GMU-AAUP
@aaupmason.bsky.social
We are the AAUP faculty advocacy chapter at George Mason University
linktr.ee/aaupmason
linktr.ee/aaupmason
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Billionaires, who quite often do not see education as a common good, should not be guiding higher education policy.
“I kind of yearn,” Mr. Nassirian said, “for the gilded age when billionaires satisfied their extracurricular interests by collecting Fabergé eggs and prized ponies.”
#DefendHigherEd
“I kind of yearn,” Mr. Nassirian said, “for the gilded age when billionaires satisfied their extracurricular interests by collecting Fabergé eggs and prized ponies.”
#DefendHigherEd
Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Billionaires, who quite often do not see education as a common good, should not be guiding higher education policy.
“I kind of yearn,” Mr. Nassirian said, “for the gilded age when billionaires satisfied their extracurricular interests by collecting Fabergé eggs and prized ponies.”
#DefendHigherEd
“I kind of yearn,” Mr. Nassirian said, “for the gilded age when billionaires satisfied their extracurricular interests by collecting Fabergé eggs and prized ponies.”
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
“If there is a message to be heeded in the legislative assault on governance bodies, it is that the enemies of higher education, nonetheless, still fear faculty authority. Why else would they be so insistent on silencing faculty members?”
#DefendHigherEd
#DefendHigherEd
November 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
“If there is a message to be heeded in the legislative assault on governance bodies, it is that the enemies of higher education, nonetheless, still fear faculty authority. Why else would they be so insistent on silencing faculty members?”
#DefendHigherEd
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
This is a win for us all!! ✊👏🎉
WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)
![On official UC letterhead:
UNIVERSITY
OF
CALIFORNIA
James B. Milliken President
Office of the President
1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607
universityofcalifornia.edu
CAMPUSES Berkeley
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
Merced
Riverside San Diego San Francisco
Santa Barbara Santa Cruz
MEDICAL CENTERS
Davis
Irvine
UCLA
San Diego
San Francisco
NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
November 18, 2025
Dear Chancellors:
I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive.
As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California.
Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines.
Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership.
[continued on next image]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rzn6yramffebefeitqifiqqz/bafkreigiwq5ongzwpj4wqmgjam3yfvhyjnv5e3dbq6cnrrbwblqvs624gq@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 11:04 PM
This is a win for us all!! ✊👏🎉
👏👏👏
November 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
👏👏👏
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
destruction comes for The New School
"The university's cycles of austerity+consolidation, betray a pattern where we are all being asked to work more for less, and at the expense of students and workers. We must stand together."
docs.google.com/document/u/2...
"The university's cycles of austerity+consolidation, betray a pattern where we are all being asked to work more for less, and at the expense of students and workers. We must stand together."
docs.google.com/document/u/2...
Statement on the President's Announcement of Austerity Measures
November 18, 2025 Dear Colleagues, We are writing with deep dismay over yesterday’s announcement of austerity measures made without meaningful, representative consultation with faculty, staff, or stud...
docs.google.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
destruction comes for The New School
"The university's cycles of austerity+consolidation, betray a pattern where we are all being asked to work more for less, and at the expense of students and workers. We must stand together."
docs.google.com/document/u/2...
"The university's cycles of austerity+consolidation, betray a pattern where we are all being asked to work more for less, and at the expense of students and workers. We must stand together."
docs.google.com/document/u/2...
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
The abolishment of the Department of Education & the continued reckless defunding of public education is a clear path to setting America back in technology, innovation, & competitiveness. Congress can & must stand up for the American people & stop the destruction of our federal education system.
Trump Administration Announces Steps to Dismantle Education Department
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The abolishment of the Department of Education & the continued reckless defunding of public education is a clear path to setting America back in technology, innovation, & competitiveness. Congress can & must stand up for the American people & stop the destruction of our federal education system.
