About

The name of this organization is the Indiana University Indianapolis chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP or the Association).

The purposes of this chapter are to:

1. Support the policies and goals of the Association as set forth in Article 1 of the AAUP constitution, and in all matters act in harmony with the principles and procedures of national Association and its constitution;
2. Facilitate the cooperation of teachers and research scholars in universities and colleges, and in professional schools of similar grade, for the promotion of the interests of higher education and research, and in general to increase the usefulness and advance the standards, ideals, and welfare of the profession;
3. Defend academic freedom at Indiana University Indianapolis and throughout academe;
4. Encourage faculty participation in governance at Indiana University Indianapolis;
5. Protect and advance the professional status and interests of all faculty;
6. Promote the economic security of those who teach, research and serve the well-being of  students in higher education, and organize to further inclusive, fair, dignified and equitable  conditions for work and life, not excluding support for those who seek collective bargaining  representation;
7. Ensure higher education’s contribution to the common good;
8. Facilitate the dissemination of information on higher education principles and practices;
9. Inform the academic community about AAUP standards and policy statements; and
10. Develop necessary and proper chapter programs for the accomplishment of the aforementioned purposes.

In furtherance of the purposes described above, but not in limitation thereof, the chapter shall have power to conduct studies; to disseminate statistics and other information; to engage in appropriate fundraising activities; to conduct promotional activities, including advertising and publicity, in or by any suitable manner of media; to hold such property as is necessary to accomplish its purposes; and to employ individuals to further its purposes under Article II. This chapter is organized and operated for the above stated purposes, and for other nonprofit purposes. No part of its assets, income, or profits shall be distributable to, or inure to the benefit of, any individual, except in consideration of services rendered.

Eligibility for membership in this chapter shall extend to anyone at Indiana University Indianapolis holding a professional position of teacher, researcher, librarian, graduate student, or related professional appointment primarily involving teaching and research, who are national members of the American Association of University Professors. This includes retired faculty members, as well as adjunct faculty who have held a position at the university within the past three years. Associate members (IUI employees at the rank of Dean or above and members of the public who are members of the national AAUP) are welcome but do not have chapter voting privileges.

The officers of this organization shall be the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The term of office shall be two years. Officers may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same office. Elections will be held annually during the spring semester,  with new officers assuming their positions on July 1. Elections for officers will be decided by  majority . In the event no candidate receives a majority, a run-off will be held between the two  candidates receiving the highest numbers of votes.

President: The duties of the president shall include carrying out the policies of the chapter, appointing all committees of the chapter, exercising general supervision over the activities of the chapter, responding to inquiries from the media, and presiding at meetings of the chapter and executive committee. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees. The  president shall represent the chapter in interactions with university administrators and faculty  governance leaders, and shall maintain communication with the Indiana state AAUP conference  and other AAUP chapters within the IU system. The president shall convene other officers of the  chapter as an agenda committee for executive committee meetings. 

Vice president: The duties of the vice president shall include those usually appertaining to the office and those delegated by the president. In the absence of the president, the vice president shall serve in the president’s stead.  The duties of the vice-president shall also include scheduling executive committee  and chapter meetings, preparing or overseeing the preparation of newsletters for distribution to  the faculty, sharing website maintenance tasks with the secretary, as agreed, and sharing  ownership and monitoring of listservs with the secretary, as agreed. The vice-president shall  receive email messages sent to the chapter email account and forward them to the president and,  as appropriate, other officers. 

Secretary: The duties of the secretary shall include keeping a record of all proceedings and correspondence of the chapter, certifying chapter delegates to the Association’s annual meeting, and maintaining official contact with the Association. It shall be the duty of the secretary to provide the secretary-treasurer of the Association the names of the officers of the chapter and the chapter bylaws and to conduct the correspondence of the chapter with the Association. In the absence of the president and vice president, the secretary shall preside at meetings of the chapter. The secretary shall take minutes  of executive committee meetings for circulation and approval by executive committee members  and of chapter meetings for approval by the executive committee and circulation to chapter  members. The secretary shall maintain chapter membership lists, send welcome messages to new  members, and notify members whose membership lapses. The secretary shall share with the vice president website maintenance tasks, as well as sharing ownership and monitoring of listservs, as  agreed.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all funds received and disbursed. At the request of the executive committee, the treasurer shall prepare an annual chapter budget and report of finances, and submit them for approval. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to remit to the Association and/or to the applicable state conference any dues collected on behalf of the Association and/or conference. In the absence of the president, vice president, and secretary, the treasurer shall preside at meetings of the chapter.

