Update on the Case of Professor Stephen F. Cohen

On January 30, I posted an item to this blog under the title “The Troubling Case of Professor Stephen Cohen and the American Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies.”  The post recounted the background to a decision by the Association’s Board to reject an offer by Professor Stephen F. Cohen, his wife, Katrina vanden…

2015 Jefferson Muzzle Awards

Since 1992 the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression at the University of Virginia has celebrated the birth and ideals of its namesake by calling attention each year to those who would censor free expression.  Announced on or near April 13—the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson—the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as…

Joan W. Scott on Civility and Academic Freedom

On March 13, Joan W. Scott, Professor Emerita of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study and a member of AAUP’s Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, delivered a talk on “Civility and Academic Freedom” at a celebration of the AAUP’s centennial held at California State University, East Bay.  That talk has now…

Current Hurdles to Academic Freedom and Shared Governance

The following is the text of my keynote address at “Hurdles on the Horizon: Governance & Student Success in the Connecticut State College & University System,” a conference organized by the Faculty Advisory Committee to the CSCU Board of Regents for Higher Education at Manchester Community College on April 10, 2015. Let me begin by…

Race to the Bottom: Losing Ground and Losing Faith

The following is the Executive Summary of a report issued recently by the California Faculty Association, which represents all faculty in the 23-campus California State University system.  The report is the third in a series.  To see the entire series go to http://www.calfac.org/race-to-the-bottom The job of college professor used to be a solidly middle-class profession.…

Race to the Bottom: California State University’s Ten-year Failure to Fund its Core Mission

The following is the Executive Summary of a report issued recently by the California Faculty Association, which represents all faculty in the 23-campus California State University system.  The report is the first in a series. An extensive body of research has shown the unique and critical role that university faculty play in student success and…

AAUP Statement on the Proposed Closure of the University of North Carolina Law School Poverty Center

The following statement was issued today, February 24,  by the American Association of University Professors.  A media release may be found here.  This statement from the national office of the American Association of University Professors is sent on behalf of the local AAUP chapters at University of North Carolina institutions and the statewide North Carolina…