May 12, 2025
AAUP @ ISU Urges Faculty Senate to Affirm Core Mission and Shared Values
The ISU chapter of the American Association of University Professors urges the Faculty Senate of Iowa State University to vote to endorse the “Statement in Support of the Core Mission and Shared Values of Higher Education in the United States of America” at its May 13, 2025 meeting.
As the governing body representing all ISU faculty, it is imperative the Faculty Senate make a clear commitment to the mission, values, and importance of higher education as outlined in the Statement. The attacks on higher education affect all colleges and departments, and the Faculty Senate must show the faculty of ISU stand united in our commitment to the mission and values of higher education.
It is the responsibility of Faculty Senate to lead and demonstrate its commitment to shared governance; evidence-based scholarship, research, and curriculum; academic freedom, and the right off all to speak, assemble, and be free of discrimination and harassment at Iowa State University.
The AAUP at ISU urges Faculty Senate to fulfill its “responsibility for general academic and educational policy” by affirming the Core Mission and Shared Values statement. Failure to lead on this issue undermines the legitimacy of the body allowing our values to be defined for faculty rather than by faculty.
Action on May 13 sends an important message to ISU faculty before they leave for the summer. Action now demonstrates Faculty Senate is willing lead in an uncertain and challenging time and that faculty will be supported and united in the coming academic year.
Signed,
The ISU Chapter of the AAUP
Statement in Support of the Core Mission and Shared Values of Higher Education in the United States of America
Private and public higher education institutions in the United States have for over three centuries contributed to the public good, and the nation’s global leadership position, through the advancement and sharing of knowledge, and by providing pathways for workforce development.
Research funding in universities is judiciously used to drive innovation, providing an exceptional return on investment that advances economic growth, health and well-being, scientific breakthroughs, national security, and cultural and civic development. Academic research and scholarly expertise are also vital to excellent teaching and training, ensuring that the U.S. workforce of the future remains globally competitive.
Higher education in the United States continuously sets standards for international excellence and attracts students and colleagues from all over the world. The contributions of international scholars, staff, and students to U.S. higher education are integral to its leadership position.
U.S. higher education’s global excellence and public impact require working and learning environments that ensure opportunities for all. Initiatives that reduce discrimination are part of that imperative.
As recent challenges to funding and programming threaten to dismantle the core values and mission of higher education, at great detriment to the public at large and the U.S.’s international reputation, the undersigned faculty governance bodies affirm the following:1
1. Public and private universities serve the public good and contribute to the U.S.’s national and global excellence, through teaching, research, and service.
2. Cuts to research funding in higher education will undermine scientific innovation, health, societal progress, and the U.S.’s leadership position, with long-lasting detrimental impacts.
3. Academic scholarship and research, through peer review and professional accreditation, lead to evidence-based expertise, not partisan viewpoints.
4. We support academic freedom and free speech, and those who exercise their rights thereto, citizens and non-citizens alike.
5. We oppose the targeted harassment of faculty members for their expertise.
6. We support the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees the right of people to peaceably assemble. All community members who engage in peaceful assembly, regardless of viewpoint or citizenship status, should have the opportunity to do so without retaliation.
7. We agree with the Department of Education that discrimination based on race, color, or national origin (Title VI), sex (Title IX), and disability (ADA) is reprehensible, affirming our legal and moral obligation as educational institutions not to discriminate based on these or other identifying characteristics. Initiatives that help to reduce such discrimination, when grounded in best practice, increase opportunities and ensure real meritocracy for all.
8. We affirm the essential role of transparent and collaborative shared governance in maintaining the integrity of our universities, and commit to its continued strengthening.
9. Lastly, we call upon faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community partners of our universities to unite in support of the core mission, values, and academic freedoms of higher education in the U.S.