The BFC discussed a resolution addressing the American Association of University Professors ?Centennial Declaration.
The AAUP works to advance academic freedom and shared governance and define higher educational values and standards, all to ensure higher education’s contribution to the public good, according to the AAUP website.
In light of the AAUP centennial, the association recently released the AAUP Centennial Declaration, which affirms the main purpose of institutions of higher education is to contribute to the public good, not to the good of the institution or the good of an individual ?faculty member affiliated with the ?institution.
Broken into 10 points, the declaration states the primary mission of institutions of higher education is teaching, followed by researching and addressing social ?disadvantage.
The declaration further states an individual faculty member should teach, research and address social disadvantage to disseminate knowledge and foster creativity, not to make a profit for the individual faculty member, the institution of higher education or a third party.
The declaration also states faculty should use information and communication technologies to improve the quality of teaching and research, not to degrade the quality of teaching and research by reducing faculty-student ?contact time.
Finally, the declaration states the role of faculty in hiring decisions, promotions, curricular matters, budgeting and institutional planning should not be compromised by the role of donors, trustees or ?administrators.
Gerhard Glomm, professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, expressed his concern that the declaration is largely based on philosophy and principle and that the public good is not easily defined.
“Social science research has documented that, unless you’re willing to accept restrictions on people’s preferences, it is impossible to define the public good,” ?he said.
Jon Simons, also a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, disagreed, stating if the public good can be defined anywhere, it can be defined at a university.
“I’d agree that this is largely a document about philosophy and about principle,” he said. “But a university is a place where notions of the public good and the common good can be worked out. There are not many spaces left in the current world where those discussions can happen or ?do happen.”
Maurer School of Law Professor Steve Sanders disagreed, stating the 10 points in the resolution should foster, not limit, further discussion.
“I see it as a starting point for discussion, not an ending point for discussion,” ?he said.
Though the BFC has not yet voted to approve the resolution addressing the AAUP Centennial Declaration, should the council vote to approve the resolution, it would endorse the declaration and to allow the BFC president to sign the declaration on the ?council’s behalf.
Should the council choose not to approve of the resolution addressing the AAUP Centennial Declaration, faculty members will be able to endorse the declaration as individuals rather than as a body.
For the full AAUP Centennial Declaration, go to www.aaupdeclaration.org.
