American Association of University Professors: Rice University Chapter.

In the early 1900’s, university professors were limited in what they could teach and write. Many outspoken professors lost their jobs because of their views. The American Association of University Professors was born when Arthur O. Lovejoy, a philosopher at Johns Hopkins, and John Dewey organized a meeting at Johns Hopkins University in 1915 to form an organization to ensure academic freedom for faculty members. The mission of AAUP is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good. AAUP is the leading organization primarily dedicated to protecting the academic freedom of professors. Faculty members turn to AAUP for assistance in the thousands each year. Membership in the national organization is open to all faculty, librarians, and academic professionals at two- and four-year accredited public and private colleges and universities. Membership as of 2004 is about 45,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations. Leadership is provided by bi-annually elected national officers drawn from colleges and universities throughout the country. The Association is governed by an elected national Council that meets twice a year, and by an Executive Committee that meets four times a year.

Excerpted from http://www.aaup.org/aboutaaup/description.htm and http://www.aaup.org/aboutaaup/hist.HTM, [accessed June 10,2004].