After censure by the American Association of University Professors, Emporia State University says the censure is based on factual errors as part of the AAUP’s investigation.
Saying AAUP is not a governing body for the university and the AAUP activites have zero impact on its future plans, Emporia State says it disagrees with the allegations for several reasons, including unspecified factual errors. It also says it did not take part in the review because of legal and personnel rules protecting a lot of the information AAUP wanted. AAUP has said censure may serve as a deterrent to potential faculty hires, but Emporia State says it has “successfully attracted and hired talented faculty who join us in delivering an excellent education that serves today’s students.”
Find additional details below.
9:40 am Tuesday: Emporia State censured by American Association of University Professors
Emporia State University’s Framework for Workforce Management has earned the university censure from the American Association of University Professors.
AAUP says Emporia State “disregarded” AAUP-recommended standards by dismissing 30 tenured or tenure-track professors as part of realignment plans announced in September, violating AAUP’s Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure as well as the Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure.
AAUP also faulted the Kansas Board of Regents, saying initial enactment and then a “reactivation” of an emergency COVID-19 related policy gave universities a chance to avert AAUP-supported procedures, thus opening the door to a “direct attack” on academic freedom and tenure. It also says “conditions for academic governance at Emporia State are deficient.”
Emporia State has not commented on AAUP’s decision.
ESU becomes the third university censured by AAUP this year, including Collin College of Texas and Indiana University Northwest. Click here for the link to AAUP’s investigative report.
