American Association of University Professors, University of Oklahoma

05/10/2026

The OU-AAUP Political Harassment Plan document is now on the OU-AAUP website. This document provides non-legal information in the event that an OU faculty member is harassed. It documents ways in which an OU Faculty member can respond to harassment and threats, and lists resources, both at the University of Oklahoma and beyond, that you can consult in the event of such attacks. Please check this out and also the other resources on our webpage, including press releases.

On this website is the OU-AAUP's 'OU POLITICAL HARASSMENT PLAN.' This site provides non-legal information in the event that a faculty member is politically harassed: docs.google.com/document/d/1k9kvM408q7BhRx3MDnZNvuMmMsxGD6TpkcetHxU632M/edit?tab=t.0

04/23/2026

What has the University of Oklahoma chapter of AAUP been doing to protect academic freedom and workplace rights and safety in the last six years? It turns out a lot. Check our new web page with our press releases for six years for an overview: https://sites.google.com/d/1IrQajK_8DLt-qbG9FkMLiRak5LLgbjPp/p/1wMdLbmzBk45Q1rOwFvFbc5v_nz68gXJb/edit?authuser=1

04/19/2026

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/2026/04/19/mel-curth-speaks-out-on-ou-essay-samantha-fulnecky-debate-in-her-first-media-interview/89552203007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx01p118250l004350c118250e1121xxv11xx01d--73--b--73--&gca-ft=15&gca-ds=sophi "Amid a media storm, the university removed Curth from her teaching position and did not count the failing marks on on Fulnecky's final course grade.
Curth filed an appeal in December. Her attorney, Brittany Stewart, said Curth denied that she engaged in any discriminatory behavior, alleging the investigation was flawed and failed to consider all possible motives and issues.

"Rather than engaging in discrimination, Mel Curth has been the target of a political movement that seeks to silence and/or oust LGBTQ people from academia," Stewart said at the time.
Curth declined to disclose the status of the appeal or say whether she intends to litigate further. She clarified that while she's no longer in a teaching position at the university, she is receiving the same pay and benefits while serving as a research assistant.""

In her first interview, Mel Curth spoke with The Oklahoman about Samantha Fulnecky's essay on gender norms that sparked a national debate.

04/14/2026

https://www.theeduledger.com/faculty-staff/article/15821768/faculty-purchasing-power-declines-as-inflation-outpaces-salary-growth-aaup-finds

Preliminary data from the nation's largest faculty compensation survey shows real wages fell for the first time since the pandemic.

04/14/2026

https://www.aaup.org/blueprint-strengthening-and-transforming-higher-education

"The AAUP and AFT jointly launched a new comprehensive policy platform ahead of the 2026 midterms aimed to counter the Trump administration’s far right extremist attacks on American higher education and secure a strong future for public colleges and universities. The new framework, titled “A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education,” outlines a vision where colleges and universities are treated as an indispensable public good crucial for a functioning democracy rather than corporate entities.

Key pillars of the platform include:

Restored Funding: A sustained reinvestment in public higher education to ensure college degrees are accessible and debt-free.

Freedom to Learn: New safeguards for academic freedom, shielding researchers and faculty from political interference and ideological thought policing.

Shared Governance: Ensuring faculty and staff—not corporate administrators—make final decisions on curriculum, research priorities, and institutional priorities.

Labor Reform: Ending the reliance on low-wage contingent labor and collective bargaining rights for all faculty and staff at public institutions."

The AAUP and AFT jointly launched a new comprehensive policy platform ahead of the 2026 midterms aimed to counter the Trump administration’s far right extremist attacks on American higher education and secure a strong future for public colleges and universities.

04/10/2026

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2026/04/10/bills-weakening-tenure-abolishing-faculty-senates-advance

"Oklahoma’s legislative session is scheduled to run until mid-May, leaving plenty more time for debate on the bill before the Legislature decides whether it’ll sink or swim. Many faculty have spoken out against the bill, including University of Oklahoma AAUP president Michael Givel.

“Abolishing tenure cripples and compromises scientific and creative research that benefits all Oklahomans. For example, in healthcare,” Givel told the OU Daily in an email. “It also sends a strong message that top-tier academics seeking employment at Oklahoma universities should look elsewhere immediately.”

Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Tennessee are considering legislation that will impact tenure, faculty governance and more.