About the AAUP:

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is a nonprofit membership association of faculty and other academic professionals. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the AAUP has members and chapters based at colleges and universities across the country.

The AAUP supports ACADEMIC FREEDOM:

The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic freedom . . . is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student in learning.

~AAUP "Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, 1940"

The AAUP supports SHARED GOVERNANCE:

The variety and complexity of the tasks performed by institutions of higher education produce an inescapable interdependence among governing board, administration, faculty, students, and others. The relationship calls for adequate communication among these components, and full opportunity for appropriate joint planning and effort. . . . Effective planning demands that the broadest possible exchange of information and opinion should be the rule for communication among the components of a college or university.

~AAUP "Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities."

Auburn University Department Promotion and Tenure Guidelines