The status of faculty unionization in American colleges in 1988 is reviewed in this newsletter. Information is given on the following: agents elected; activities of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), and American Association of University Professors (AAUP); "no-agent" elections; decertifications;…

Presents a theoretical construct for understanding job discrimination and affirmative action in higher education. Focuses on three areas of concern: (1) job listings; (2) use of the terms "qualified" and "qualifications" to purge competent Black job candidates; and (3) the role of publications in tenure decisions. Outlines strategies for…

Discusses a 1984 United States Supreme Court ruling against 20 faculty members not belonging to the Minnesota Community College Faculty Association (MCCFA) who alleged that their right to meet and confer with their employers over employment terms and conditions was violated by MCCFA representation excluding nonunion members. (JBM)

The 29 papers in this collection celebrate academic freedom at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and are organized around the 1894 "trial" of Richard T. Ely, an economist who was exonerated of fomenting unrest and discussing "dangerous" ideas in a Board of Regents Statement which stressed the importance of "sifting and…

Notes that the 1980s in Great Britain have been a period for criticism of teachers and education engendered by various reports and studies. Suggests that an examination of output variables on teacher education courses will answer vital concerns on teacher effectiveness. Examines the dual problems of effective teacher education and the loss of…

Increasingly, college faculty members accused of sexual harassment say their rights have been breached and are suing their institutions. Some observers see the trend as a backlash to new expectations about appropriate faculty behavior. Others worry that administrative definitions of harassment are too broad, and faculty due process is violated.…

Presents a Russian perspective on patent rights in pedagogic studies. The paper notes that patents and licenses are profitable for the author, firm, and state and questions why teachers are not involved in the process. It also describes a center for pedagogical innovations in the USSR. (SM)

Discussion of academic freedom and college teacher dismissal first examines the expectations that institutions should have of faculty, traces the history of academic freedom in America, and looks at conditions that might constitute adequate cause for teacher dismissal. Examples are drawn from court litigation. Catalysts in the institutional…

Case citations from federal and state court decisions concerning freedom of speech in schools are organized in five major sections with brief summaries of relevant cases in subcategories followed by a table of cases cited. The major sections are as follows: (1) "Employees' Freedom of Expression: Academic Issues" (Virginia Davis Nordin);…

This brief report summarizes a longer document with the same title in the ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report series. Academic freedom provides the foundation for faculty scholarship and teaching, making it possible for educators to exchange ideas and concepts freely in the classroom, to explore and disseminate new knowledge, and to speak out both…

This report synthesizes the literature and applicable case law concerning academic freedom in higher education and addresses the following issues: (1) popular notions concerning academic freedom; (2) whether academic freedom is a legal right; (3) whether faculty at private institutions have the same rights as faculty in public schools; and (4)…

This report addresses the unionization of part-time (or adjunct) faculty and sets forth certain demographic data pertaining to them. Included are sections from national faculty organizations' status reports on part-time faculty. The first part of the report lists factors contributing to the growth of adjunct faculty collective bargaining. Tables…

The University of Michigan vs. Scott Ewing case, in which a medical student who had not passed a required examination was dismissed, and the potential for legal pressure brought to writing teachers and writing programs are discussed. (MSE)

The actions of Clark College in terminating, for reasons of financial exigency, two faculty members previously granted indefinite tenure are reviewed according to the AAUP statement of principles and recommended institutional regulations on academic freedom and tenure, and procedural standards, and found to be in violation. (MSE)

The results are reported of court litigation in which Boston University faculty were denied the right to collective bargaining because faculty are considered supervisors. The role of the American Association of University Professors is also discussed and excerpts from the court's opinion are presented. (MSE)