President Speaks: The case for being optimistic about higher education’s future

Andrew Hsu, leader of the College of Charleston, explains why he remains positive even as colleges face an existential crisis. 

By Andrew Hsu • June 26, 2023

The shift to majority contingent faculty is more harmful to tenure than GOP attacks

Political attacks on tenure won’t matter if it’s effectively eliminated to save money with contingent positions, one professor emeritus argues.

By J.W. Traphagan • June 16, 2023

Utah governor seeks to replace entire state higher ed board

Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, is looking to appoint 10 new members without renewing any of the current ones.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • June 9, 2023

Tougaloo College president resigns, effective at the end June

An online petition recently called for Carmen Walters’ ouster, pointing to low enrollment and high executive turnover during her tenure. 

By Natalie Schwartz • June 7, 2023

Women presidents on the rise at R1 institutions, report finds

But representation for women of color at the top tier of university leadership has not kept pace.

By Laura Spitalniak • June 1, 2023

George Washington University’s plan to arm campus police ignites concerns over racially motivated violence

Students and faculty have highlighted the role of armed campus officers in fatal shootings nationwide, a renewed conversation since George Floyd’s murder.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • May 8, 2023

College governing boards must intensify engagement in challenging times

Trustees can try these tactics to help guide colleges in new strategic directions.

By Timothy Tracy and Richard Messina • May 1, 2023

AAUP accuses Emporia State of flouting academic freedom with faculty layoffs

The public university in Kansas dismissed at least 30 tenure or tenure-track professors last year, citing pandemic-induced financial stress.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • May 1, 2023

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty criticize boards, state lawmakers over infringements on academic freedom

Over 670 faculty signed a letter warning of increased accreditation scrutiny should plans by the state legislature and governing boards move forward.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 26, 2023

Amarillo, Imperial Valley colleges tie for Aspen’s community college prize

The biennial Prize for Community College Excellence grants each institution $500,000.

By Lilah Burke • April 20, 2023

College presidents are still overwhelmingly White men

ACE’s latest survey shows new levels of racial diversity, but not much improvement for women leaders.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • April 14, 2023

Ripe for poaching: Will DeSantis’ higher ed policies drive out Florida faculty?

One university provost has already publicly promised to recruit Florida students and professors amid the state’s political strife.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • April 7, 2023

Higher ed has an important role as communities fight over K-12 education

Fights over teaching about topics like race, slavery and sexuality might be centered in schools, but they’re affecting universities, one professor writes.

By Barbara Diggs-Brown • April 5, 2023

University of Arizona missed chances to stop professor’s fatal shooting on campus, review finds

An independent audit of the university’s safety protocols found threat communications to be decentralized and lacking.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 28, 2023

Campus leaders react to growing antisemitic vandalism, harassment

Administrators can take a number of steps to counter antisemitic incidents. However, one expert cautions against actions that can affect free speech rights.

By Danielle McLean • March 24, 2023

By The Numbers: What potential budget cuts to Ed Dept would look like

Among House Republican leaders’ ideas to rein in the budget is a spending cap at FY 22 enacted levels.

By Kara Arundel • March 22, 2023

Walking the free speech tightrope: How to balance competing voices with campus safety

The chancellor of UC Davis shares lessons learned from leading a diverse university and its new governmental anti-hate partnership.

By Gary S. May • March 15, 2023

Just over 1 in 10 faculty say their college has set classroom ChatGPT guidance, survey finds

Private institution faculty reported being more satisfied with how their college handled chatbot policies than other instructors.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 15, 2023

Top-ranked law schools produce more fossil fuel industry lawyers, report says

The findings apply to the top 20 institutions on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 15, 2023

Mergers in higher education are about the students

Ricardo Azziz is surprised that stakeholders aren’t more willing to compromise in college mergers — especially because stakes are highest for students.

By Ricardo Azziz • March 13, 2023

Why Vermont State’s digital library idea is so controversial

Digital-first libraries already existed in higher education. But librarians have concerns about adopting them for all disciplines and materials.

By Lilah Burke • March 8, 2023

Texas universities eschew DEI initiatives at governor’s direction

The domino effect of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s DEI ban is in full tilt.

By Caroline Colvin • March 7, 2023

To aid pandemic recovery, colleges must partner with the government

The president of New Jersey Institute of Technology argues that university partnerships with government shouldn’t just be reserved for emergencies.

By Teik Lim • March 6, 2023

How colleges can incorporate DEI values into physical spaces

Campus buildings and classrooms can boost — or undermine — inclusion efforts just as much as diversity initiatives, one higher ed architect says.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 3, 2023

Remote, hybrid work linked to more anxiety, depression

However, overall symptoms of anxiety and depression among workers declined from July 2021 to August 2022.

By Ginger Christ • March 2, 2023