Specific duties of chapter officers may be assigned differently by agreement. In some cases,  particular functions may be performed by executive committee members who are not officers or,  in exceptional cases, by other chapter members.

When an officer has resigned or is disqualified, the executive committee is empowered to fill the  vacancy by appointment notifying the membership and inviting requests for a special election  within a specified period of not more than one month. The person appointed by the executive  committee shall hold office for the remainder of the term unless a special election is requested by  twenty percent of the membership, in which case a special election shall be held promptly. Officers elected by secret ballot shall also serve as chapter delegates/alternates to AAUP meetings and any applicable AAUP state conference meetings in the order listed above.

The chapter may establish chapter dues. Any chapter dues will be established by a secret ballot vote conducted among voting chapter members. The vote may be conducted either by mail ballot or, after reasonable notice, at a regular or special membership meeting. Chapter members must pay current AAUP dues, any mandatory conference dues, and chapter dues.

A. Executive Committee: The executive committee shall consist of the elected officers of the chapter, the immediate past president, committee chairs, and between two and four members elected at large.  Elections to the executive committee  will be held in the spring concurrently with officer elections, with terms beginning on July 1.  Candidates for executive committee positions who receive the highest number of votes  corresponding to the number of positions to be filled in an election cycle shall be declared  elected. The elected executive committee may, by a two-thirds vote, appoint up to two additional  members to the committee at any point during its term of office. Appointed members’ terms will  expire on June 30, regardless of their dates of appointment.
The majority of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum for conduct of business of the committee. The executive committee shall assume responsibility for the chapter’s continuing effective presence at the institution, keeping all positions on the executive committee filled as vacancies occur. 
The executive committee shall:

1. Meet regularly;
2. Respond to faculty members seeking assistance;
3. Conduct the business of the chapter between meetings;
4. Regularly recruit members and encourage maintenance of membership;
5. Make necessary appointments to complete an unexpired term of any officer;
6. Set the agenda with appropriate notice for chapter meetings;
7. Consult regularly with the administration on matters of mutual interest; and
8. Review the By-laws annually.

B. Membership Committee: The membership committee shall regularly recruit new members and encourage the maintenance of membership. This may include maintaining regular contacts with members for the purpose of communicating membership concerns to the executive committee, encouraging participation in committee and executive board, and mobilizing members for chapter events and actions. Working with the treasurer and other applicable chapter officers, the committee shall promote the establishment of a dues deduction plan and other appropriate plans to encourage membership recruitment and maintenance.

C. Other Committees: The chapter may create additional standing and ad hoc committees as necessary to promote the welfare of the chapter. The chair and members of these committees shall be appointed by the executive committee. Some such committees may be, but are not limited to:

•     Academic freedom and tenure (Committee A)
•     Status of women and minorities
•     Professional ethics
•     Accreditation of colleges and universities
•     Elections, dues, and chapter organization
•     Relationships with local, state, and federal governments
•     Faculty participation in college and university governance
•     Economic status of the profession

The chapter shall hold regular meetings at least twice each academic year.
Special meetings of the chapter may be called by the president or a majority of the executive committee. The president shall call special meetings of the chapter within seven days of being so directed by the executive committee or by a petition signed by ten percent of the members.
The quorum required for the transaction of business at all meetings of the chapter shall consist of 20 percent of the voting members.

Upon dissolution of the chapter, its assets shall be distributed to the Association, a professional association. 

Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by any member of the organization by submitting the proposed amendment in writing to the Secretary.
The text of any proposed amendment, together with a brief explanation of its purpose, shall be distributed to all members not fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting or vote at which the amendment will be considered.
These bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is established, or by a majority of votes cast in a duly authorized electronic or written ballot, as permitted by law.
Unless otherwise specified, an adopted amendment shall take effect immediately upon approval.

Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall be the authority for this chapter in matters of procedure not specified above.

President: Althea Kaminske, Term 2026 – 2028

Vice President: Elizabeth Nelson, Term 2026 – 2028

Secretary: Emily Beckman, Term 2026 – 2028

Treasurer: Dana Kostroun, Term 2026 – 2028

•     Academic freedom and tenure (Committee A)
•     Status of women and minorities
•     Professional ethics
•     Accreditation of colleges and universities
•     Elections, dues, and chapter organization
•     Relationships with local, state, and federal governments
•     Faculty participation in college and university governance
•     Economic status of the profession