FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE is a new feature documentary that follows the story of New College of Florida during its unprecedented takeover by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023. Through direct accounts from students, parents, and faculty, the film captures the human impact of ideological attacks on academic freedom, diversity, and student expression. 

Directed by Patrick Bresnan, FIRST THEY CAME FOR MY COLLEGE has premiered at True/False Film Festival, SXSW, DC/DOX, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. 

Register to join Harry Hanbury Williams—Producer and New College of Florida Alum, Amy Reid—Film Participant, Former Faculty Chair and Faculty Representative on New College of Florida Board of Trustees, and more for an extended preview of the film and discussion.

Join the AAUP’s Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom on Monday, September 14, at 7 p.m. ET for “Accreditation and You,” a webinar to learn about the far right’s attempt to capture higher ed accreditation, what is changing and why it matters, and how you can join in the fight and take action. In this webinar, you will:

• learn how to write and submit effective comments—in advance of an important September 21 deadline—about the federal Department of Education’s dangerous proposed revision of the rules that govern accreditors,

• get resources (faculty senate resolutions, analysis, information sheets),

• connect with academic workers in your states and nationally, and

• help problem solve and plan our campaign.

Accreditation is a process whereby academic institutions submit themselves to a peer review process that assesses the quality of the education and makes recommendations for improvement. Accrediting agencies are traditionally nonpartisan and nongovernmental organizations that assess academic institutions within a specific region, and yet now the federal government (and many state governments) seek to weaponize accreditation to forward their agenda and to threaten federally funded student aid, 120-credit-hour baccalaureate degrees, general education programs and the faculty who teach these course, and the viability of broad access to higher education institutions. You can learn more about accreditation here on the AAUP’s website and join us on September 14 to take action.

Register for “Accreditation and You” today.

In 2025, students and higher ed workers soundly defeated Trump’s loyalty oath compacts—the administration’s attempt to impose a political litmus test over students’ right to learn and faculty’s freedom to teach and research. Despite that resounding loss, the Trump administration is back at a second attempt to assert political control over higher education. Secretary Linda McMahon’s August 3, 2026, released a Call to Action (Trump’s Compact 2.0) asking presidents and governing boards to publicly commit themselves to a reform program that would undermine teaching, research, faculty governance and campus free speech. Join us for a webinar on September 10 at 7 p.m. on what the Compact 2.0 means for higher education and what we’re doing to fight back.