The AAUP’s Department of Research supports the mission of the AAUP by conducting research on the economic status of the academic profession and on academic freedom, tenure, and governance. Research results reported here are based on data collected by the Department of Research and also on data collected by other organizations, most notably by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the US Department of Education. The data source is indicated on each individual data visualization page.

The Mission of the AAUP
The mission of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is to advance academic freedom and shared governance; to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education; to promote the economic security of faculty, academic professionals, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and all those engaged in teaching and research in higher education; to help the higher education community organize to make our goals a reality; and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good. Founded in 1915, the AAUP has helped to shape American higher education by developing the standards and procedures that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in this country’s colleges and universities.
Research Department Staff
Hans-Joerg Tiede

Director of Research
Research Topics
Academic freedom, tenure, shared governance, AAUP history
Glenn Colby

Senior Researcher
Research Topics