Each Spring, the UT Austin and Texas A&M Faculty Senates meet to discuss academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, and other matters.

Here are the slides from the presentations by faculty members that set the stage for discussion:

by Andrea Gore (UT Austin Pharmacy) and Rob Mackin (Texas A&M Sociology)

by Brian Evans (UT Austin Engineering) and John Stallone (Texas A&M Veterinary School)

The AAUP co-authored the seminal document on shared governance entitled 1966 Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities:

• Jointly formulated by AAUP, ACE and AGB
• UT Austin is a member of the American Council on Education (ACE)
• UT System is a member of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities & Colleges (AGB)

The six-page document outlines the responsibilities of faculty, the President, and the governing board (UT System Board of Regents for us).

The safeguards of academic freedom in teaching, research and expression include tenure, due process, and shared governance.

The seminal document for academic freedom and tenure in the US is the
1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom & Tenure

• Academic freedom for teachers in teaching, research and expression
• Jointly formulated by faculty represented by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and university administrations represented by the American Association of Colleges & University (AA&U)
• UT Austin and 900+ other institutions are AAC&U members
• More than 250+ professional organizations have adopted this statement

It was this 1940 statement that led to the widespread adoption of these principles in university handbooks in the 1940s, 1950s, and beyond.

The UT System Regents Rules and the UT Austin Handbook of Operating Procedures adopt the wording in the 1940 statement almost verbatim.

Site for the AAUP enthusiasts at The University of Texas at Austin