University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Academic Freedom for a Free Society
AAUP
American
Association
of University
Professors

Chapter Building and Action Strategies

Overview

A presentation about the key strategies in developing and maintaining a healthy AAUP chapter
Prepared for the AAUP Summer Institute 2007, University of Nevada, Reno

Articles on Action Strategies

Here is how at works at many (though not all) colleges and universities. If your faculty has no role in setting goals for salary and benefits, perhaps procedures on your campus should be changed. A standing committee of the faculty senate is charged with “negotiating” compensation with representatives of the administration. The members of the committee work assiduously in assembling and ...
Chapter and conferences communicate via a variety of means—member newsletters, media releases, flyers, Web sites. Factors such as the intended audience, main message, and how fast the information needs to arrive dictate the choice of form. At the same time, keep in mind the probability that your newsletter, e-mail, or flyer will ...
This memorandum reviews current law on chapter (non-collective bargaining) access to campus mail. In the end, college and university administrations are permitted to carry non-collective bargaining faculty organization mail. Below is an overview of U.S. Postal Service statutes and regulations affecting internal campus mail. This memorandum, prepared by the AAUP legal office, does not provide binding legal advice; should you ...
1. Never forget who you are. Although we often join for reasons of immediate self-interest, we should continually remind others and ourselves that we are part of a special mission.  We are principled professionals who care.  We have an elegant  tradition dating back to John Dewey, who also ...
Be proactive.  It’s imperative that we, as professionals, see beyond the crisis that often stimulate the formation of local chapters.  We can spearhead positive leadership in our colleges or universities. Be an academic leader.  Although we sometimes join AAUP chapters for reasons of immediate self-interest, we ...
A list of ways to keep your local AAUP chapter alive and thriving, written by Debra Nails
Why Coalitions on Campus? Practical Tips for Coalition Building An Organizing Scenario, by Richard Moser
As in any chapter activity, the task of the membership drive is twofold: 1) to accomplish a concrete goal – for example, to increase chapter membership by a certain number, and 2) to build a stronger organization. To begin ...
Everyone can lobby and should consider doing so. You are a constituent. Legislators need you as much or more than you need them. Your opinion counts but only if they know it. Lobbying activity can backfire and hurt your case if not appropriately done. Provide facts and reasons in a civil manner without being argumentative or insulting.

Recruitment Videos

AAUP Recruitment Videos show you how to interview faculty about joining AAUP. If you are not yet a member, they may help persuade you to join.

Sample Recruitment Letters

An explanation of the various sample recruitment letters featured on this website
A recruitment letter written in 1999, undersigned by several members of the AAUP
Template of a letter for a chapter's president or membership chair to send to new full-time faculty who could be potential AAUP members
Template of a letter for a chapter's president or membership chair to send to lapsed members
Cary Nelson's recruitment letter to graduate students, written 2007
Cary Nelson's recruitment letter to part-time faculty, written 2007

Sample Newsletters and Newspapers

The March 2005 newsletter for Michigan State University's local AAUP Chapter
The February-March 2007 edition of the AAUP Vanguard, Connecticut AAUP's newsletter
The Fall 2005 edition of the Illinois Academe, Illinois AAUP's newsletter

American Association of University Professors — UIUC Chapter

1001 S. Wright St.
Champaign, IL 61820

The University of Illinois AAUP chapter maintains this web site. Opinions expressed by individual contributors to the site represent their personal views and are not necessarily positions of the chapter or any other entity. Opinions expressed by the chapter do not necessarily represent the views of the national AAUP or any other entity.