NC State AAUP Chapter

March 10, 2023

NC State AAUP statement on changes to Policy 300.5.1, “Political Activities of Employees,” in the University of North Carolina code 

The NC State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) hereby expresses its opposition to the revision to Policy 300.5.1, “Political Activities of Employees,” in the University of North Carolina code, and calls for the rule to be rescinded.

The core of the revision is the following:

“… the University shall neither solicit nor require an employee or applicant for academic admission or employment to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles regarding matters of contemporary political debate or social action as a condition to admission, employment, or professional advancement. Nor shall any employee or applicant be solicited or required to describe his or her actions in support of, or in opposition to, such beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles.”

These are extremely broad and vague prohibitions offered under the guise of protecting the free speech of candidates for position or admission. They go far beyond preventing a candidate from being compelled to state a given position on these matters to prohibit even posing questions about them. Under this rule, severe sanctions are proposed on university system employees who violate these prohibitions. Such sanctions clearly would “penalize or discipline members of its (University of North Carolina) faculties because of the exercise of academic freedom in the lawful pursuit of their respective areas of scholarly and professional interest and responsibility” [Section 601: University of North Carolina Code]. As such they would violate the University of North Carolina Code. 

Most problematic is the phrase “matters of contemporary political debate or social action.” There are many established truths within the academy that may be matters of political debate in broader society, including, human-caused climate change, biological evolution by natural selection, the brutality of enslavement and its role in the development of the United States, and the absence of biological races in humans, among many others. Also subject to “political debate” in some circles is the value of a “diverse, equitable, and inclusive community” and the need to champion “equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging and well-being.” The former is quoted from the North Carolina State University vision and the latter from Goal 4 of the university’s strategic plan.

Under the revised policy, search committees could no longer ask candidates for faculty positions how they would teach core elements of academic disciplines, and candidates for faculty and administrative positions could no longer be asked how they would support the university’s vision and strategic goals. Frank conversations with candidates for positions and for promotion on a wide range of topics would become impossible. 

As indicated above, the rule change is inconsistent with the NC State strategic plan. Beyond that we note that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (the body that accredits NC State) states “Promoting  diversity, equity and inclusion is an opportunity for institutions to recruit students of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities; to support them, adapt teaching methods and use technology to meet their needs and break down barriers to learning; and to successfully guide, mentor, retain, and graduate them. Equally important is the opportunity to recruit a diverse faculty and staff that reflects the larger society.” These positions are, once again,“matters of contemporary political debate” in some circles, so it must be questioned whether the university would be able to sustain its accreditation while adhering to the proposed rule.

Finally the rule was developed by politically appointed Board of Governors staff members, without consultation with or input from University of North Carolina faculty, including the system Faculty Assembly. This is inconsistent with any pretense of shared governance within the university.

In summary, the changes to the University of North Carolina code are inconsistent with a university that is committed to scholarly excellence and inclusive and effective instruction and that conducts its business according to established principles of shared governance. We oppose this rule change. Given the grievous harm that would be done by this rule to our university, we call upon our campus leadership and faculty colleagues to join us in speaking out against it and calling for it to be rescinded.

April 7, 2021

NC State AAUP statement on pandemic-related support for faculty 

The pandemic has and will continue to have a dramatic impact on the productivity of our junior colleagues, and it will take considerable time to catch up with the effort lost during that period. Current university policy allows only assistant professors to receive a one-year extension for promotion and tenure upon request. While we support this policy, we believe the university can do much more to support faculty given the severe impacts of the pandemic. 

1. Current policy requires faculty to explicitly request an extension. Many faculty, worried about the reactions of colleagues, may be reluctant to make this request. Instead, extensions should be given automatically to everyone, with the policy of opting out if a faculty member chooses. This is the policy of other universities (e.g., UMass Amherst and Vanderbilt). 

2. The needs of assistant professors vary; some may benefit from a tenure clock extension, while others would prefer more time now rather than extending their clock. Assistant professors should be given the option of choosing either the extension or given a course buyout to assist them with their research. Some assistant professors in some departments are receiving course relief; this policy should be extended to all assistant professors. Stanford, for example, is offering a post-pandemic research quarter. We ask that the university provide one semester of course relief to all tenure-track faculty. Funding for this should come from central administration and not rely on departmental funds.

3. Current policy requires tenured faculty undergoing post-tenure review to apply to their department head and dean for approval for a one-year extension. If assistant professors receive a one-year extension simply upon request, the same policy should be applied to tenured faculty.

4.  Faculty with children were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and moving forward the University should consider ways to support these faculty as they work to catch up for time lost. Some work-study positions should be converted to tutoring positions, to assist faculty with younger children struggling with school. West Virginia University is offering tutoring for children of faculty and has a faculty childcare emergency relief fund. The University of Chicago offers free tutoring, and UMass-Amherst funded a faculty childcare emergency fund.

5. Our professional faculty play an essential role at the University, and we should consider ways to support the disruption the pandemic has had on their work and careers. For those on a multi-year contract, we recommend an automatic one-year renewal at the end of their contract. We also recognize that our part-time and full-time professional track colleagues did not receive the $1000/course preparation supplement given to tenured and tenure-track faculty, and encourage the administration to consider including retroactively professional track faculty in this supplement.

January 8, 2021

In light of recent events and the impending start of the spring semester, one of our chapter members compiled a list of resources on academic freedom in the classroom. It's important to know your rights as a faculty member. Below are a few resources for you to understand your rights. 

Defining academic freedom (InsideHigherEd, December, 2010)

Faculty rights in the classroom (Aaron Nisenson, AAUP Senior Counsel)

In defense of knowledge and higher education (AAUP Committee A, 2020)

Freedom in the classroom (AAUP Committee A, 2007)

FAQs in the wake of the 2016 election (AAUP and AFT)

Academic and electronic communications (AAUP, 2014)

If the University takes action against you in a way that you believe infringes on your right to academic freedom, we can help. Please contact us at aaup.ncsu@gmail.com or contact the chapter president at paul.umbach@gmail.com .

September 26, 2020

Interested in learning more about the AAUP chapter, attend a meeting open to all NC State faculty on October 9 from 1-2:30pm. Email us at aaup.ncsu@gmail.com for the Zoom link.