The Academic Senate revised the agreement to address concerns from the field and entered into an agreement with AAUP in April 2000. The Executive Director and President have met with AAUP officers to explore implementation issues.
Whereas Resolution 1.06 S98, 1.07 F98 and 3.04 S98 directed the Executive Committee to consider the development of a censure process to address violations of academic freedom, governance, and professional standards, and
Whereas, at the direction of the Executive Committee, the Standards and Practices Committee has thoroughly evaluated the proposal and concluded that the development of its own censure process would open the Academic Senate to potential liabilities and excessive expenditures, and
Whereas the Standards and Practices Committee recommended that the President explore the possibilities of working with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which has demonstrated expertise, experience, and legal resources in investigating egregious violations of the basic tenets of academic freedom, governance, and professional standards, and
Whereas a relationship between the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and AAUP would offer national exposure and stature and lend considerable legal resources to the Academic Senate, and this relationship would enable the AAUP to promote its professional model to other community colleges,
Resolved that the Academic Senate authorize the Executive Committee to enter into the proposed agreement to assure that AAUP representatives would be available on an "infrequent" basis to render technical assistance in cases where flagrant violations of academic freedom, governance, and professional standards have occurred and existing mechanisms have failed to correct such violations, and
Resolved that the Academic Senate direct the Executive Committee to modify the proposed "Agreement on an Organizational Relationship Between the Academic Senate for California Community with the American Association of University Professors," to stipulate clearly the range of AAUP services available to the Academic Senate and its members, and
Resolved that the Academic Senate for Community Colleges direct the Executive Committee to determine the processes whereby the Academic Senate and local senates might avail themselves of the full range of American Association of University Professors (AAUP) services, including but not limited to legal advice, publications, and legislative analysis.
Resolved that the relationship be evaluated at the end of the three years to determine the viability of the relationship and the wisdom of continuing it. (Agreement is available in the Senate Office.)