tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1319893521540138212024-03-19T01:47:41.603-07:00Global Student AffairsDenny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.comBlogger881125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-42108553613384883172024-02-23T07:34:00.000-08:002024-03-13T06:30:44.714-07:00Renewal by "gut punch"<p>Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin referred to his <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/defense-secretary-austin-face-questions-1st-time-keeping/story?id=106859477" target="_blank">prostate cancer diagnosis as a "gut punch</a>." While Austin received more attention for not revealing the health challenge earlier and more publicly, it is the gut punch that caught my attention. Diagnosis for any life threatening illness is traumatic and is likely to result in dark nights following long days of exploring prognosis and treatment options.</p><p>The moment we realize, perhaps for the first time, that we are vulnerable to something outside our control can also be an opportunity to refocus on the things that matter most. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/02/22/lessons-learned-about-academe-after-cancer-diagnosis?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b14c42eae-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b14c42eae-198574017&mc_cid=9b14c42eae&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Joy Jones-Carmack revealed the recentering</a> that she experienced as a result of her cancer diagnosis. In fascinating ways, her advice applies not only to traumatizing health events but perhaps to the general <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/03/13/how-colleges-can-and-must-help-support-employees-well-being?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cd567a7aef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cd567a7aef-198574017&mc_cid=cd567a7aef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">well-being of all faculty and staff </a>who are attempting to recenter after the COVID pandemic. The major recommendations include:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Don't let your career keep you from focusing on your health.</li><li>Take leave if you want to, and make the most of it if you do.</li><li>Be willing to relinquish control.</li><li>Don't be afraid to get personal or be transparent.</li><li>Realize you won't be the same afterward.</li></ul><div>Hmmh... Might each day have more purpose and impact if we took the foot off the gas in ways that reflect this advice? Passion for what we do is a good thing but can also blind us from the limitations of our own humanity. Conviction punctuated by reflection and humility, sometimes stimulated by a shocking moment, may have the potential for greater impact than we could ever have imagined.</div><p></p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-49147111481282572522024-02-13T08:58:00.000-08:002024-02-21T06:11:07.541-08:00Critical studies defined and applied<p>Some public comment has attacked critical studies and others have advocated it as essential to the future of contemporary learning. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/02/13/critical-studies-revolution?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=87fbbc2271-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-87fbbc2271-198574017&mc_cid=87fbbc2271&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz defines what critical studies actually is</a> and takes it another step by suggesting that evolution of critical studies in practice might lead to a reorganization of disciplines. He says, "If colleges and universities were to establish academic departments and disciplines today from scratch, we'd shift away from the traditional departments established in the late 19th and and early 20th centuries. The stand-alone, stand-apart department model would give way to interdisciplinary studies to a greater extent and reflect the complexity of global challenges that do not fit neatly within traditional disciplinary boundaries."</p><p>Amen! My view has almost always been that academic departments are dysfunctional and undermine the truly cutting-edge transformation of learning. The departments' insistent on maintaining supremacy tells us a lot - the insularity is sought because it protects enclaves of intellectual independence and thereby fails to see all of the important issues that fall between the cracks. My background in music is probably the origin of my belief in interdisciplinarity but experience being marginalized in student affairs also demonstrates the inadequacies of the department model.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-14484132097507399062024-02-09T09:37:00.000-08:002024-02-16T07:52:50.332-08:00Texas Regents abandon Qatar's Texas A&M partnershipAs partisanship and populism continue to surge across the U.S.A. and around the world, internationalization efforts are seeing new vulnerability to the educational objectives of knowledge diplomacy and capacity building through higher education. One apparent casualty of political intervention is the <a href="https://www.kbtx.com/2024/02/08/texas-am-regents-vote-close-qatar-campus-by-2028/" target="_blank">Texas A&M Board of Regents vote to abandon the 20+ year relationship with Qatar Foundation</a> in offering select engineering programs at Education City in Doha, Qatar.<div><br /></div><div>Discerning the background and reasoning of the Texas A&M decision is muddied by Regents' claims versus reactions from Qatar. A decision of this magnitude likely includes multiple tensions and considerations.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Coverage by the <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/texas-am-qatar-campus/" target="_blank">Texas Tribune</a> quoted a statement from Qatar Foundation that "It is deeply disappointing that a globally respected academic institution like Texas A&M University has fallen victim to such a campaign and allowed politics to infiltrate its decision-making process." Predictably, the Texas A&M Regents accused Qatar of misunderstanding its decision and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/09/texas-am-shutter-controversial-qatar-campus?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cb0d5b1c4a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cb0d5b1c4a-198574017&mc_cid=cb0d5b1c4a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">claimed that their 7-to-1 vote</a> was based on "regional instability in the Middle East and a desire to focus on the system's stateside campuses."