From July 17–20, Morehouse College served as the proud host of the American Association of University Professors/American Federation of Teachers (AAUP/AFT) Summer Institute, a four-day convening that brought together higher education professionals from across the country for strategy-building, organizing, and community.Faculty, staff, and union leaders from all 50 states gathered on the Morehouse campus for this annual conference to tackle the pressing challenges facing higher education today. This year’s institute focused heavily on organizing in an era of declining resources, political attacks on academic freedom, and increasing concerns around access and equity.
(From left, Andrew Douglas, Randi Weingarten and Sinead Younge, president of the Morehouse College AAUP chapter that hosted the event.)
Morehouse College’s own Dr. Andrew Douglas, professor of political science and vice president of the Morehouse AAUP chapter, was among the featured voices during a key panel on the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Alongside nine other AFT and AAUP members representing HBCUs nationwide, Dr. Douglas addressed the rising enrollment trends at HBCUs, which many attribute to the hostile climate and rollback of diversity programs at predominantly white institutions.
“Increased enrollment at HBCUs is worth celebrating, but it does not come with additional funding,” Dr. Douglas noted. He also raised a critical warning: “Pushing students away from primarily white institutions—and into the refuge provided by HBCUs—is resegregating higher education.”
His remarks underscored a central theme of the Summer Institute: the urgent need for equity-driven policy, organizing, and investment to ensure that all institutions—and all students—can thrive.
AFT President Randi Weingarten recognized the deep significance of convening on the Morehouse campus, which she called “hallowed ground” for civil rights activism and a symbol of multiracial democracy in action. “This is the power of coming together,” she said, pointing to the energy and purpose shared by participants.
The Summer Institute exemplified Morehouse College’s ongoing role as a convening space for critical national conversations and advocacy in higher education.