American
Association
of University
Professors

Illinois Conference

Mission

Advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education, and to ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good.

Services

We provide access to information you can use, committees, available grants, conferences, and links to other educational sites

Hot Topics

Discussions and information on important topics that impact the community.

The latest happenings

  • Upcoming Events – November, 2026

    The Illinois Conference works to ensure that faculty voices remain central to college and university decision-making processes. We advocate for the conditions that allow professors to teach, conduct research, engage with the public, and pursue scholarly inquiry free from undue political, ideological, or administrative interference. By strengthening faculty participation in governance and defending academic freedom, we help preserve the integrity and quality of higher education.

    Upcoming Events:
    November 7 – Discussion on academic freedom at the Illinois Political Science Association
    November 9 – Britt Paris on her book, Radical Infrastructure: Imagining the Internet from the Ground Up
    November 10 – AAUP Member Meeting
    November 12-14 – 2026 US General Assembly
    November 12 – Using AAUP Policy to Defend Academic Freedom
    November 19 – DAFTG Special Topics Workshop.

    We invite you to join us for these important upcoming programs.

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    Upcoming Events – Sept/Oct

    The Illinois Conference works to ensure that faculty voices remain central to college and university decision-making processes. We advocate for the conditions that allow professors to teach, conduct research, engage with the public, and pursue scholarly inquiry free from undue political, ideological, or administrative interference. By strengthening faculty participation in governance and defending academic freedom, we help preserve the integrity and quality of higher education.

    Upcoming Events:
    September 4 – Professor Leonard Bright – update on the current situation at Texas A&M University
    September 17 – Academic Freedom and Constitutional Rights in a Time of Crisis
    October 4-10 – Banned Book Week

    We invite you to join us for these important upcoming programs.

  • Illinois Institute of Technology lays off 160 faculty and staff

    The Illinois Institute of Technology reduced its workforce by around 160 faculty and staff positions, a move a university spokesperson said comes as higher education institutions across the country face demographic declines, research cutbacks, and restrictions on international students attending U.S. universities.

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    IL AAUP Letter to SAIC Talwar June 2026

    The Illinois Conference of the American Association of University Professors Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure expresses concern about the School of the Art Institute’s suspension and investigation of art therapy professor Savneet Talwar. In an April 17, 2026, letter, Director of Employee Relations Andrew Daley accused Talwar of “alleged conduct expressing an anti-Israeli, antisemetic [sic], and/or pro-Palestine viewpoint.

STAY INFORMED

Join the fight for academic freedom and the faculty voice by becoming an AAUP member today!