</div><div><br /><div>Coverage from local/regional media such as the <a href="https://dohanews.co/qatar-foundation-deeply-disappointed-in-texas-ams-decision-to-close-doha-campus-following-disinformation-campaign/" target="_blank">Doha News</a> and <a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240210-qatar-foundation-texas-am-end-partnership/amp/" target="_blank">Middle East Monitor</a> reveal that Texas A&M's relationship with Qatar was called into question when a report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy raised questions about the partnership soon after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. The report claimed that Qatar had access to knowledge of weapons and nuclear engineering through Texas A&M's presence, which posed a threat to U.S. national security. ISGAP also asserted that the relationship between Qatar and Texas A&M University was troubling because of Qatar's funding of Hamas and links to the Muslim Brotherhood.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/probe-into-qatar-secretly-securing-us-nuke-and-weapons-information/ar-AA1mw2Dw" target="_blank">Jerusalem Post article about ISGAP's accusations</a> indicated that their report not only went to Texas A&M but also to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Governor Abbot of Texas, and Senator Ted Cruse (R-Texas). Considering the recipients of the report and review of the <a href="https://isgap.org/" target="_blank">ISGAP website</a> provides insight on their research and influence priorities. Analysis for the ISGAP report <a href="https://isgap.org/follow-the-money/" target="_blank">Follow the Money: Qatar Funding of Higher Education</a> started in 2012 and led to a presentation to U.S. DOJ officials in 2019 claiming that Qatar was secretly funding U.S. institutions in order to foment anti-Semitism and anti-democratic ideals. Charles Asher Small, founder and director of ISGAP, published <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/unreported-foreign-donations-universities-foment-anti-semitism-opinion-1546139" target="_blank">Unreported Foreign Donations to Universities Foment Anti-Semitism</a> as an "Opinion" piece in Newsweek in October of 2020. The opinion references U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education review but there is no record of action on their parts.</div><div><br /></div><div>The persistence of ISGAP in attacking Qatar coupled with the lack of response from U.S. governmental agencies may indicate that the previous reports were not found credible or that U.S. interests in maintaining positive relations with Qatar counter-balanced ISGAP's assertions. Having worked for Qatar Foundation and now watching the political dynamics underway in the U.S., my belief is that the decision was more political than rational. What may have happened is that ISGAP's goal to undermine Qatar's role in negotiating toward a conclusion of the 2023-24 Israel v. Hamas war, including advocacy for a 2-state solution, finally fell on the fertile ground of conservativism and isolationism of Texas.</div><div><br /></div><div>International higher education hubs have been a growing trend for over 20 years and scholar <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0738059323002481" target="_blank">Jane Knight outlines their emergence and benefit to all</a>. Many countries around the world have added branch programs as a way to cultivate better trained workers and citizens. Qatar is a particularly notable example for their commitment to building its higher education infrastructure, which is reflected in the <a href="https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/10/01/2023/ministry-in-process-of-approving-four-new-international-universities" target="_blank">2023 Qatar Ministry of Education update</a>. <i>Inside Higher Education</i> raised the ominous potential that U.S. politicization of higher education in the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/us-colleges-world/2024/02/16/how-texas-ams-qatar-campus-suddenly-collapsed?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2121e8f6ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2121e8f6ef-198574017&mc_cid=2121e8f6ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Texas A&M example could result in other higher education partnerships becoming less attractive</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whether the Texas decision was about unsettling times in the Middle East and wanting to focus on U.S. interests or the result of a U.S. partisan group's intervention, a mutually beneficial educational partnership is now lost. Ripples elsewhere could result in undermining one of the best forms of knowledge diplomacy available to the U.S.</div></div>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-80682593419720225242024-02-04T11:22:00.000-08:002024-02-05T11:46:03.998-08:00Transatlantic Dialogue in Luxembourg - 2024<p>A good colleague with whom I became acquainted while serving as a Visiting Scholar at Miami University's European center in Differdange, Luxembourg, provides the genius and commitment behind the ongoing <a href="https://www.transatlanticdialoguelu.com/" target="_blank">Transatlantic Dialogue.</a> I attended two of the TAD conferences and found them to be informative, engaging, and including a unique artistic spirit. Francois Carbon is the mastermind behind the conferences which began in 2008 and continue to the coming conference this May 29 to June 1. TAD includes programming related to educational exchange, the arts, and peace making. The website provides background information, schedule, and registration assistance.</p><p>There isn't a better European destination than Luxembourg to enjoy Europe, engage deeply in understanding across national boundaries, and meet new colleagues that you may end up cherishing for a lifetime.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-65627423309155845172024-01-25T08:29:00.000-08:002024-03-04T06:58:40.469-08:00Recalibrating the cost of higher education<p>It's not clear if a trend is underway yet, but 2024 is beginning to look like a period of controlling college costs through budget reductions. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2024/01/25/2024-begins-wave-job-and-program-cuts?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3140bea877-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3140bea877-198574017&mc_cid=3140bea877&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Job cuts were announced at numerous institutions</a> ranging from community colleges to state universities to at least one elite university. