UUP Press Releases

CONTACT: Denyce Duncan Lacy or Don Feldstein at (518) 640-6600
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 24, 2005

 

Faculty faces chilling effect from pending legislation
UUP warns classes to resume under ominous threats

As a new academic year begins, the president of the nation’s largest higher education union warns that college faculty face new threats to academic freedom  and federal funding for postsecondary education.

William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions (UUP) and Chairman of the American Federation of Teachers’ (AFT) Higher Education Program and Policy Council, is concerned about one provision in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that would limit academic freedom and three others affecting financial aid.

Scheuerman warns the legislation due for a vote by the House in September contains language that would undermine academic freedom.  Under the guise of barring discrimination by professors against students on the basis of political or religious grounds, the bill would intimidate faculty from presenting diverse views and allow government to supervise classroom teaching and dictate curriculum.

“Government should not put itself in the role of policing the presentation of ideas in the classroom,” Scheuerman said. “The notion that students are mistreated by faculty members because of their political views is largely unsubstantiated and more the product of a political agenda,” he said. “We’re concerned this provision would have a chilling effect on faculty affecting what and how they teach.” Scheuerman points out that nearly every college and university has procedures allowing students to file grievances, so government intervention is not only unnecessary but also unwarranted.

Scheuerman added that the reauthorization bill going before the House also undermines the integrity of federal financial aid programs by relaxing the standards under which for-profit institutions qualify for federal assistance.

UUP is asking lawmakers to reject the repeal of the “50 percent rule,” which requires that no more than 50 percent of courses can be taught online. The union also seeks continuation of the current “90/10 rule,” that requires that institutions receiving federal aid must have at least 10 percent of their income coming from non-federal sources. Lastly, UUP wants Congress to eliminate the provision in the bill creating a single definition of “higher education institution.” Such a change would allow for-profit institutions to be eligible for added funding.                                  

“Some for-profit schools have been found to be little more than diploma mills that don’t deliver nearly the same quality education that traditional colleges and universities do,” Scheuerman said. “It’s wrong to place such schools on the same level, which would reduce funds for legitimate institutions of higher education.”

With the U.S. Senate’s version of the bill along with a House vote due next month, Scheuerman is calling upon Congress to act in the best interests of higher education. “Congress must protect the stature and integrity of higher education by rejecting changes regarding funding for for-profit institutions and refraining from meddling in the college classroom,” Scheuerman said.              

UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York State-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).    

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