The Chronicle: Colloquy Live Transcript

Can the AAUP's New Leader Keep It Relevant?

Wednesday, June 9, at 1 p.m., U.S. Eastern time

The American Association of University Professors has named its first new general secretary in a decade. The group's guidelines, including some statements from before World War II, are the bedrock of any discussion of academic freedom, shared governance, and tenure. But is the 90-year-old association still relevant to higher education in 2004?

A transcript of the chat follows.

Scott Smallwood (Moderator):
Welcome to Colloquy Live, the Chronicle's live chat forum. I'm Scott Smallwood and I am a reporter here. Our guest today is Roger W. Bowen, who is about to become the new general secretary of the American Association of University Professors. We'll start with some of the several advance questions we received. Please send in your questions for Mr. Bowen. Also, if you'd like to make a comment send that in and we'll try to get it posted quickly.

Roger W. Bowen:
The AAUP is at one and the same time the most conservative higher ed organization in the US and the most progressive: it is out mission to conserve the progressive values of academic freedom and shared governance and to set new standards for the profession based on the timeless values of fairness, equity, democracy, and reason. Founder Arthur Lovejoy defined our mission as combating "academic crimes," and now, ninety years later, the AAUP continues to fight vigorously on behalf of all faculty, whether or not they are members of AAUP. We are a service organization for the professoriate and proud of the service we provide.

Question from Theodore, Large Public University:
Why are you allowing the proliferation of adjunct faculty and why some universities are allowed to operate without full-time faculty? Also with the expansion of online education most universities are hiring exclusively part-time faculty to teach the online courses. Most accreditation agencies have a rule that many universities have violated. That rules says that universities cannot grant degrees if 50% of their courses are not taught by full-time faculty. In the United States elementary and high schools cannot operate without full-time teachers. Why do universities not operate the same way?

Roger W. Bowen:
The AAUP decries the proliferation of adjunct faculty. About 45% of all faculty lines today are non-tenure track and part-time. We have adopted a major policy statement calling on colleges and universities to provide fair procedures, proportional pay, and job security to part-time faculty and full-time faculty not on tenure track. Our Committee on Contingent Faculty is working with campuses to implement this policy. Some of our current cases under investigation involve the alleged mistreatment of contingent faculty. We are working at Emerson College part-time faculty as they bargain for a contract. And our State conferences are pressing for legislation that, if passed, will assist efforts of part-time faculty to achieve the recognition and treatment they most definitely deserve.

Question from Michael Grunenwald, U. of Dayton:
I serve as the sole representative of over 400 part-time faculty at a comprehensive Catholic university. I have read the AAUP statement on part-time faculty, but it strikes me that the AAUP is schizophrenic on the issues facing adjunct faculty. On the one hand, it supports fair treatment for part-timers. On the other hand, it views the presence of part-time faculty as a threat to higher education. This leaves me wondering whether the AAUP has a genuine concern for the interests of adjunct faculty. In what ways does the new general secretary of the AAUP see the organization's relationship with adjunct faculty evolving in the next 5 to 10 years? Is the AAUP ready to recognize the importance and value of adjunct faculty for the future of higher education?

Roger W. Bowen:
I don't believe the AAUP is schizophrenic on this issue. We do support fair treatment for contingent faculty, but we see the growing reliance on part-time faculty as threatening our core values, and the core values of the academy: academic freedom and shared governance. Part-time faculty are too often excluded from governance; and, sadly, their nontenured status too often means they do not enjoy the same protections to profess freely as enjoyed by tenured faculty. AAUP, through its 3 historic statements on the status of contingent faculty, has made clear that no more than 15% of the total instruction within an institution should be provided by non-tenure-track appointments. We will push administrations to convert non tenure track positions into full time and to accord better working conditions for those who remain part-time.

Question from Michael Forster, University of Southern Mississippi:
Membership development is largely a grassroots affair. What can the national office do to encourage/support more effectively chapter and state conference development? As president of the Mississippi state conference for the past year, I have been able to take advantage of one leadership development training sponsored by the Assembly of State Conferences, and have attended two AAUP conferences. I have also found the national office quite responsive whenever I've contacted people there (notably Jonathan Knight). But we are struggling to build membership and chapters in Mississippi (as well as to hold onto the members that have come in at a crisis point), and I wonder if Dr. Bowen has ideas on the subject of grassroots leadership development in particular.

Roger W. Bowen:
Each time a new faculty member is hired, the senior members of the department should give their new colleague(s) membership in the AAUP. Likewise, when a colleague retires, give him/her membership. Invite us from the national office to make the case on your campus to interested faculty.

Question from stanley aronowitz CUNY Graduate Center:
What are your ideas to address the "adjunctization" of the faculty"? And what is the role of the AAUP in this effort, as compared to NEA and AFT whose faculty membership is much larger?

Roger W. Bowen:
I cannot comment on the efforts of NEA and AFT, good allies both in the battle against adjuntification. But AAUP in its 1980, and 1993 statements on part-time (contingent) faculty have set national standards that I am certain NEA and AFT have endorsed. Contingent faculty deserve comparable pay for comparable work, inclusion in the government system, and the same academic dus process as full time faculty. I believe our next step is to work with accrediting bodies to see that they enforce these standards.

