University of Oklahoma AAUP
@uoklahomaaaup.bsky.social
We are the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) at the University of Oklahoma. We defend academic freedom, shared governance and fundamental professional values and standards for higher education.
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-facu... Faculty Senate’s resolution insists “OU Faculty Senate Executive Committee and Faculty Senate were neither solicited for input nor endorsed the decision of the administration on this matter.” Despite the OU Administration claiming they did.
Faculty Senate to consider stand against OU’s handling of grade dispute despite university claims
OU Faculty Senate aims to vote on a resolution to affirm the senate did not endorse the university’s termination of graduate teaching instructor Mel Curth in a virtual ballot.
www.oudaily.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:22 AM
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-facu... Faculty Senate’s resolution insists “OU Faculty Senate Executive Committee and Faculty Senate were neither solicited for input nor endorsed the decision of the administration on this matter.” Despite the OU Administration claiming they did.
cz.boell.org/en/2023/05/1... Where else were professors stripped of tenure? That would be in right-wing authoritarian Hungary. Make no mistake Gov. Stitt's removal of tenure at Oklahoma regional & community colleges & universities is an authoritarian attack on ideas presented in college classrooms.
Hungary’s “revenge bill” against teachers, students and parents | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Prague Office - Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary
The Hungarian Interior Ministry (because there has been no Education Ministry in Hungary since 2010) is planning to apply stricter, more detailed disciplinary rules as a result of a new bill on teache...
cz.boell.org
February 7, 2026 at 6:49 PM
cz.boell.org/en/2023/05/1... Where else were professors stripped of tenure? That would be in right-wing authoritarian Hungary. Make no mistake Gov. Stitt's removal of tenure at Oklahoma regional & community colleges & universities is an authoritarian attack on ideas presented in college classrooms.
www.theeduledger.com/leadership-p... "The AAUP president framed the executive order within what he described as a pattern of "democratic backsliding," arguing that weakening independent academic institutions threatens democratic norms."
Oklahoma Governor Eliminates Tenure at Regional Universities and Community Colleges
The executive order strips tenure protections from faculty at institutions including the state's six regional universities and its community college system, though it does not apply to the University ...
www.theeduledger.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:47 PM
www.theeduledger.com/leadership-p... "The AAUP president framed the executive order within what he described as a pattern of "democratic backsliding," arguing that weakening independent academic institutions threatens democratic norms."
www.oudaily.com/news/america... Given this development, now is a really good time for OU to resume DEI efforts on campus.
National college association reaffirms support of DEI, encourages return to ‘equity-centered’ practices
The American College Personnel Association posted an open letter reaffirming its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on Instagram Tuesday. The announcement follows the U.S. Department of Edu...
www.oudaily.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:44 AM
www.oudaily.com/news/america... Given this development, now is a really good time for OU to resume DEI efforts on campus.
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's Executive Order issued today immediately eliminating academic tenure at the state’s public regional universities and community colleges.
AAUP President on the Elimination of Tenure at Oklahoma Regional Universities and Community Colleges.
WASHINGTON—AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to the Governor of Oklahoma’s signing of Executive Order 2026-07, which immediately eliminates the conferral of academ...
www.aaup.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:40 AM
AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's Executive Order issued today immediately eliminating academic tenure at the state’s public regional universities and community colleges.
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
"Targeting regional universities and community colleges reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of tenure—as if it were a privilege reserved for a select few rather than an essential working condition for all faculty responsible for teaching and research." @proftwolf.bsky.social @aaup.org
AAUP President on the Elimination of Tenure at Oklahoma Regional Universities and Community Colleges.
WASHINGTON—AAUP President Todd Wolfson issued the following statement in response to the Governor of Oklahoma’s signing of Executive Order 2026-07, which immediately eliminates the conferral of academ...
www.aaup.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
"Targeting regional universities and community colleges reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of tenure—as if it were a privilege reserved for a select few rather than an essential working condition for all faculty responsible for teaching and research." @proftwolf.bsky.social @aaup.org
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
“Contrary to claims of being ‘1 University’ & supporting shared governance, OU has not yet deigned to respond to GSS & OU AAUP statements addressing the campus issues of transparency in the grade appeals process, including with Mel Curth, support of academic freedom & to counter political attacks."