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/cost-cutting/2024/02/20/another-wave-campus-cuts-hits-midwest-especially-hard?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=376e5ecf41-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-376e5ecf41-198574017&mc_cid=376e5ecf41&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">wave of cuts includes a variety of institutions</a> with Ohio over-represented. Cuts like these are initiated to align staffing with enrollment changes or in other cases may be designed to control the increasing cost of higher education. Whatever the impetus, it will be important to stay abreast of staffing and other budget cuts and the way these changes play out in public opinion.</p><p>Commitment to controlling costs in U.S. higher education is voiced by both Democrats and Republicans but the two sides have different ways of getting there. U.S. House of representatives <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2024/02/01/house-committee-advances-gop-plan-overhaul-higher-ed?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4e15c261d8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4e15c261d8-198574017&mc_cid=4e15c261d8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">passed the College Cost Reduction Act</a> along party lines, confirming Representative Foxx's accusations that all of higher education needs an overhaul. Democrats introduced numerous amendments, all of which were voted down by the Republican majority.</p><p>Ironically, overall <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2024/02/01/state-support-for-higher-education-tops-126-billion-up-102-over-last-year/?sh=136ad56e78ec" target="_blank">state support for public higher education increased by 10.2%</a>, offsetting the supplemental funds that were allocated during pandemic relief. The pattern of increases includes hefty increases in some of the states where higher education is under attack, as in the examples of Florida where the state funding increased by 16.6% and Texas where the increase was 46%, a large portion creating an endowment for public education.</p><p>The optimism that may be justified based on increased funding to state institutions is counter-balanced by states where consolidation of higher education is being sought. The Governors of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma have proposed the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/mergers-collaboration/2024/03/04/governors-push-consolidation-pennsylvania-oklahoma?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f7a3ca45a4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f7a3ca45a4-198574017&mc_cid=f7a3ca45a4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">merger of public institutions in their states</a>, with particular attention to regional institutions with declining enrollment. The proposals face potentially strong opposition where the institutions are in small towns where the institutions are the lifeblood for the economy.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-27372936327217980512024-01-16T06:46:00.000-08:002024-01-16T06:46:28.906-08:00Resident Assistant roles distributed<p>The conventional Resident Assistant role of earlier days has become so complicated that institutions such as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/residential-life/2024/01/16/reduce-ra-burnout-universities-are-redefining-role?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1b793d9ccf-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1b793d9ccf-198574017&mc_cid=1b793d9ccf&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Binghamton University are breaking it up into separate functions and hourly employment</a>. The Binghamton model defines a community assistant, student support assistant, and other hourly jobs related to management and targeted functions. Higher education has relied on RAs for a long time as a cheap way to manage and program residence halls but, with the growing complexity of student demographics and needs, it seems inevitable that the RA functions would have to be segmented in order to reduce stress and probably effectiveness of those who hold these roles.</p><p>The question is, how will the new segmented roles relate to one another and what does supervision by professional staff look like under this model? The idea of addressing the wholistic needs of students could get lost in translation and that would not be in students' best interest. I hope that student affairs educators involved in residence life positions are thinking this through carefully. Distributing functions could improve attention to important issues but it might also mean losing a sense of how all the pieces fit together to fulfill the core purpose of student learning and development.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-48804010307333830122023-12-18T07:34:00.000-08:002024-03-15T06:55:36.494-07:00Top 10 developments for higher education<p>There are some years where not much of note has signaled change but 2023 has been very different. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/12/18/higher-eds-top-10-developments-2023?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bca40db68e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bca40db68e-198574017&mc_cid=bca40db68e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz offered the top 10 developments</a> for higher education, listing issues that will be familiar to most educators who pay attention. Higher education as a social and political dividing line, declining public trust, alternatives to college, an expanding governmental role, and hyperpoliticization are on the list.</p><p>As if to respond to the top 10 developments in 2024, Mintz' subsequent opinion suggested that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/01/11/its-time-campuses-truly-think-outside-box?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">it's time for institutions to think outside the box</a> in their approaches to organization, curriculum, ways of teaching, and assessment. The first recommendation, one that will challenge student affairs educators, was to reconsider the bureaucratic divisions of academic and student affairs in order to better align cocurricular and extracurricular with academic goals, involve more faculty, and relate academic and career advising more purposefully. Recognizing the impediments to change that are part of the higher education scene, Mintz later offer <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/02/20/top-10-changes-colleges-and-universities-need-implement?