedom, advance shared governance, and organize all faculty to promote economic security and quality education.  Founded in 1915 by faculty, AAUP jointly developed principles on academic freedom, tenure and shared governance with college and university administrations that have been widely adopted by colleges and universities.

Background. On a national level, AAUP affiliated with AFT on August 1, 2022. AAUP has 45,000 members, and AFT has 1.7M members. The national affiliation, however, did not apply to AAUP advocacy conferences and campus chapters, such as the Texas AAUP Conference. With National AAUP, Texas AFT, and National AFT approved the affiliation agreement ahead of today’s vote.

At our Spring Texas AAUP Meeting on Feb. 24, 2024, leaders from Texas AAUP, National AAUP, Texas AFT, and National AFT presented their thoughts on the affiliation agreement:

Zeph Capo, Texas AFT President and National AFT Vice President

• The affiliation agreement if accepted would
  • Give access to regional leadership training opportunities
  • Accelerate organizing colleagues into a union
  • Amplify advocacy campaigns
  • Reach new campuses
  • Organize new chapters
• We need to exponentially increase number of activists. We’re behind. 
• So many attacks on academic freedom, shared governance, DEI programs, tenure, etc.
• Sense of urgency to work together and move forward.
• Texas AFT has hired a lead organizer to work specifically with Texas AAUP
• Members are single most important factor in success of organization to effect change

Mark Bostic, National AAUP Director of Organizing and Servicing:

• My budget is putting this together
• This is a big deal at National AAUP
• Texas AAUP would be first AAUP advocacy unit to join a State AFT Federation
• AAUP will cover increase in annual dues (to cover the member benefits) for a few years
• Bringing two organizations together increases political weight.
• Exciting trajectory!

Richelle Fiore, National AFT Director of Higher Education Organizing:

• Prior to the affiliation of National AAUP with National AFT, we worked together at the
• national level to organize new members and emphasize AAUP principles.
• Texas AFT is one of the best organizations for building power to protect educators in TX.
• National AFT has taken note of that and puts a lot of its organizing budget into TX.

Wanda Longoria, Texas AFT Secretary/Treasurer:

• Collective power is what makes change happen
• When I started as a K-12 teacher decades ago, Texas AFT was only organization on the front lines and in media to push back on injustice
• Fighting for diversity and quality education for students, training faculty to be powerful voices
• Way to build power locally is to provide training at local levels
• Texas AFT’s best tool is equipping chapters at local level
• Texas AFT is part of National AFT which is part of AFL-CIO
• Powerful to have union brothers and sisters standing with faculty at a board meeting or in front of media
• Member engagement is what creates power

The Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors expresses utmost concern over the current state of freedom of expression in the Texas Tech University System and at Texas Tech University.

In particular,  Texas AAUP Conference amplifies the concern expressed by National AAUP on the suspension of Dr. Jairo Fúnez-Flores in their March 11, 2024, letter.  Dr. Jairo Fúnez-Flores is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Texas Tech University.

• AAUP letter on the suspension of Dr. Jairo Fúnez-Flores, Mar. 11, 2024
• Texas AAUP letter on the suspension of Dr. Jairo Fúnez-Flores, Mar. 16, 2024

Dr. Fúnez-Flores was reinstated on April 13, 2024. He tweeted “The investigation did not find any evidence of discriminatory harassment”.

October 24, 2023, the History Department at San Antonio College (SAC) organized as an educational session for students about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict entitled “Teach-In for Palestine”. Before the event could begin, Vice President for Academic Success Cassandra Rincones stood up and told students in attendance the session would not proceed as planned. The event was rescheduled for November 1, 2023.

Responses and Fallout

• 12-20-2023: SAC Faculty Senate Censure of President and Provost
• 01-2024: SAC HR changes to improve due process and transparency
• 01-19-2024:  SAC President and Provost response to Faculty Senate
• 01-23-2024:  FIRE Letter to San Antonio College
• 03-18-2024: SAC President Resigns

Graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin in the Education Policy and Planning program, along with their supervisor Dr. Angela Valenzuela, are gathering interviews with faculty, staff, and students around the personal, social, and professional impacts of Senate Bill 17. Their study includes all Texas public colleges and universities who are affected by this legislation, and seek to gain well-rounded and in-depth narratives from around Texas so please consider filling out the following Qualtrics survey if you are interested: 

https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b3qZR1aqd6MHhAO

And please also share this with your contacts. There is a flyer below that you are welcome to share. 

All information is kept confidential, and your privacy is of utmost importance in their study as they are aware that this is a sensitive time and topic. Please reach out to doctoral student Jenna Doane at jenna.doane@utexas.edu if you have any further questions or concerns.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) advocates for people and principles in higher ed. Don’t go it alone as a faculty member! Please consider joining AAUP.  AAUP welcomes all faculty, including clinical, instructional, practice, research, tenure-track, tenured, and retired, as well as future faculty, including graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Dues are on a sliding scale and we keep membership confidential.

Texas AAUP provides guidance for AAUP members on due process matters such as faculty investigations and grievances.

Administrator Ambushes. If you’re ever called to meet with an administrator and they won’t tell you what it is about, ask for an explanation in writing. Some administrators have been known to try to catch a faculty member off guard in these kinds of meetings as a precursor to an investigation or part of an investigation.  If you decide to attend a meeting with an administrator that has the potential to be adversarial or disciplinary in nature, be sure to take an advocate/representative with you – you have a legal right to advocacy and representation by a personal third party, and that third party does not have to be a lawyer.  You can leave the meeting any time.

How AAUP Can Help You. Although Texas AAUP cannot provide legal advice, legal counsel, legal representation, or legal referrals at the present time, we’ll advocate like heck for our members:

Texas AAUP Intervenes on Behalf of Tenured Associate Professor Mickie Mwanzia Koster at UT Tyler. As a result, UT Tyler rescinded its 15-day notice of termination sent to Dr. Koster without any due process procedures, in violation of its own policies and procedures and Dr. Koster’s Constitutional Right to due process. (Oct. 2023)

Texas AAUP members can contact Texas AAUP Interim President Brian Evans (aaup.texas@gmail.com) to request an advocate for due process matters.

Any faculty member, whether they are an AAUP member or not, can reach out to Dr. Evans on other faculty matters involving academic freedom, tenure and shared governance.

About AAUP. We champion academic freedom, advance shared governance and organize all faculty to promote economic security and quality education.  Here are AAUP member benefits and reasons to advocate with Texas AAUP.  AAUP has 45,000 members and is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, which has 1.7M members including 148,000 professors. Please consider joining AAUP.

Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @TexasAaup for daily updates.