OU Graduate Student Senate to meet with university on transparency, removal of graduate instructor
Following the passing of a bill calling for transparency from the university regarding its termination of graduate teaching instructor Mel Curth, the OU Graduate Student Senate is set to meet
www.oudaily.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:49 PM
“Contrary to claims of being ‘1 University’ & supporting shared governance, OU has not yet deigned to respond to GSS & OU AAUP statements addressing the campus issues of transparency in the grade appeals process, including with Mel Curth, support of academic freedom & to counter political attacks."
www.oudaily.com/news/graduat... The University of Oklahoma (OU) Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is demanding answers now from OU regarding the political attack on Mel Curth, the undisclosed process in firing Mel Curth, and OU's substandard academic reputation due to firing Mel Curth. OU-AAUP agrees.
OU Graduate Student Senate to meet with university on transparency, removal of graduate instructor
Following the passing of a bill calling for transparency from the university regarding its termination of graduate teaching instructor Mel Curth, the OU Graduate Student Senate is set to meet
www.oudaily.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:03 PM
www.oudaily.com/news/graduat... The University of Oklahoma (OU) Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is demanding answers now from OU regarding the political attack on Mel Curth, the undisclosed process in firing Mel Curth, and OU's substandard academic reputation due to firing Mel Curth. OU-AAUP agrees.
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
Education is a public good for all.
When politicians censor classroom teaching in order to narrow the field of topics that students can engage in, they rob them of a stellar world class education.
This is what is happening at Texas A&M & other institutions in the state.
🧵
When politicians censor classroom teaching in order to narrow the field of topics that students can engage in, they rob them of a stellar world class education.
This is what is happening at Texas A&M & other institutions in the state.
🧵
January 28, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Education is a public good for all.
When politicians censor classroom teaching in order to narrow the field of topics that students can engage in, they rob them of a stellar world class education.
This is what is happening at Texas A&M & other institutions in the state.
🧵
When politicians censor classroom teaching in order to narrow the field of topics that students can engage in, they rob them of a stellar world class education.
This is what is happening at Texas A&M & other institutions in the state.
🧵
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
If Texas A&M truly believes in the values of leadership, integrity, & service, it must defend academic freedom & protect student learning.
Please sign & share this petition to TAMU leadership demanding an end to all censorship of instruction & retaliation against faculty who refuse to censor.
Please sign & share this petition to TAMU leadership demanding an end to all censorship of instruction & retaliation against faculty who refuse to censor.
January 25, 2026 at 6:06 PM
If Texas A&M truly believes in the values of leadership, integrity, & service, it must defend academic freedom & protect student learning.
Please sign & share this petition to TAMU leadership demanding an end to all censorship of instruction & retaliation against faculty who refuse to censor.
Please sign & share this petition to TAMU leadership demanding an end to all censorship of instruction & retaliation against faculty who refuse to censor.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm... One of the claims about "Illegal DEIA" just disappeared. Time for a new OU Provost Office secret memo reversing the August 2025 secret memo about supposed "illegal DEIA" being essentially verboten at OU?
ED Drops Appeal of Order Blocking Anti-DEI Guidance
First Amendment advocates and higher ed leaders are declaring victory, and some say it’s the “final defeat” of Trump’s attempt to rid colleges of race-based student supports.
www.insidehighered.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:44 AM
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm... One of the claims about "Illegal DEIA" just disappeared. Time for a new OU Provost Office secret memo reversing the August 2025 secret memo about supposed "illegal DEIA" being essentially verboten at OU?