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=376e5ecf41-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-376e5ecf41-198574017&mc_cid=376e5ecf41&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">10 changes that colleges and universities need to implement</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2024/01/25/gop-targets-affordability-accountability-higher-ed-bill?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3140bea877-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3140bea877-198574017&mc_cid=3140bea877&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Republicans plan to target affordability and accountability</a> in the proposed College Cost Reduction Act. Democrats' opposition of the sweeping measures included in the Act are reflected in their <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/01/30/house-democrats-share-roadmap-college-student-success?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5e5021ec10-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5e5021ec10-198574017&mc_cid=5e5021ec10&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Roadmap to College success,</a> which includes provisions for affordability, access, and supporting students. Review of the Republican provisions provide fair warning for how they view higher education and how they see federal policy controlling it.</p><p>With the highly controversial 2024 U.S. Presidential election on the horizon, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2023/12/19/congress-ramps-scrutiny-higher-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2a8056715b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2a8056715b-198574017&mc_cid=2a8056715b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">politicization of higher education is becoming a major issue</a>, with conservative candidates throughout the ballot claiming "wokeness" and violation of freedom of speech. Campus responses to the Supreme Court reversal on affirmative action are likely to draw greater scrutiny and the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/19/whats-lost-dismantling-dei-offices-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ab2e8c22b4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ab2e8c22b4-198574017&mc_cid=ab2e8c22b4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">risk of dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion</a> efforts is significant, which <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/29/dei-and-necessity-self-defense-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">necessitates stronger defense</a> if institutions are to be able to "create and advance structures in higher education that are just, equitable and inclusive." Democrats defended <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/03/08/democrats-fight-dei-campus-house-hearing?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8cd451b975-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8cd451b975-198574017&mc_cid=8cd451b975&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">diversity initiatives</a> during the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee meeting. Education world wide may see changes as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2024/01/25/how-will-universities-fare-2024s-year-elections?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3140bea877-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3140bea877-198574017&mc_cid=3140bea877&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">key elections take place across the globe</a> in 2024.</p><p>It's difficult to determine if lack of confidence contributed to politicization or politicization led to lowered confidence. An article in the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/applying/articles/americans-have-less-confidence-in-higher-education" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a> related declining public confidence to politicization, cost of attendance, and access. Edge Research identified many of the same concerns noted in the U.S. News and World Report and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/retention/2024/03/13/doubts-about-value-are-deterring-college-enrollment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cd567a7aef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cd567a7aef-198574017&mc_cid=cd567a7aef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">attributed the negativity to news sources</a> highlighting concerns rather than benefits of higher education achievement. It may not matter what or how the concerns emerged. The point is that higher education faces a barrage of challenges and negotiating them simultaneously will challenge educators of all types, ranks, and places.</p><p>Politicization is reflected in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/10/legislative-censors-change-broaden-their-approach-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1780b24aa3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1780b24aa3-198574017&mc_cid=1780b24aa3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">numerous legislative initiatives </a>across the country, including challenging tenure, curricular control, DEI offices/programs, and accreditation. An <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/02/21/bill-threatens-profs-who-dont-give-intellectual?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ffab615169-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ffab615169-198574017&mc_cid=ffab615169&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Indiana legislative bill demanding "intellectual diversity"</a> sounds reasonable, except that it mandates post-tenure review of faculty by governing boards, a move that could threaten the careers of faculty whose scholarship does not conform to the preferences of board members. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/2024/03/15/civil-rights-groups-push-back-against-wave-anti-dei-bills?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9c3c749211-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9c3c749211-198574017&mc_cid=9c3c749211&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Civil rights groups are pushing back</a> on the Indiana legislation as well as numerous other anti-DEI measures in other states.</p><p>Being <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/16/humiliation-higher-ed-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1b793d9ccf-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1b793d9ccf-198574017&mc_cid=1b793d9ccf&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">humiliated in the public's eyes</a> has frightening potential as higher education leaders <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/01/16/enormous-stakes-higher-education-2024-election?