This moment requires us to have a bold and courageous vision—and to act on it.

A crisis not only reveals the deep and historic flaws of our existing system, but gives us an opportunity to rethink and reshape—collectively—who we are and what we want to be. The workers, students, and community members of The New School understand that social and racial justice are fundamental to every aspect of university life. They must exist in practice.

Our mission for the The New School AAUP Chapter is based on the following commitments:

• We are committed to making the ideals of social justice, academic freedom, meaningful faculty governance, and administrative transparency a reality in the everyday life of The New School. We will use a range of strategies and tactics to accomplish this goal.

• We know that our chapter is only as strong as the members who join it. We are committed to listening to our members. We build campaigns around key issues identified by them and then agitate for changes in policy and practice. New School workers and students have struggled for years to force our leaders to deliver on the ideals that the university advertises but we believe in.

• We know how structural violence—of numerous kinds—is embedded in institutions of higher education, including The New School. We are committed to creating a more just, fair, and equitable work environment for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) workers across the university, both in and outside the classroom.

• Our university cannot exist without all of its workers. We are committed to supporting all university workers to access the resources they need. We are committed to fighting against furloughs and layoffs, hiring freezes, unsafe working conditions, and the disproportionate impact of policies on women, BIPOC, older, and differently-abled workers.

• Part-time faculty are essential members of our university community. The New School AAUP Chapter is committed to standing in solidarity with part-time faculty. We will resist layoffs and intensified threats of economic insecurity waged by the university’s austerity measures. Teaching, learning, and research—the core mission of the university—rest on the shoulders of our part-time faculty.

• Students lie at the heart of all universities and colleges. Our chapter is committed to centering the voices and experiences of students in the governance of this institution, paying close attention to the needs of BIPOC, international, and undocumented students, and being in solidarity with graduate student workers.

Consult the chapter bylaws and meeting minutes.