Academic Freedom Code for UNC System

Last week the UNC System Board of Governors "unanimously approved the System's academic freedom definition," which seeks to set "limits" on academic freedom, and put it forward for a binding vote at their next meeting on Feb. 25th. The NC AAUP's Syllabus Committee (including members from our chapter) will communicate a statewide strategy in advance of the BoG mtg.

You can read the proposed revised policy. Be sure to note the "system suggestions in red."

See the letter from AAUP's lawyers to the UNC System about the proposed policy revisions. Please circulate this letter widely.

Syllabus Requests

If you receive a public records request for a syllabus, please share it -- and any subsequent correspondence -- with the NC AAUP hotline at https://www.aaupnc.org/projects/providing-legal-support.

The hotline can confidentially provide support and first-line legal advice. Compiling as much info as possible will also help us build a legal case against the UNC system and the syllabus policy.

Please also continue to share with colleagues the NC AAUP's "Guidelines for Syllabi," and encourage them to share with the hotline any requests they receive.

Duke AAUP Cut the Cuts Rally

Friday Feb. 6th, 4:30pm, Duke East Campus

UNC CH AAUP, UE150, and TransparUNCy are collaborating with Duke and several other organizations for a Durham-based Cut the Cuts rally. This is an opportunity for cross institutional solidarity in the face of ideological cuts to staff and services at public and private universities. (Following our lead, our AAUP colleagues at Duke commissioned their own independent audit). Please consider joining this Friday, February 6th at Trinity Park in Durham, 4:30 pm. More info.

Area Studies Centers closings

The Faculty Executive Council passed this resolution in support of the centers.

Chapter Organizing

Our chapter has formed a faculty governance working group. The committee will continue to report at our Friday meetings.

We are looking for a few volunteers to run our chapter elections, slated for April. Election committee members are responsible for soliciting nominations for officer terms beginning in June and running the election. If you do not plan to run for office and would like to be involved, please email Rosie Miesner: rose.miesner@gmail.com

Several of our chapter members are participating in the National AAUP "Organize Every Campus" training in February 2026. If you are looking for ways to join other colleagues to more effectively resist the far right's and UNC's violations of academic freedom, threats of violence and harassment, this training could be for you!

"Organize Every Campus" training will take place over 5 sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, February 2, 4, 9, 11 and 18, from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM ET. Participants are expected to attend the entire training for all five sessions, since each session builds on the previous ones. In order to sign up, you do not have to register directly. Email Don Nonini at dnonini@gmail.com you are interested in participating in these sessions, or have questions.

Our next weekly working meeting will be Friday, January 30th, from Noon-1pm.

All UNC instructors are welcome to attend, to help strategize about the area studies closures, the syllabus policy, academic freedom, and to bring other issues for us to discuss as well.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195114865?pwd=qf2kY5jKF6utphBBKn4ghkszHa6lLT.1

If you are interested in serving as a liaison for your department or unit, please email Erik Gellman at esgellman@gmail.com.

If you would like to help with these updates or with our chapter's website and social media, email Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com

NC AAUP is the fastest-growing non-union AAUP chapter in the country.

Encourage colleagues to join.

Syllabus Requests, Committee, and Q&A Sessions

If you receive a public records request for a syllabus, please share it with the NC AAUP hotline at https://www.aaupnc.org/projects/providing-legal-support The hotline can confidentially provide support and first-line legal advice. Compiling as much info as possible will also help us build a legal case against the UNC system and the syllabus policy.

The NC AAUP Syllabus Committee has scheduled three Zoom meetings at different times, hopefully accommodating different schedules, to field questions live:

• Monday, January 26 from 5-6 PM (one of our attorneys will be present at this one)
• Friday, January 30 from 9-10 AM
• Monday, February 2 from 1-2 PM

Please register for the first meeting here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Q_RqCIeBTuCcQiD5lozTlg#/registration

If you are interested in joining the NC AAUP Syllabus Committee, contact Michael Palm mwpalm@gmail.com.

Academic Freedom Code for UNC System and Working Group

The UNC System Board of Governors is poised to define—and restrict—academic freedom. You can read the proposed revised policy. Be sure to note the “system suggestions in red.”

If you would like to join a group working to protect academic freedom at UNC-Chapel Hill, contact Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com.