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
"This represents saving higher education, saving public research and the standing up of faculty, staff and students,"
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
Judge Orders Trump Not to Threaten University of California’s Funding
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
"This represents saving higher education, saving public research and the standing up of faculty, staff and students,"
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
— Veena Dubal, AAUP General Counsel & law professor at the University of California, Irvine.
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
democracyforward.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:21 AM
WE WON!!!
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
The US District Court for the Northern District of California has issued a preliminary injunction in AAUP et al v. Trump et al (the wall to wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of Title VI to reshape the University of California system.
Read the order here:
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
““The notion that politicians or high-level administrators can dictate what can be taught, researched, discussed or debated in a college classroom is fundamentally at odds with what higher education is about."
- Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
@aft.org
- Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
@aft.org
AFT’s Weingarten and AAUP’s Wolfson on Texas A&M University System Board of Regents’ Vote to Censor Curriculum
COLLEGE STATION, Texas—AFT President Randi Weingarten and American Association of University Professors President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement condemning the Texas A&M University…
www.aft.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:25 AM
““The notion that politicians or high-level administrators can dictate what can be taught, researched, discussed or debated in a college classroom is fundamentally at odds with what higher education is about."
- Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
@aft.org
- Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
@aft.org
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
"If anything, the response by university leaders may have brought to the fore what some of us suspected all along: Academic freedom is being eroded internally by university administrators & externally by politicians."
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
Commentary: Fearing Trump, universities themselves restrict academic freedom
Seven out of the nine universities that the Trump administration invited to offer feedback on the so...
www.macon.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
"If anything, the response by university leaders may have brought to the fore what some of us suspected all along: Academic freedom is being eroded internally by university administrators & externally by politicians."
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
— Laura Isabel Serna, President of University of Southern California AAUP
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
The ICE raids in Chicago harm students’ ability to learn and the faculty’s ability to teach at Hispanic-serving institutions like the University of Illinois - Chicago.
Aaron Krall, President of University of Illinois Chicago Faculty United, discusses this & more in our recent AAUP TV episode.
Aaron Krall, President of University of Illinois Chicago Faculty United, discusses this & more in our recent AAUP TV episode.
November 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The ICE raids in Chicago harm students’ ability to learn and the faculty’s ability to teach at Hispanic-serving institutions like the University of Illinois - Chicago.
Aaron Krall, President of University of Illinois Chicago Faculty United, discusses this & more in our recent AAUP TV episode.
Aaron Krall, President of University of Illinois Chicago Faculty United, discusses this & more in our recent AAUP TV episode.
“The Committee’s unfounded accusations, dependence on clearly compromised sources, and selective presentation of ‘evidence’ represent an unprecedented abuse of congressional power—designed not to find the truth, but to silence leadership that refuses to yield to political pressure.”
— GMU-AAUP
— GMU-AAUP
Congress Accuses GMU President of Lying About DEI Efforts
The GOP-led House Judiciary Committee accused George Mason University's president of lying about DEI practices and likely violating civil rights laws. He has denied the claims.
www.insidehighered.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
“The Committee’s unfounded accusations, dependence on clearly compromised sources, and selective presentation of ‘evidence’ represent an unprecedented abuse of congressional power—designed not to find the truth, but to silence leadership that refuses to yield to political pressure.”
— GMU-AAUP
— GMU-AAUP
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Happening Now: 100+ people rally outside of Apollo Management Group headquartered in NYC to protest its CEO Marc Rowan, the conservative billionaire behind Trump's Higher Ed compact deal that undermines universities ‼️
November 7, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Happening Now: 100+ people rally outside of Apollo Management Group headquartered in NYC to protest its CEO Marc Rowan, the conservative billionaire behind Trump's Higher Ed compact deal that undermines universities ‼️
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Higher education workers are out here in NYC at billionaire Marc Rowan's office to say: Hands Off Higher Education!
Rowan is an architect of Trump's loyalty oath compact & the assault on higher ed today.