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
“University administrators and state lawmakers are saying, in effect, that academic freedom won’t protect you if you teach ideas they don’t like. Never mind that decades ago, the Supreme Court described classrooms as the very embodiment of the “marketplace of ideas”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
Opinion | This Is No Way to Run a University
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:17 AM
“University administrators and state lawmakers are saying, in effect, that academic freedom won’t protect you if you teach ideas they don’t like. Never mind that decades ago, the Supreme Court described classrooms as the very embodiment of the “marketplace of ideas”
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/o...
www.kosu.org/2025-06-18/o... A recap of a key July 2025 court victory in which the Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld academic freedom for public colleges and universities in Oklahoma. OU-AAUP has been one of the plaintiffs.
Oklahoma Supreme Court says HB 1775 ban does not apply to university courses
The Oklahoma Supreme Court decided Tuesday the state's law banning certain discussions on race and sex does not apply to college and university classrooms.
www.kosu.org
January 20, 2026 at 1:30 AM
www.kosu.org/2025-06-18/o... A recap of a key July 2025 court victory in which the Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld academic freedom for public colleges and universities in Oklahoma. OU-AAUP has been one of the plaintiffs.
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
“We urge OU to publicly and unequivocally affirm the right of OU faculty and instructors to conduct teaching, grading, and research without political interference, unlawful mandates, or external pressures that hinder academic freedom.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
January 16, 2026 at 6:12 PM
“We urge OU to publicly and unequivocally affirm the right of OU faculty and instructors to conduct teaching, grading, and research without political interference, unlawful mandates, or external pressures that hinder academic freedom.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
Read AAUP President Todd Wolfson's full statement here👇
AAUP Condemns OU Suspension, Political Interference
We urge OU to affirm the right of instructors to teach, grade, and research without political interference, unlawful mandates, or external pressures that hinder academic freedom.
www.aaup.org
January 16, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Read AAUP President Todd Wolfson's full statement here👇
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
“The suspension of Mel Curth, a graduate instructor at the University of Oklahoma (OU), stemming from a grading dispute with a student, is an egregious violation of widely accepted principles of academic freedom and due process.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
National AAUP condemns suspension of OU graduate instructor for Bible-based essay grade
The American Association of University Professors issued a statement Thursday condemning OU for removing the graduate instructor who gave a failing grade to a student’s Bible-based essay.
www.oudaily.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:59 PM
“The suspension of Mel Curth, a graduate instructor at the University of Oklahoma (OU), stemming from a grading dispute with a student, is an egregious violation of widely accepted principles of academic freedom and due process.”
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
— Todd Wolfson, AAUP President
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
“The educational credibility of OU is called into question when media coverage and external threats lead OU to appear to capitulate in a grading dispute, with the appearance that the standard appeal process is not being followed."
— AAUP University of Oklahoma
— AAUP University of Oklahoma
OU-AAUP calls for university to honor transparency, academic freedom after removal of instructor
The OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors called in a Monday press release for the university to publicly disclose all facts regarding the administrative leave of the
www.oudaily.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“The educational credibility of OU is called into question when media coverage and external threats lead OU to appear to capitulate in a grading dispute, with the appearance that the standard appeal process is not being followed."
— AAUP University of Oklahoma
— AAUP University of Oklahoma
Reposted by University of Oklahoma AAUP
What is happening at the University of Oklahoma is an outrageous violation of due process.
"They hide behind vague statements & assertions of ‘trust us.’ At this point, they need to show us and not tell us."
— OU AAUP
"They hide behind vague statements & assertions of ‘trust us.’ At this point, they need to show us and not tell us."
— OU AAUP
Instructor who gave U of Oklahoma student a zero on anti-trans paper removed from teaching
Graduate assistant Mel Curth found Samantha Fulnecky's paper unscientific and offensive in referring to trans people as "demonic."
www.yahoo.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What is happening at the University of Oklahoma is an outrageous violation of due process.
"They hide behind vague statements & assertions of ‘trust us.’ At this point, they need to show us and not tell us."
— OU AAUP
"They hide behind vague statements & assertions of ‘trust us.’ At this point, they need to show us and not tell us."
— OU AAUP