Question from Mary, Midwestern University:
Regarding the "left-leaning" aspect, why can't we confront questions such as as is the AAUP hesitant to look after the needs of its MEMBERS rather than do social engineering?

Roger W. Bowen:
I believe we do in fact look after our members's interests, whatever their ideology. Our 1940 statement on academic freedom appropriately insists we defend the profession and not to further the interests of individual teachers or institutions. But also recognize that our principles are derived from a multitude of cases beginning with the individual faculty member.

Question from Scott Smallwood:
This week, the AAUP is holding its annual meeting here in Washington. Much of the talk will be about Mary Burgan, the departing general secretary. Any thoughts on her 10 years as the top staff person at the association? And do you see yourself staying a decade in this position?

Roger W. Bowen:
Mary Burgan is a very special leader. She possesses great intelligence, organization savvy, and a wonderful sense of humor--those qualities explain why she has lasted 10 years. For myself, I won't predice the future except to say that I believe in AAUP, its principles, and its members. To serve them for even 5 years will be a pleasure and privilege.

Question from Clifford Swensen, Purdue University:
I joined the AAUP, then quit, then joined again, etc., several times. I finally quit for good when the AAUP refused to defend professors from pressure, censorship and persecution from within the university. What is the AAUP doing about this?

Roger W. Bowen:
Join again! I yield to your experiences, yet I am distressed to learn we have failed to defend professors. We receive over 1000 inquiries a year, offer help in each instance, and directly address more than 100 "academic crimes" each year. While we cannot correct past mistakes, we can work conscientiously to ensure we do not make them in the future. I and the staff and the national office will do our best to defend all faculty from the kind of odious practices you list.

Question from Gary Brodowicz, Portland State University:
Welcome, Roger. I serve as the Past-President of our chapter, which represents, tenured and tenure-track faculty, fixed-term instructional faculty, and academic professionals (career counselors, financial aid advisors, etc.) My question is about the lack of involvement that I've noticed among our tenured and tenure-track faculty when it comes to AAUP-related issues. What would you recommend in order to make the AAUP more relevant to this group of faculty?

Roger W. Bowen:
Thanks for the welcome, Gary. At the risk of sounding preachy, academic freedom is always "relevant." Maybe today more than ever. In Missouri a legislator called for the termination of a professor who dared to publish an article about sexual politics; at Drake University records of students were subpoened by federal attorneys because of an antiwar protest; and UNC Chapel Hill was attacked for daring to use a book about the Koran for first year student orientation. The list goes on. AAUP fights against such intervention by government, and that is "relevant."

Question from Cary Nelson, U. of Illinois:
Can we make the AAUP a more broadly participatory organization?

Roger W. Bowen:
This question comes on the eve of our 90th annual meeting in DC where, I am told, some 300 or so delegates, representing some 44,000 members, will collegially address a very full agenda dealing with such issues as censure, government relations, part-time faculty, etc. Our challenge is to grow the membership, to preserve our democratic practices, and to do a better job publicizing our work on behalf of the profession.

Question from Bob, small community college:
How can we get more professors to incorporate current experiences of faculty members--tenured, non-tenured, adjunct--into the research and publication that might now be being used as an excuse for apathy and non-involvement in the activism (or at least participation) that should be part of AAUP members?

Roger W. Bowen:
I had the pleasure of knowing a faculty member at the college where I presided who wrote and published excellent articles on what the life of a gypsy (contingent) faculty person is like. They educated me and for her they proved to be valuable publications that she leveraged into a full-time, tenure-track position. Last year she was recognized statewide for her excellent teaching. Write about what you know as a faculty member, publish it, share it with AAUP, and let us help in publicizing the work.

Question from Lee Richardson of University of Baltimore:
Usually, each year several serious breaches of due process occur affecting tenure and reappointments in Maryland. They are largely resolved or not resolved by informal efforts of faculty elsewhere or those in higher education who happen to learn of them. Many such faculty are at schools that do not have AAUP chapters. Should there be a formal system of appeals in a state? Do you recommend an state ombudsman for faculty? Contact AAUP in some cases?

Roger W. Bowen:
Active AAUP chapters can be very helpful in working out formal or informal solutions to tenure and due process problems on campus. If there is no chapter, AAUP is still happy to help. Our Academic Freedom and Tenure Office gets more than 1000 inquiries each year from faculty and administrators. We are always pleased to consult with those in trouble.

Question from John, small university:
Can we enlist the energies and clout of the accediting agencies--the North-Central Association of Colleges and Schools,etc--or are they just presidents' clubs in disguise, with no interest in the needs of faculty?

Roger W. Bowen:
A challenge for the AAUP is to convince accrediting agencies that faculty should be heavily represented on all visiting teams and that accrediting agencies should emphasize that faculty have insights that administrators do not. I also believe that accrediting agencies should require institutions to achieve removal of the AAUP censure as a precondition for reaccreditation.

