ASA continues to monitor and analyze the situation affecting faculty and graduate students in light of the Coronavirus. We welcome input from both students and faculty regarding these important and urgent issues.
Higher education is facing unprecedented circumstances due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and faculty members are working hard to maintain educational continuity for their students. ASA encourages all institutions of higher education to recognize the parameters of our current context and to consider appropriate temporary adjustments to their faculty review and reappointment processes for tenure line and contingent faculty.
As we enter a new decade, the American Sociological Association (ASA) expresses concern about sociologists around the world who continue to face governmental restrictions on their scholarly activity.
The American Sociological Association (ASA) expresses deep concern for and solidarity with our colleagues who are suffering vicious online harassment.
Attempts to counter the spread of white supremacist ideology have mostly relied on legislation and the regulation of social media, and we encourage policymakers to bring sociological science to the table as well.
ASA has joined several other scientific societies in writing a letter to President Trump encouraging his Administration to engage with a broad array of stakeholders to collaboratively ensure openness and reliability in research and development. Read the full letter here.
The National Labor Relations Board proposes a regulation establishing that students who perform any services for compensation, including, but not limited to, teaching or research, at a private college or university in connection with their studies are not “employees” within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the National Labor Relations Act.
We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Wake Forest University who are under attack for their research and for their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The American Sociological Association signed on to a letter to the U.S. Department of Education from the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), along with 16 other scholarly associations, expressing "considerable concern and surprise" regarding an inquiry into the Middle East studies program jointly operated by Duke and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Read the full letter.
In this statement, the ASA provides a brief summary of the current research and notes that SETs systematically disadvantage faculty from marginalized groups. This has consequences for who gets hired, who gets tenure, and whose contracts are renewed.
The ASA sent a letter to a number of relevant Turkish officials about Turkey’s persecution of the Academics for Peace, occasioned by the recent sentencing of Eyse Gul Altinay to 25 months in prison.
The letter began:
Dear President Erdoğan
The American Sociological Association and the American Philosophical Association sent a community letter to President Bolsonaro and Education Minister Weintraub regarding the proposed defunding of sociology and philosophy in Brazilian universities.
In a letter to the the Stanford University president and provost, ASA wrote: Stanford University Press is home to a long and distinguished sociology list, and the decline or demise of the press would significantly disrupt the dissemination of important sociological knowledge.
A letter sent to government officials of Alaska by the ASA, along with 31 other professional societies, states "we express deep concern about Governor Dunleavy’s proposed funding cuts for higher education. While we understand that Alaska is currently facing financial constraints, a $134 million reduction in state support for the University of Alaska will undoubtedly have devastating consequences to the well-being of the state for generations to come.... A healthy local system ensures that many of the economic benefits of higher education remain local.
The ASA writes to express our concern and to register opposition to the proposed changes in governance of the world-renowned Hungarian Academy of Sciences, including the Social Science Research Institute in which many Hungarian sociologists are employed.
The American Sociological Association welcomes today’s court ruling in the Southern District of New York holding that the Secretary of Commerce’s decision to include the citizenship question in the 2020 census was unlawful. ASA has advocated strongly on this issue and submitted an amicus brief for this case in partnership with the American Statistical Association and the Population Associa
Recently ASA sent a letter encouraging China to drop charges against leaders of Occupy Central and Umbrella Movement.
According to a memo obtained by The New York Times on October 21, the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking to establish a legal definition of sex under Title IX based on “a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” The proposed definition would allow only a binary classification that is immutable and based on genitalia at birth. ASA sent a letter to the Secretary of DHHS expressing strong objection to this proposal which fails to reflect the findings from extensive sociological literature on this subject.
ASA has recently been alerted to efforts by the Israeli government to tighten restrictions on international academics who teach at Palestinian institutions of higher education.
Do you use census data? Now is your opportunity to ensure continued access to the data products that are important for your work.
The American Sociological Association sent a letter to Hungary’s State Secretary for Education imploring him to reject a draft decree from the Ministry of Human Resources and the Ministry of Justice that calls for the abolishment of Gender Studies programs. Read the letter here.
The American Sociological Association is a professional society of sociologists who meets annually for a conference of more than 5,000 participants. Our scholarship shows that many workers in the hospitality industry do not earn a living wage. As sociologists, we know the consequences of such inequality are detrimental to the workers themselves as well as our broader communities. We, therefore, express our strong support for fair labor practices and the right of hotel workers to organize.
The Trump Administration has announced that a question on citizenship status will be included on the 2020 Census. This will fundamentally compromise the integrity of the census.
Join your fellow sociologists for the 2nd annual March for Science on April 14, 2018.
In 2017, more than one million people around the world gathered together in the largest event for science advocacy in history, the March for Science. The March for Science is a public celebration of science and a reminder of the important role evidence-based research plays in informing public policy.
ASA signed on to a letter asking Congress to support evidence-based policies to prevent gun violence.
On February 6, ASA signed on to a letter from the Task Force on American Innovation—a broad nonpartisan coalition—that was sent to U.S. congressional leadership, regarding 302(b) allocation. These allocations establish the cap on spending for each of the appropriations bills. The letter's 95 undersigned businesses, scientific and engineering societies, and universities--each a fundamental part of the U.S.
