ASA Advocacy Policy
The ASA engages in advocacy to raise general awareness about the field of African Studies, to ensure the continued funding and support of African Studies within institutes of Higher Education, and to address ethical, academic freedom, and human rights issues relevant to the field. The ASA achieves its advocacy agenda by issuing position statements and letters to officials, participation in coalitions such as ACLS and the Council for International Education, and outreach to the media.
Read the complete ASA Advocacy Policy here and click below to enlarge the ASA Advocacy Timeline.
2026
ASA Co-signs ACLS Statement on the National Call to Action Issued by the US Secretary of Education
ASA Public Comment Opposing ED’s Proposed Rescission of International Education Program Regulations
ASA Co-signs ACLS Statement on OMB Proposal for New Criteria and Process for Federal Science Research Grants
ASA Co-signs Joint Letter Opposing Efforts to Eliminate Tenure at Oklahoma Colleges and Universities (March 2026)
ASA Co-signs Joint Letter on Academic Freedom Violations in Texas
2025
ASA Co-signs ACLS Statement Regarding the White House Review of Smithsonian Institution Museums
ASA Co-signs MESA Letter with AAS to Columbia University Interim President and Board of Trustees on Academic Freedom Infringements
ASA Co-signs AHA-OHA Joint Statement on Federal Censorship of American History
ASA Co-signs AHA-OHA Statement on Executive Order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K–12 Schooling”
2024
ASA Co-signs American Historical Association Statement on 2024 Campus Protests
ASA Statement on the Current Crisis and a Ceasefire in Gaza
2023
ASA Co-signs American Council of Learned Societies Statement on Fighting for an Ambitious Vision of Public Higher Education in America
ASA Co-Signs American Council of Learned Societies Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action
ASA Co-Signs American Council of Learned Societies Statement on The Effort to Undermine Academic Freedom in Florida House Bill 999
ASA signed statement: American Historical Association Statement Opposing Florida House Bill 999
ASA Co-Signs American Council of Learned Societies Statement In Support of Academic Freedom and New College of Florida
2022
Statement by the African Studies Association on Discriminatory Treatment meted out to Africans, including Scholars and Students, fleeing the war in Ukraine
ASA Signed Statement: Bomb Threats against HBCUs: A History of Domestic Terrorism by the American Historical Association
2021
Statement On Restrictions on Freedoms for University Students and Staff in eSwatini
ASA Co-Signs Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History (June 2021)
ASA Condemns the Destruction of Educational Institutions in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia
The Loss of Priceless Materials at the University of Cape Town
ASA signed statement: Ransacking Democracy: American Historical Association’s Statement on the Events [at the US Capitol] on January 6
2020
ASA signed statement by American Council of Learned Societies Letter Concerning COVID-19 and the Key Role of the Humanities and Social Sciences in the United States
Statement by the African Studies Association on Police Violence in African Countries
Statement by the African Studies Association on Police Violence and Racism in the United States
Statement by the African Studies Association in support of the Ghana Studies Association on the country’s proposed Public University Bill
2019
ASA Statement Concerning Police Violence at Makerere University, Uganda
ASA Statement Concerning the Unjust Detention of Roland Marchal and Fariba Adelkhah in Iran
ASA Signs on to the Middle East Studies Association Letter to the Department of Education
ASA Statement Concerning the Recent Dismissal of Dr. Paulo Faria from Agostinho Neto University
ASA Board of Directors Statement concerning the Sentencing of Dr. Stella Nyanzi
Statement of the African Studies Association Concerning Sudan June 2019
Statement of the African Studies Association Concerning Freedom of Expression in Sudan
ASA Attachment to IAI Statement on Plan S (please see the International African Institute’s Response to Plan S here)
2018
ASA Board of Directors Supports the Statement by the North American Association of Scholars on Cameroon on Human Rights
Statement by the ASA Board of Directors regarding President Trump’s Remarks
2017
ASA Board of Directors Statement on Patrice Nganang
ASA Board of Directors Statement on Academic Freedom and Stella Nyanzi
ASA Statement on the Proposed Federal Budget Cuts
ASA Board of Directors Statement on the 2017 ASA Annual Meeting
ASA Board of Directors Condemns Executive Order Restricting Entry into the U.S.
2016
Statement from ASA Leadership
ASA Board of Directors Statement on Ebola
1970-2025 (Under Resolutions Framework)
Board Resolution on Study of Africa After 9/11 2005
Board Resolution on NSEP 2002
Board Resolution on Public Information 2001
Board Resolution on Sudan, Summer 1992
Board Resolution on South Africa, May 19, 1991
Board Resolution on the CIA, April 28, 1990
Board Resolution on Academic Freedom, November 23, 1987
Relationship of the Board to Constituent Groups of ASA, November 23, 1987
Board Resolution on Reimbursements for Editors, November 19, 1987
Board Resolution on Board Member Absences, May 10, 1986
Board Resolution on Absences, November 23, 1985
Board Resolution on Committees, October 25, 1984
Board Resolution on the DIA, April 2-3, 1982
Motion by William Foltz passed at the Annual Business Meeting, October 16, 1980
Board Resolution, April 6-7, 1979
ASA Policy on Political Positions, 1977
Business Meeting Resolution on South Africa, November 5, 1976
Business Meeting Resolution on Mozambique and Rhodesia, November 5, 1976
Board Resolution on Intelligence Operations, April 2-3, 1976
Business Meeting Resolution on Angola, October 31, 1975
Business Meeting Resolutions on Southern Africa, November 1, 1974
Quantitative Data Collection, October 30, 1974
Board Resolution on Nepotism, April 12-13, 1974
Business Meeting Resolutions, November 2, 1973
Resolution by the Board on Racial Quotas, April 10-11, 1970