Skip to content

Response to EPPR BoT Proposal

March 1, 2018 Faculty recently learned of a proposed BOT policy change that has the potential to affect tenure at UT radically. The proposal (quoted in full below) dramatically expands a current and recently approved policy on Enhanced Post-Tenure Review (EPPR) without justification or explanation. The proposal begins by affirming “the importance of tenure in protecting academic freedom and thus promoting the University’s principle (sic) mission.” However, faculty are concerned that in practice this new policy would seriously erode tenure, with negative consequences for our students, our ability to recruit top-level faculty, and our national rankings and reputation. Our concerns about the proposal fall under… Read More »Response to EPPR BoT Proposal

Roundtable on Academic Freedom

On Wednesday, November 18th, our chapter held a roundtable discussion on legislative pressure on faculty expression. Despite inclement weather the meeting was well attended and productive. Much of it centered on name and pronoun accommodation in our classes and the chilling effect of comments by Tennessee legislators on our campus discussion of this issue. This included the censorship (removal from UT website without the author’s permission) of thoughtful suggestions for faculty on inclusive practice.On Wednesday, November 18th, our chapter held a roundtable discussion on legislative pressure on faculty expression. Despite inclement weather the meeting was well attended and productive. Much of it centered on name… Read More »Roundtable on Academic Freedom

Statement on Outsourcing

February 11, 2016 An open letter to the University of Tennessee President, Joe DiPietro: We are writing to you as the Executive Committee of the UTK Chapter of the American Association of University Professors to express our profound dismay at the possibility that staff positions at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, may soon be outsourced. This proposal appears to be the product of backroom dealings designed to enrich certain individuals and out-of-state companies at the cost of lost jobs and reduced services on our campus; it most certainly goes against the ideals of transparency and shared governance that faculty at UTK hold dear. We are… Read More »Statement on Outsourcing

css.php