The university belongs to the students, faculty & staff—not to the billionaires!
@aft.org
Rowan is an architect of Trump's loyalty oath compact & the assault on higher ed today.
The university belongs to the students, faculty & staff—not to the billionaires!
@aft.org
We need teachers, we need books, we need the money the billionaires took! Come out NYC!
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Higher education workers are out here in NYC at billionaire Marc Rowan's office to say: Hands Off Higher Education!
Rowan is an architect of Trump's loyalty oath compact & the assault on higher ed today.
The university belongs to the students, faculty & staff—not to the billionaires!
@aft.org
Rowan is an architect of Trump's loyalty oath compact & the assault on higher ed today.
The university belongs to the students, faculty & staff—not to the billionaires!
@aft.org
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
"Rights, liberties, and freedoms are never secure when they lie dormant or unused." Interesting article in the latest volume of the Journal of Academic Freedom. Rather than thinking of #AcademicFreedom as a defense against attacks, we should make it an active practice.
www.aaup.org/JAF16/conspi...
www.aaup.org/JAF16/conspi...
Conspicuously Exercising Academic Freedom as a Response to Incremental Threats
Abstract:
www.aaup.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:54 AM
"Rights, liberties, and freedoms are never secure when they lie dormant or unused." Interesting article in the latest volume of the Journal of Academic Freedom. Rather than thinking of #AcademicFreedom as a defense against attacks, we should make it an active practice.
www.aaup.org/JAF16/conspi...
www.aaup.org/JAF16/conspi...
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Solidarity to all students & higher ed workers across the country standing up to build a better future today!
#DefendHigherEd
#DefendHigherEd
November 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Solidarity to all students & higher ed workers across the country standing up to build a better future today!
#DefendHigherEd
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
University of Oklahoma AAUP pushes back against Trump admin "unconstitutionally vague" attempts to censor research on race.
#academicfreedom
#academicfreedom
November 7, 2025 at 1:41 AM
University of Oklahoma AAUP pushes back against Trump admin "unconstitutionally vague" attempts to censor research on race.
#academicfreedom
#academicfreedom
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
A new report published today by the AAUP & @mesa1966.bsky.social finds that the weaponization of civil rights law has been central to attacks on campus speech over the past two years.
Only one of 102 antisemitism complaints reviewed raise antisemitism claims unrelated to criticism of Israel.
🧵
Only one of 102 antisemitism complaints reviewed raise antisemitism claims unrelated to criticism of Israel.
🧵
Surge in antisemitism investigations at US universities after October 7 attacks, data shows
A report shared exclusively with the Guardian documents how a civil rights law has become a tool to impose ideological priorities on US schools
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:28 PM
A new report published today by the AAUP & @mesa1966.bsky.social finds that the weaponization of civil rights law has been central to attacks on campus speech over the past two years.
Only one of 102 antisemitism complaints reviewed raise antisemitism claims unrelated to criticism of Israel.
🧵
Only one of 102 antisemitism complaints reviewed raise antisemitism claims unrelated to criticism of Israel.
🧵
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
UNL-AAUP is fighting back against administrator raises while programs get cut.
“Decisions are being made behind closed doors & without faculty input. We weren’t invited to the table. There’s no transparency in this process. We’ve been shut out at every turn…”
— Sarah Zuckerman, UNL-AAUP president
“Decisions are being made behind closed doors & without faculty input. We weren’t invited to the table. There’s no transparency in this process. We’ve been shut out at every turn…”
— Sarah Zuckerman, UNL-AAUP president
November 2, 2025 at 7:43 PM
UNL-AAUP is fighting back against administrator raises while programs get cut.
