AAUP Website
AAUP Website
Advocating for a Better Future: Inside Spelman’s AAUP Advocacy Chapter
Advocating for a Better Future: Inside Spelman’s AAUP Advocacy Chapter
Spelman College since its establishment in 1881 has been rooted in excellence and the holistic advance of women of African Descent. However, what structures currently exist to ensure that Spelman remains rooted in this mission?
Founded on principles of financial leadership, shared governance and academic freedom, The Spelman American Association for University Professors (AAUP) Advocacy Chapter is here to establish an equitable future for Spelman as an academic institution.
The AAUP was founded in 1915, and has since aided in molding American higher education by developing the standards and principles that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in colleges and universities in the United States. Professors who are interested in joining can apply via AAUP’s website accompanied by membership dues based on annual salary.
The chapter was chartered in Mar. 2025 by a council of seven Spelman faculty members, and is led by Co-Presidents Dr. Luis Gonzalez and Spelman alumna Dr. Danielle Dickens. The chapter has grown to 25 members within only a year of being established. Faculty can only serve for two terms, allowing for a democratic form of leadership within the chapter, affording all faculty the opportunity to serve.
The founding faculty believed it was imperative to address concerns with the institution, and present solutions that will allow Spelman to endure and serve the needs of faculty, students, and administrators.
In Apr. 2026, the chapter was able to perform an external financial audit, the first to be performed by faculty at Spelman. This audit would not have been possible had it not been for the efforts of the chapter’s Treasurer Dr. Sequoia Maner.
Dr. Maner got the chapter to non-profit status in the State of Georgia, however the chapter can not legally identify as a union both in the state of Georgia and at Spelman. Dr. Maner also was responsible for applying for the grant of $8,000 to get a financial consultant, Dr. Howard Bunsis, Professor of Accounting, Eastern Michigan University, to perform research for the audit.
This financial audit, presented by chapter Vice President Dr. Menteweb Ayalew, revealed several staggering statistics. The most important being administrative costs were high and increasing twice as fast as instruction cost (106.2% v. 44.2%). Although this is not unique to Spelman, as many institutions allocate their funds similarly, this results in a higher faculty turn-over rate and an inadequate instructor to student ratios in the classroom.
Other statistics from the audit reflect: an increase of 63.2% allocated to academic support vs. only an increase of 25.5% for student services, an increase of 30.8% non-tenure versus 8.0% tenure instructors, and an increase of 24.9% enrollment versus an increase of only 14.7% for faculty.
The issue is not a lack of funds, but inadequate financial leadership. Spelman has been in good financial standing and was identified by the audit A1 with a solid-bond rating. The increase in enrollment from 2019 to 2026 (2,171 to 2,543) has contributed to this.
The chapter and faculty outside of it remain in “good-standing,” however the same can not necessarily be said about the chapter and the institution. Former Interim President Rosalind Brewer, refused to meet and work with the chapter.
Jan. 12, 2025 AAUP President Todd Wolfson sent an email addressed to Spelman College Interim President Rosalind Brewer and the Spelman College Board of Trustees.
“I was disappointed to learn that you have declined to meet with the Spelman College chapter of the AAUP or include its leaders in a recently formed shared governance working group for the spring 2026 semester and also declined to include a faculty voice determined through a nomination and election process in the selection of a newly appointed provost,” he said.
This past summer Spelman has taken steps to address the financial concerns raised by the chapter. The institution performed its own financial study and has provided financial raises for some undisclosed faculty. The criteria for these financial raises was also undisclosed.
This fall Spelman presented a MindStream financial assessment to faculty, which overlaps with several things reflected in the financial audit. This fall, the current President of Spelman College Dr. Ayanna Howard has expressed interest in working with the chapter, and the chapter hopes to meet with her in the near future.
Spelman College since its establishment in 1881 has been rooted in excellence and the holistic advance of women of African Descent. However, what structures currently exist to ensure that Spelman remains rooted in this mission?
Founded on principles of financial leadership, shared governance and academic freedom, The Spelman American Association for University Professors (AAUP) Advocacy Chapter is here to establish an equitable future for Spelman as an academic institution.
The AAUP was founded in 1915, and has since aided in molding American higher education by developing the standards and principles that maintain quality in education and academic freedom in colleges and universities in the United States. Professors who are interested in joining can apply via AAUP’s website accompanied by membership dues based on annual salary.
The chapter was chartered in Mar. 2025 by a council of seven Spelman faculty members, and is led by Co-Presidents Dr. Luis Gonzalez and Spelman alumna Dr. Danielle Dickens. The chapter has grown to 25 members within only a year of being established. Faculty can only serve for two terms, allowing for a democratic form of leadership within the chapter, affording all faculty the opportunity to serve.
The founding faculty believed it was imperative to address concerns with the institution, and present solutions that will allow Spelman to endure and serve the needs of faculty, students, and administrators.
In Apr. 2026, the chapter was able to perform an external financial audit, the first to be performed by faculty at Spelman. This audit would not have been possible had it not been for the efforts of the chapter’s Treasurer Dr. Sequoia Maner.
Dr. Maner got the chapter to non-profit status in the State of Georgia, however the chapter can not legally identify as a union both in the state of Georgia and at Spelman. Dr. Maner also was responsible for applying for the grant of $8,000 to get a financial consultant, Dr. Howard Bunsis, Professor of Accounting, Eastern Michigan University, to perform research for the audit.
This financial audit, presented by chapter Vice President Dr. Menteweb Ayalew, revealed several staggering statistics. The most important being administrative costs were high and increasing twice as fast as instruction cost (106.2% v. 44.2%). Although this is not unique to Spelman, as many institutions allocate their funds similarly, this results in a higher faculty turn-over rate and an inadequate instructor to student ratios in the classroom.
Other statistics from the audit reflect: an increase of 63.2% allocated to academic support vs. only an increase of 25.5% for student services, an increase of 30.8% non-tenure versus 8.0% tenure instructors, and an increase of 24.9% enrollment versus an increase of only 14.7% for faculty.
The issue is not a lack of funds, but inadequate financial leadership. Spelman has been in good financial standing and was identified by the audit A1 with a solid-bond rating. The increase in enrollment from 2019 to 2026 (2,171 to 2,543) has contributed to this.
The chapter and faculty outside of it remain in “good-standing,” however the same can not necessarily be said about the chapter and the institution. Former Interim President Rosalind Brewer, refused to meet and work with the chapter.
Jan. 12, 2025 AAUP President Todd Wolfson sent an email addressed to Spelman College Interim President Rosalind Brewer and the Spelman College Board of Trustees.
“I was disappointed to learn that you have declined to meet with the Spelman College chapter of the AAUP or include its leaders in a recently formed shared governance working group for the spring 2026 semester and also declined to include a faculty voice determined through a nomination and election process in the selection of a newly appointed provost,” he said.
This past summer Spelman has taken steps to address the financial concerns raised by the chapter. The institution performed its own financial study and has provided financial raises for some undisclosed faculty. The criteria for these financial raises was also undisclosed.
This fall Spelman presented a MindStream financial assessment to faculty, which overlaps with several things reflected in the financial audit. This fall, the current President of Spelman College Dr. Ayanna Howard has expressed interest in working with the chapter, and the chapter hopes to meet with her in the near future.