National Professors' Organization Defers Censure of UNI

The American Association of University Professors has delayed a decision on whether to censure the University of Northern Iowa.

The AAUP had been formally investigating the university after budget cuts led to the closure of dozens of academic programs and Malcolm Price Laboratory School.

However, with the arrival of a new president, Bill Ruud, at UNI's helm, an AAUP committee voted unanimously to defer a censure vote until 2014.

"I appreciate AAUP delaying their recommendation regarding UNI until 2014," Rudd said in a prepared statement. "This gives the university time to address outstanding issues, and it gives me the opportunity to engage with Faculty Senate and United Faculty. I appreciate the support of the faculty organizations in encouraging AAUP to delay their recommendation. I look forward to continuing positive dialogue with all faculty, staff and students at UNI."

According to AAUP's statement on the decision:

"In March, the AAUP chapter and the board of regents reached settlements in the cases of faculty members who had been constructively discharged as a result of the program closures, allowing affected faculty members to rescind their retirement agreements and return to their tenured appointments.

"The administration and the faculty have reported additional progress in recent months to improve academic governance at UNI. As a result, chapter and faculty senate leaders have stated their support for deferring any censure consideration until the 2014 annual meeting, in order to allow time for UNI, under its new administration, to address outstanding issues."