Events

Upcoming Events

Academic Freedom School: Defending Academic Freedom in Florida (Webinar Series)

This webinar series is designed to create an ongoing conversation about the threats to academic freedom experienced by faculty in Florida’s public college and university system. This four-part series will focus on a different aspect of how state legislation and other political interference has undermined academic freedom and think about how faculty can push back against these attacks.

This series is co-sponsored by UFF-UCF, UFF-FIU, and the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom.

Political Interference on Florida's Higher Ed Curriculum and How to Push Back
Wednesday, November 13, 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET
Register here.

"Countries of Concern": Impacts on Florida Universities and Strategies for Faculty
Wednesday, December 4, 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET
Register here.

Chilling Extramural Speech in Florida: Legislation, Faculty and Student Intimidation, and Campus Restrictions
Wednesday, February 5, 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET
Register here.

Past Events

Post-Tenure Review in Florida: Can Collective Bargaining Protect Academic Freedom? 
Wednesday, October 16

  • Jennifer Proffitt (Theodore Clevenger Professor of Communication at Florida State University and co-chief negotiator of the most recent FSU contract)
  • Risa Lieberwitz (former general counsel of the AAUP and professor of labor and employment law at Cornell University)
  • Tim Cain (professor of higher education at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia and fellow at the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom) 

Watch the event here.

Understanding the Evolving Threats to Academic Freedom: A Panel Discussion

Friday, September 13, 2024, 4:15–6:30 pm. ET
McCook Auditorium, Trinity College, Hartford, CT

Reflecting on Manufacturing Backlash, a report from the AAUP’s Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom, this discussion focused on current threats facing academic freedom, including the legislative assault in states such as Florida and Texas, the influence of activist donors on the integrity of teaching and research, the impact of anti-Black racism, and the antidemocratic threats stemming from fundamentalist approaches to free speech on campus.

Panelists:

  • Sumi Cho, director of strategic initiatives at the African American Policy Forum
  • Mary Anne Franks, Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Civil Rights Law at George Washington Law School
  • Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University
  • Barrett Taylor, professor and coordinator of the higher education program at the University of North Texas

Moderated by Afshan Jafar, May Buckley Sadowski ‘19 Professor of Sociology at Connecticut College and President of the Connecticut State Conference of the AAUP.

A recording of the event is available here.