The AFT represents approximately 170,000 higher education faculty, both full- and part-time, professional staff and graduate employees. The AFT higher education department's mission is to help our affiliates and their members prosper in the face of political, economic and technological forces challenging the most basic assumptions about the union's role on campus. The political attack on public service in general and public higher education in particular has, in part, resulted in:

• tight budgets as well as anti-union presidents and boards of trustees;


• exploitation of part-time/adjunct and other nontenure-track faculty as well as graduate employees;
• increased intervention from state and federal legislators; and
• attacks on tenure, shared governance and academic freedom.

The AFT Higher Education Program and Policy Council, which represents the interests of higher education members to the larger organization, has developed a Strategic Plan (PDF) to focus the union’s efforts in addressing the current trends in higher education. In addition, AFT Higher Education’s policy statements on issues such as tenure, shared governance, contingent labor, teacher education and technology offer information and policy guidance, as well as arguments and negotiating strategies to advance the union agenda. AFT Higher Education’s conferences supplement these publications, as does the higher education department's work with other AFT departments on matters that affect higher education and our locals.

Contact Information
The AFT higher education department is the primary contact for our local leaders and for other faculty who are interested in discussing the AFT and higher education. If you need assistance or if you are interested in discussing the possibilities of organizing with the AFT, you can e-mail us at highered@aft.org or call 202/879-4426.

The AFT Higher Education Staff

Lawrence Gold, Director, Program and Policy Development
Craig Smith, Deputy Director, Field Services and Communications
Lindsay Hench, Senior Associate, Research and Writing
Chris Goff, Assistant, Free Exchange Project Coordinator
Lisa Handon, Administrative Assistant

Several AFT staff members are responsible for higher education issues in their respective departments:

Jack Nightingale, Coordinator for Higher Education Organizing, AFT Organizing Department
Barbara McKenna, Managing Editor of AFT On Campus, AFT Editorial Department