Faculty Association Adopts New Government Relations Priorities

Washington, D.C. – The American Association of University Professors has adopted “Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom” as its top priority for its legislative work in the 109th Congress. Citing “politically inspired” intrusions on campuses and in scientific policy development, the Association called for support of measures that would protect the integrity of teaching, scholarly inquiry, and other academic activities.

“This is not business as usual,” Galya Diment, a member of the Association’s Government Relations Committee from the University of Washington, commented. “We are seeing external attacks on scholarly inquiry, limitations on the availability of accurate scientific data, and ideologically-motivated manipulation of the relationship between students and faculty.”

“The Association will continue its support of the Higher Education Act, with special attention to issues of access to college and university education, the quality and diversity of educational opportunities, and the openness of the academic community,” said Gerald Turkel, a faculty member at the University of Delaware and chair of the Government Relations Committee. “But this year brings unusual tensions to the day-to-day activities of faculty. We find that we must focus much of our attention on the protection of critical intellectual freedoms which are being seriously challenged.”

The Association will also press for recognition of the important academic contributions of students and faculty from around the globe, and will resist administrative restrictions and limitations on travel and exchanges among scholars, and the free exchange of ideas and scholarship across borders.

For the complete document describing the Association’s legislative priorities, visit the AAUP web site.

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