ASA expresses deep concern with the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the territories of Puerto Rico and USVI in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
The American Sociological Association (ASA) calls on President Trump to reverse his decision to end the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA). Absent such a reversal, we implore Congress to reinstate the program with expedience.
The U.S. Justice Department recently indicated that it would begin working on “investigations and possible litigation related to intentional race-based discrimination in college and university admissions.” ASA expresses concern that this may fundamentally threaten the viability of affirmative action.
The very nature of the educational work we do on campuses—generating and disseminating knowledge—is predicated upon the assurance that our institutions of higher education serve as strong and safe forums for the free exchange of ideas. Importantly, we recognize that speech rights come with responsibilities. Pursuit of understanding and truth cannot happen without responsible debate, deliberation, and dialogue.
The American Sociological Association is closely following the recent events at Trinity College regarding Professor John Eric Williams. ASA, for its more than 100-year existence, has fought for academic freedom and a strong and safe public forum for the dissemination and discussion of ideas. The ability to inject controversial ideas into this forum is paramount to a better understanding of our society and essential to ensuring a robust exchange of ideas on college campuses.
ASA signed on to a letter from the American Association for the Advancement of Science expressing our concerns regarding the Notice of Information Collection under OMB Emergency Review: Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants published in the Federal Register on May 4, 2017.
On May 9, 2017, the American Sociological Association along with 20 other organizations sent a letter to President Trump urging the appointment of a well-credentialed Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner and urging appropriate BLS funding levels, The BLS is the country’s second largest federal statistical agency and a major producer of the nation’s primary economic indicators.
The ASA signed on to a letter expressing our strong support for the critical Federal data sources that inform and strengthen our nation’s world-leading economic, educational, democratic and civic institutions and successes. Our Federal statistical and data systems provide information that is uniquely accurate, objective, relevant, timely, and accessible.
The American Sociological Association signed on to a letter with 287 U.S. business, science and engineering, medical and health, and higher education organizations urging Congress to swiftly complete action on the FY 2017 appropriations process and to include robust investments in scientific research.
The American Sociological Association sent a letter to Hungary’s Minister of Human Capacities expressing our profound concern about proposed legislative changes to the status of Central European University (CEU) in Hungary. Read the letter here.
The American Sociological Association wrote a letter to President Donald Trump to express support for administrative policies on sex segregation that treat transgender students as members of their professed gender for all school-sponsored activities. Specifically, the American Sociological Association recommends the immediate reimplementation of the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education "Dear Colleagues" letter dated May 15th, 2016.
ASA signed on to two letters that oppose restrictions on geospatial and racial disparities data: an Association of American Geographers (AAG) letter which was signed by 26 other prominent national organizations expressing concerns about proposed bills (Senate Bill 103 and House Bill 482) that could impose restrictions on the use of and access to geospatial data related to racial disparities, and one from Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics (COPAFS) which expressed interest in the following provision in H.R. 482.
NDD United sent a letter on March 1 (available here) signed by 2,000 national, state, and local organizations, including the ASA, to Congress, the President, and over 500 members of the media in response to the President’s remarks and proposed budget on February 28.
ASA has taken a firm stance against the Executive Order regarding entry into the United States for people from seven majority Muslim countries. We have co-signed, with many of our sister scholarly societies, a statement written by the American Association for the Advancement of Science which argues that scientific progress depends fundamentally on an open exchange of ideas and recognizes that the Executive Order will have the effect of limiting interaction among scholars.
Against the background of events that have unfolded over the last week, we are writing today to let you know that ASA is monitoring events carefully, has responded to some developments already, and will continue to respond in the future. And we welcome and need your help with this effort.
ASA has a long and ongoing history of activity supporting diversity, inclusion, free inquiry, and academic freedom.
ASA President Michèle Lamont recently wrote President Andrzej Duda, Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland criticizing a new Polish law that significantly harms academic freedom. The law punishes those who study Poland's past and reach a well researched conclusion that is opposite to the Polish government's narrative.
Lamont urges that no charges be filed against Professor Gross. Gross has written about Poles complicity in the persecution of Jews during WWII.
The heads of 29 top U.S. scientific and higher-education organizations – including Nancy Kidd, ASA Executive Officer – wrote to President-elect Donald Trump on November 23, urging him to quickly appoint a science adviser.
On November 15, 2016, ASA President Michèle Lamont, sent a letter to MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred on the use of Native American nicknames, logos, and mascots.
ASA along with the British Sociological Association and the Canadian Sociological Association sent a joint letter to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation regarding a troubling situation with the Levada Center.
The American Sociological Association (ASA) recently played a key role in support of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2016 ruling in the affirmative action case Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin. The judgement allowed the university to continue using race as a factor in admissions decisions.
“Scientific research shows that having a diverse student body leads to a number of educational benefits, including a decline in prejudice, improvements in students’ cognitive skills and self-confidence, and better classroom environments,” said ASA Executive Officer Sally T. Hillsman.
ASA recently joined 40 other organizations in a statement to Turkish government officials expressing our deep concern regarding their mass arrests and purges of academics. While the attacks on academic freedoms in Turkey have been ongoing for most of the year, they have become significantly enhanced after the July 2016 attempted coup.