Question from Art Huseonica, UMUC, Global Faculty Advisory Council:
What do you envision as one way for faculty governance groups to improve their participation in institutional decision-making?

Roger W. Bowen:
If the AAUP has not vetted your faculty handbook, or you have not used our "Red Book" to devise shared goverance rules, then you should consider doing both. Administrations cannot function well without the support of the faculty--faculty members must recognize this and use your collective power to assure governance is indeed shared.

Question from Sharon Walsh, The Chronicle of Higher Education:
At a time when many educators say that students are obsessed with training for a career that will give them financial security, do you think that the professoriate will still be able to attract 'the best and the brightest?'

Roger W. Bowen:
Yes, because some of our brightest students are free-thinkers who delight in the opportunity to ponder this or that subject deeply and care more for opportunities to use their intellect than for the chance to make money. And if AAUP is successful in promoting tenure, some very bright students will conclude that while the pay is lousy, the security is great.

Question from TRM, small private university:
The institutions blacklisted by AAUP may suffer for years in terms of attracting quality professors and carrying the stigma of being "less than desirable" places to teach. How will you assist in the review of those blacklisted institutions to determine if the status is currently justified and how will you work to provide opportunities for those instiutions to be "delisted"?

Roger W. Bowen:
We are always eager to help censured institutions do what is necessary to have their name removed from the list. Each year we write each censured institution and invite them to work with us in addressing whatever problem get them censured. Censure is always a "last resort"--we do not like using it anymore than the schools like having it imposed. But, I assure you, it is only imposed after extremely careful and detailed investigation and deliberation.

Question from Scott Smallwood:
Some presidents have told us that they don't care about being put on the AAUP's censure list, that the association is out-of-touch with how higher education works today. What's your response to that and what role do you think AAUP censure plays in the academy?

Roger W. Bowen:
We expect to remove three institutions from the list of censured institutions at the annual meeting. (The membership must vote, but the recommendation to remove them is forthcoming). This will take place because the presidents of the three schools approached us, expressed interest in getting removed from the list, and worked with us in revising handbooks or redressing past mistakes. I believe that last year another 3 institutions were removed from the list, again because presidents acted. Please encourage the "some presidents" you mention to get in touch with me.

Question from michael beaudoin, u. of New England:
What evidence can AAUP offer that it has done anything useful or relevant to higher education in the past 30 years?

Roger W. Bowen:
The list of good works is terribly lengthy. I urge you to subscribe to Academe which does a very good job of listing past accomplishments while also examining current issues.

Question from anonymous:
Martin Finkelstein has said that he believes the bifurcation of the faculty into fulltime and adjunct is 'absolutely permanent.' If that is the case, why can't the AAUP see fit to embrace the idea of 'professors of the practice' and other classifications that give academics more security and make them part of the 'full-service' academic community, rather than just saying: "it's bad because they don't get tenure?"

Roger W. Bowen:
You'll not be surprised if I do not agree with Martin Finkelstein. We exist to defend academic freedom and are convinced that tenure is the sine qua non for guaranteeing the freedom to profess.

Question from Claudette Columbus, Hobart and William Smith Colleges:
Many of the questions our local AAUP receives has to do with legal help. We worry that, by the time faculty members consult us, it is already too late. Would the AAUP consider sending local AAUP presidents fliers to distribute to incoming faculty with advice on the need to become a member to protect the profession as a whole, without waiting for personal difficulties to reach the point of crisis?

Roger W. Bowen:
Yes. I would appreciate a conversation at a later date to flesh out the details of what you are looking for.

Question from James Theis, Michigan State University:
Postdocs are becoming a career in and of themselves, as are adjunct positions. This is great for administrators, who get the cheap labor, but its bound to drag down salaries of even tenured professors, besides severly limiting the number of available tenure track positions. Isn't it time that the AAUP took some action on this, such as lobbying to have accredidation removed from colleges which are blatantly abusing this situation, including producing a disproportionate amount of graduate students? As I said before, this is a problem for people who are actually employed as professors, since common sense should tell you that its bound to depress even their salaries.

Roger W. Bowen:
Your point is on target. AAUP's Office of Government Relations is encouraging legislatures to emphasize full-time faculty in their funding of higher education; and we will work with accrediting agencies to sharpen their definitions of full-time regular faculty and to establish clear regulations for schools to increase the number of full-time, tenure-track faculty lines.

Question from Art Huseonica, UMUC, Global Faculty Advisory Council:
What do you believe are the key elements in overcoming the existing paradigms and move toward accepting the important role that part-time faculty play in an institution and their increasing value in shared governance?

Roger W. Bowen:
Full time, tenured faculty on every campus must use the AAUP statements on contingent faculty and collectively urge their administration to adopt the standards. If that can happen, then part-time faculty will feel respected and valued and will likely play a role in shared governance.

Scott Smallwood (Moderator):
That's all the time we have for today's chat. Thanks for all your questions. And I'd like to especially thank Roger Bowen for being our guest today. Any final comments, Roger?

Roger W. Bowen:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to so many good questions. I conclude with our motto: "Academic Freedom for a Free Society."

Scott Smallwood (Moderator):
A transcript of this chat will be posted shortly.