WE CARE

Academic Freedom is at the core of  the AAUP mission.

In February of 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature's session is considering several bills detrimental to higher education, including elimination of tenure and escalating attacks on equity, diversity, and inclusion on our college campuses. Efforts to ensure that faculty are able to provide equitable, diverse, and inclusive learning and research environments are being portrayed as discriminatory and divisive rather than necessary for our university to perform its core educational and research missions on behalf of the people of Texas.  Our AAUP chapter strongly supports protecting academic freedom and faculty governance, for which continued progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus is essential.

Statement in Support of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Texas Tech University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors expresses grave concern over threats to tenure and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the state of Texas. These are core values integral to the AAUP’s mission to ensure academic freedom and protect faculty governance. We support our faculty colleagues in fulfilling their responsibility to implement established hiring procedures, which are duly reviewed by chief academic officers and institutional leadership, and are intended to ensure the continued commitment of Texas Tech University to be a welcoming environment for all its students, staff, and faculty.  Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational concepts that help ensure all teachers and researchers in higher education remain free to teach and conduct research without interference from political figures, boards of trustees, donors, or other entities. In light of recent events, we ask that the leadership of the University specifically and unequivocally express its commitment to these essential core principles.

In February of 2022 freedom of speech came under attack in TX and our colleagues from University of TX at Austin asked for our support in their defense.  TX State AAUP Conference issued resolutions on Academic Freedom immediately. 

TX State AAUP February 2022 Resolutions on Academic Freedom 

TTU AAUP Chapter sent a letter of support on behalf of our colleagues at UT Austin and our joint mission to protect academic freedom in TX. 

TTU AAUP Chapter Statement of Support of Academic Freedom