NYS AAUP Committee A |
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WE CAN HELP YOU DEFEND YOUR ACADEMIC FREEDOMIrwin Yellowitz, Chair, New York Conference, Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure Academic freedom protects all faculty members, tenured or untenured. If a faculty member in New York State has experienced, or is threatened with, a violation of academic freedom, or of the tenure rights which sustain it, the members of New York Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure are ready to help. We are prepared to receive complaints and provide advice about possible courses of action. Our first function is to discuss the issues and actions thoroughly with the faculty member. This involves telephone conversations, e-mail exchanges, and a full examination of the available documentary record. In personnel actions, or any issue that has implications for academic freedom, faculty members should keep accurate and complete records of all relevant correspondence, telephonic and electronic communications, and meetings with colleagues and administrators. Our counsel is based on AAUP guidelines and our own experience. (See AAUP Policy Documents and Reports, 10th Edition, 2006, “The Redbook”.) We offer advice on whether the procedures of the institution meet established academic practice, and whether they have been applied properly. We offer advice on whether the actions taken or contemplated have a prima facie aura of discrimination or malice. Our advice helps faculty members understand their situations better, allows them to maximize the effectiveness of internal institutional procedures, and clarifies the realistic possibilities for outside action. When NY Committee A believes that a violation of AAUP policies or standards has occurred, it may • try to arrange a settlement; As Chair of NY Conference Committee A, I deal with an inquiry, or assign it to a If you have reason to consult with NY Committee A, contact the Conference’s Executive Director, or the Chair of the Committee.
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