“Decisions are being made behind closed doors & without faculty input. We weren’t invited to the table. There’s no transparency in this process. We’ve been shut out at every turn…”
— Sarah Zuckerman, UNL-AAUP president
“Decisions are being made behind closed doors & without faculty input. We weren’t invited to the table. There’s no transparency in this process. We’ve been shut out at every turn…”
— Sarah Zuckerman, UNL-AAUP president
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
“All across NYU, students and colleagues have been undeterred in their organizing. NYU leadership should follow the example of their courage and tell the Trump administration and grifters like Rowan to keep their hands off higher education.”
— @zachsamalin.bsky.social,
NYU AAUP
#DefendHigherEd
— @zachsamalin.bsky.social,
NYU AAUP
#DefendHigherEd
Guest Essay: NYU must reject Trump’s coercive ‘compact’ - Washington Square News
Zachary Samalin is the president of NYU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors and an associate professor of English. NYU senior leadership should unequivocally reject the “Com...
nyunews.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
“All across NYU, students and colleagues have been undeterred in their organizing. NYU leadership should follow the example of their courage and tell the Trump administration and grifters like Rowan to keep their hands off higher education.”
— @zachsamalin.bsky.social,
NYU AAUP
#DefendHigherEd
— @zachsamalin.bsky.social,
NYU AAUP
#DefendHigherEd
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
“Not 1 week after publicly committing to the ideals of higher education by rejecting the Compact, UVA’s Mahoney reversed course & signed an agreement betraying those same values. Indeed, he has set a precedent for future coercive deals between the federal government & state higher ed institutions.”
EDITORIAL: DOJ Agreement signed and institutional instability guaranteed
Last week, this Editorial Board was prepared to applaud Interim University President Paul Mahoney’s decision to reject the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.
www.cavalierdaily.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:47 PM
“Not 1 week after publicly committing to the ideals of higher education by rejecting the Compact, UVA’s Mahoney reversed course & signed an agreement betraying those same values. Indeed, he has set a precedent for future coercive deals between the federal government & state higher ed institutions.”
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
“Students & education workers form the backbones of communities in every state & are witnessing firsthand how Trump’s policies are wreaking havoc on campuses & beyond. We need a massive movement of higher ed workers & students...As higher ed goes, so goes democracy.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
STUDENTS RISE UP: NOVEMBER 7TH DAY OF ACTION
Students and education workers across the US are organizing our schools towards mass non-cooperation on November 7th! Find an action on your campus!
actionnetwork.org
October 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
“Students & education workers form the backbones of communities in every state & are witnessing firsthand how Trump’s policies are wreaking havoc on campuses & beyond. We need a massive movement of higher ed workers & students...As higher ed goes, so goes democracy.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
Reposted by GMU-AAUP
💥💥💥
DEFEND HIGHER ED STARTER PACK!
We are building a movement to defend US higher education & have created a starter pack of AAUP chapter & ally accounts to follow. Please Share!
(This list is not exhaustive. If you have suggestions, please shoot us a DM!)
#DefendHighEd
⬇️⬇️⬇️
go.bsky.app/3YidJ7k
DEFEND HIGHER ED STARTER PACK!
We are building a movement to defend US higher education & have created a starter pack of AAUP chapter & ally accounts to follow. Please Share!
(This list is not exhaustive. If you have suggestions, please shoot us a DM!)
#DefendHighEd
⬇️⬇️⬇️
go.bsky.app/3YidJ7k
October 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
💥💥💥
DEFEND HIGHER ED STARTER PACK!
We are building a movement to defend US higher education & have created a starter pack of AAUP chapter & ally accounts to follow. Please Share!
(This list is not exhaustive. If you have suggestions, please shoot us a DM!)
#DefendHighEd
⬇️⬇️⬇️
go.bsky.app/3YidJ7k
DEFEND HIGHER ED STARTER PACK!
We are building a movement to defend US higher education & have created a starter pack of AAUP chapter & ally accounts to follow. Please Share!
(This list is not exhaustive. If you have suggestions, please shoot us a DM!)
#DefendHighEd
⬇️⬇️⬇️
go.bsky.app/3YidJ7k