News Blog

The AAUP chapter recently reviewed concerns related to campus housing for new faculty. In a letter to the college's leadership, the chapter highlighted several issues, including the need for grater clarity and consistency in rental pricing, for greater access to information about the properties, and for more adequate advance notice regarding property maintenance. Additionally, the chapter emphasized the need for more transparent communication regarding utilities and pay structure to support new faculty. In recognizing the important role of college-owned housing in mitigating area housing challenges, the chapter urges the administration to strengthen this critical benefit, which contributes to a positive and equitable experience for new faculty. 

On December 1, 2024, the AAUP chapter wrote to the faculty to announce its endorsement of the newly proposed academic-freedom policy. Developed by the Academic Freedom and Due Process Committee and recently approved by the Board of Trustees, this policy affirms the four central pillars of academic freedom: freedom in classroom discussion, freedom in scholarship and publication, freedom from institutional censorship in governance participation, and freedom when speaking or writing as citizens. Grounded in AAUP standards, the policy affirms the essential role of academic freedom in fostering intellectual inquiry and dialogue within the academic community. The chapter encourages the faculty to support and uphold this vital reaffirmation of academic principles, and to vote in support of it at the upcoming faculty meeting.

On November 11, 2024, the officers of the AAUP chapter sent a letter to the college president's cabinet, expressing concern regarding its response to an incident of alleged vandalism at the Memorial Building on November 6. Specifically, the decision to involve the Walla Walla Police Department has raised questions about the proportionality of the response and its broader implications. The letter emphasizes the heightened risks faced by members of marginalized groups in interactions with law enforcement and calls for the exercise of prudence in such situations. It urges the cabinet to consider non-police avenues for addressing this issue, highlighting the college's goal of inclusivity.

The AAUP chapter submitted a set of proposals to the administration (the offices of the president and the provost), advocating for enhanced support for faculty research and scholarship. The document outlines strategies to strengthen morale and bolster the college's academic reputation by restoring and expanding such resources as course releases for book contracts, flexible sabbatical policies, and increased funding for faculty-student research collaborations, among others. These measures aim to reaffirm and reinforce the teacher-scholar model that underlies the college's mission while promoting innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in pedagogy. The AAUP chapter welcomes further dialogue with the administration to advance these initiatives.