[1] He served as Chair of the Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin from 1976 to 1979 and Associate Dean, College of Letters and Science from 1980 to 1982.
While at Wisconsin, Aiken held visiting professor positions at 1967–68 Columbia University, 1982–83 Washington University in St. Louis, and three visiting professorships in Belgium: 1969–71, Katholieke Universiteit de Leuven; 1973 Universite Catholique de Louvain; and Fall 1982–83 Universite Catholique de Louvaina in Belgium.
A year later, he was named the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences where he served from 1985 to 1987.
[3] Under his leadership, the Grainger Engineering Library was dedicated,[4] and the university made efforts to create a research park.
[3] In addition, Aiken recommended that Chief Illiniwek be removed as a mascot from the university.