AAUP Recap

Given the recent questions regarding the tenure system at Canisius, The Griffin reiterates that Canisius is listed as a sanctioned institution by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). 

In an article from 2021, we reported that “after an almost yearlong investigation” conducted by a special committee for the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the association has recently recommended Canisius College be added to the AAUP’s list of sanctioned institutions due to “substantial noncompliance with standards of academic government.” 

The investigation noted a “crises in academic governance” following the pandemic, when Canisius had “announced that it was discontinuing nine academic programs and terminating 22 faculty members, most of whom were tenured.” 

Greg Scholtz, is the director of the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure and Governance of the American Association of University Professors. He stated that the sanctions come after “the administration and governing board tend to make decisions affecting students’ education without involving the faculty in those decisions, a practice the AAUP would argue diminishes the quality of the education students receive.” 

Furthermore, The Griffin reported that “Canisius did not provide any hearing opportunity for those being terminated in order to contest the decision,” which had been verified by the AAUP committee.