A coalition of educators from the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers, along with Texas Democrats, have launched a new policy platform aimed at countering attacks on higher education and academic freedom.
The platform, which union members announced in Austin on Monday, is titled “A Blueprint for Strengthening and Transforming Higher Education” and encourages candidates in the 2026 midterm elections to fight for higher education, promoting it as a public good instead of a privilege.
”What we’re seeing are deep, deep cuts to research funding, we’re seeing attacks on academic freedom and free speech,” AAUP President Todd Wolfson said. “Here in Texas, hundreds of classes are canceled because of what teachers are putting on their syllabi. We’re seeing efforts to dismantle diversity and eliminate support from minority serving institutions, and we’re seeing growing interference in teaching and research.”
“These are not just funding battles, they’re battles over the right to learn and the right to teach,” he added.
The platform rests on four pillars:
📖A students’ right to learn
💵Affordability, accessibility, and completion
💪Strengthening communities
🧑🏫Respecting and empowering faculty, staff, and student workers
