Standing                                     Together

Faculty First Responders

https://facultyfirstresponders.com/

facultyfirstresponders@gmail.com 

• Monitors websites most responsible for generating targeted harassment of faculty on a daily basis; reach out to faculty with resources and support

• Resources for Higher Ed workers and Administrators

Fantastic resource (and comprehensive list of best practices and resources)!

AFT Resolution

2024 Resolution Condemning Hate and Affirming Freedom of Speech on Campus

https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-passes-resolution-condemning-hate-and-affirming-freedom-speech-campus

AAUP Resources

https://www.aaup.org/our-work/protecting-academic-freedom

academicfreedom@aaup.org

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Academic Freedom Field Guide

https://www.aaup.org/about/programs/protecting-academic-freedom/center-defense-academic-freedom/academic-freedom-field

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Academic Freedom First Aid Kit

https://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/AAUP%20CDAF%20Academic%20Freedom%20First%20Aid%20Kit.pdf

Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure

• Promotes standards and due process; development of policy documents and reports;

• Staff provides assistance, including mediation

List of resources on academic freedom: https://www.aaup.org/our-programs/academic-freedom/resources-academic-freedom

Webinars: https://www.aaup.org/webinar-library

Speak Up, Speak Out: Protect the Faculty Voice. An AAUP issue campaign, with supporting material, that was undertaken to enhance academic freedom at public colleges and universities.

Manufacturing Backlash: Right-Wing Think Tanks and the Legislative Attack on Higher Education, 2021–2023. 2024. The first white paper by the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom.

PEN America

PEN America, an organization promoting freedom of expression, especially for writers, provides various resources, including:

• “Online Harassment Field Manual”: https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/

• What To Do If You’ve Been Doxed Or Placed On A Watchlist

• Trainings and Workshops

Researcher Support Consortium

The Researcher Support Consortium offers a toolkit "to protect and support researchers and scholars affected by external campaigns of intimidation and harassment.".

​https://researchersupport.org/resources/

AAUP 
Best Practices

• Familiarize yourself with laws, union statements and policies

  • AAUP 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure: https://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure

• Use only a personal email account for organizing, political and other work not directly connected to your job (work email subject to Freedom of Information or state public record requests)

• Lock down your digital identity: https://www.femtechnet.org/csov/lock-down-your-digital-identity/

  • Two-factor authentication on everything

  • Use a password manager and use unique password

  • Delete old accounts; adjust privacy settings on social media

• In your syllabus, state that audio, video, or other recording of class sessions and activities is prohibited unless explicitly approved in writing (RIC Center for Disability Access has a recording agreement students sign that addresses this)

SciLine

SciLine is a service for journalists and scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) focused on enhancing science coverage in the news. They offer media Training and Workshops and other Resources.

Expert Voices Together

Expert Voices Together provides support for journalists and researchers facing harassment. They have a Rapid-Response System and other Resources.

Sample Campus Response Plans

UMass Amherst’ Harassment Response and Prevention plan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IAB9ULQGLq6_AVECadK0cVQ5VUA8Pfib/view

Sonoma State University  “A “First Responder” Plan for Online Harassment of Faculty”

https://academicaffairs.sonoma.edu/sites/academicaffairs/files/ofas_faculty_first_responder_plan.pdf