Faculty Governance Interest Survey and Working Group

If you would like to join a working group of chapter members interested in working with faculty governance groups, contact Mehdi Shadmehr: mshadmeh@gmail.com

Faculty governance interest survey closes tomorrow (Tuesday) at midnight. Though the administration is undermining faculty governance at every opportunity, these positions provide a public venue for expressing collective concerns and registering resistance. Please consider registering your interest in participating. No blood sacrifice required, you will have a chance to change your mind before April elections. Search your UNC inbox for "Reminder to take the Faculty Governance Interest Survey."

Election Committee Volunteers

We are looking for a few volunteers to run our chapter elections, slated for April. Election committee members are responsible for soliciting nominations for officer terms beginning in June and running the election. If you do not plan to run for office and would like to be involved, please email Rosie Miesner: rose.miesner@gmail.com

Chapter Organizing

Our next weekly working meeting will be Friday, January 30th, from Noon-1pm.

All UNC instructors are welcome to attend, to help strategize about the area studies closures, the syllabus policy, academic freedom, and to bring other issues for us to discuss as well.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195114865?pwd=qf2kY5jKF6utphBBKn4ghkszHa6lLT.1

If you are interested in serving as a liaison for your department or unit, please email Erik Gellman at esgellman@gmail.com.

If you would like to help with these updates or with our chapter's website and social media, email Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com

NC AAUP is the fastest-growing non-union AAUP chapter in the country. Encourage colleagues to join at https://www.aaup.org/join.

National AAUP is offering its next "Organize Every Campus" or "Skills to Win" training in February 2026. If you are looking for ways to join other colleagues to more effectively resist the far right's and UNC's violations of academic freedom, threats of violence and harassment, this training could be right for you! "Organize Every Campus" training will take place over 5 sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, February 2, 4, 9, 11 and 18, from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM ET. Participants are expected to attend the entire training for all five sessions, since each session builds on the previous ones. In order to sign up, you do not have to register directly. Email Don Nonini at dnonini@gmail.com if you are interested in participating in these sessions, or have questions.

TODAY: Protecting Noncitizens, 5-6pm

AAUP NC has organized an info session for Monday, January 19, 5-6 pm, about ways to protect the rights of noncitizen faculty, students, and staff on our campuses. We'll hear from AAUP senior counsel Aaron Nisenson; and learn from faculty members about models and plans for protecting noncitizens on campus, as well as where and how to work with local groups, such as Siembra NC, in the broader community. We'll also talk about how to pressure/encourage university administrations to better communicate with and protect their noncitizen communities.

To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GjG7tINsTxuZlSgGl4DlaQ#/registration

All are welcome. Please share.

TOMORROW: TransparUNCy teach-in about Area Studies Centers closures

TransparUNCy is hosting a teach-in tomorrow, Jan. 20, 4:30pm in 3411 Student Union. You can follow TransparUNCy at https://substack.com/@transparuncy and https://www.instagram.com/transparuncy/.

Personal letters to administrators with details about the importance of the centers and the impact of their closure on UNC's reputation are also reportedly having an impact.

Roberts, Lee Harriss
lhrunc@email.unc.edu

Knuffman, Nathan L
nknuffman@unc.edu

White, James William Carl
jwcwhite@email.unc.edu

Dean, Jr., James W.
James.Dean@unc.edu

And keep circulating the results of the independent audit of UNC we co-sponsored last Fall.

Faculty Governance working group

If you would like to join a working group of chapter members interested in working with faculty governance groups, contact Mehdi Shadmehr: mshadmeh@gmail.com

Our next weekly working meeting will be Friday, January 16th, from Noon-1pm. All UNC instructors are welcome to attend, to help strategize about the area studies closures, the syllabus policy, and to bring other issues for us to discuss as well.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195114865?pwd=qf2kY5jKF6utphBBKn4ghkszHa6lLT.1

If you are interested in serving as a liaison for your department or unit, please email Erik Gellman at esgellman@gmail.com.

If you would like to help with these updates or with our chapter's website and social media, email Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com

NC AAUP is the fastest-growing non-union AAUP chapter in the country. Encourage colleagues to join at https://www.aaup.org/join.

National AAUP is offering its next "Organize Every Campus" or "Skills to Win" training in February 2026. If you are looking for ways to join other colleagues to more effectively resist the far right's and UNC's violations of academic freedom, threats of violence and harassment, this training could be right for you! "Organize Every Campus" training will take place over 5 sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, February 2, 4, 9, 11 and 18, from 6:30 PM-8:30 PM ET. Participants are expected to attend the entire training for all five sessions, since each session builds on the previous ones. In order to sign up, you do not have to register directly. Email Don Nonini at dnonini@gmail.com if you are interested in participating in these sessions, or have questions.