From its inception in 1915, the main work of the AAUP has been in the area of academic freedom and tenure. Indiana University was among the early subscribers to these principles of academic freedom and tenure. The Indiana University East chapter of AAUP was founded on April 28, 1997, to facilitate effective cooperation of teachers and scholars, to defend academic freedom, to encourage and support faculty governance, and to disseminate information on higher education principles and practices.