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1b793d9ccf-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1b793d9ccf-198574017&mc_cid=1b793d9ccf&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">navigate public scrutiny and regulatory whiplash.</a> Some of the critique is based on questioning <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/merger-watch-how-many-people-need-four-year-degree/705878/" target="_blank">what proportion of young adults really need a college degree</a>, especially since the return on investment has declined in recent years. As questions loom, it's not surprising that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2024/01/09/survey-state-higher-ed-officials-outlines-policy-priorities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f5275605b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f5275605b-198574017&mc_cid=6f5275605b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">state higher education officials identified workforce preparation</a> as the major concern for their institutions. Preparation for careers in a knowledge-based economy and improving return on investment of time and money indicators for higher education are integral to the workforce development focus and this is the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2023/12/20/what-college-students-want-career-prep?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=15598dd4cd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-15598dd4cd-198574017&mc_cid=15598dd4cd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">benefit that students expect</a>.</p><p>Addressing <a href="https://www.anthology.com/paper/the-students-perspective-valuable-insights-for-university-leaders-us-edition" target="_blank">what students want and recognizing issues about which they have concern</a> is essential. The faculty's focus is central to students' experience, with students and their families expecting teaching to be their core function. Yet this expectation is often not actualized in campus culture and rewards. If institutions want to be perceived as benefit the public, they need to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/03/11/rebuild-public-confidence-focus-teaching-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bad5ed97c4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bad5ed97c4-198574017&mc_cid=bad5ed97c4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">do more than post their commitment to teaching </a>on the website.</p><p>Elite higher education institutions are at the center of the scrutiny of higher education, which was demonstrated during the House Committee hearings on anti-semitism. Derek Bok's book, <i>Attacking the Elites, is </i>one of several <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/03/04/undergraduate-education-elite-university-fractured-time?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f7a3ca45a4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f7a3ca45a4-198574017&mc_cid=f7a3ca45a4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">critiques that warrant consideration</a> of how elitism plays out in an era of populism. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/01/04/modern-day-greek-tragedy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c338235062-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c338235062-198574017&mc_cid=c338235062&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz equated elite higher education's dilemma to that of a Greek tragedy</a> saying that privileged institutions need to "recenter themselves and to declare, quite boldly, that their purpose is to produce global citizens who serve the world... to ensure that those fortunate enough to attend or teach at an elite university are respectful and are able to interact civilly in a world of discord."</p><p>Although 2023 represented some return to stability after the 2020-21 pandemic, there are numerous issues that will challenge higher education leadership moving into 2024. With the likelihood of continuing, and perhaps escalating, dissension about higher education, clearly <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/27/what-are-values-university-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1258a44171-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1258a44171-198574017&mc_cid=1258a44171&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">asserting the values of a university</a> will be paramount. Dan Edelstein's opinion was that the essential values include that universities are places of learning, they are places to distinguish fact from fabrication, learning comes from interaction with others, and orthodoxy has no place here. Edelstein's advice might be useful to higher education <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2024/02/29/presidents-survey-finds-optimism-amid-uncertainty?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Presidents who expressed confidence in their own institutions but uncertainty about higher education in general</a>.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-11621696887442603182023-12-06T06:58:00.000-08:002024-03-18T06:32:54.998-07:00International educators - please avoid missteps of U.S. higher education<p>One of the challenges international higher education faculty and staff face is determining what is transferrable in other national and cultural contexts. The dominance of U.S. higher education, and the assumption of its superiority, can result in unknowingly transporting an idea that clearly does not fit in other cultures, and perhaps is failing even in U.S. higher education. In the case where it is failing, U.S. institutions often have a very difficult time letting go.</p><p>One anachronistic element of U.S. higher education is Greek organizations - fraternities and sororities. The result of grass-roots student interest in the early 20th century, fraternities and sororities sprung up to provide enriching out-of-class experiences such as debate societies, sports, self-governance, and even lodging and food. As higher education embraced a wholistic philosophy, the things that fraternities and sororities offered were democratized - offering them more broadly to all students. As this happened, Greek organizations drifted to a focus on primarily what they offered in terms of social opportunity.</p><p>I was a member of an undergraduate fraternity, and my wife and daughters were also affiliated during their undergraduate years. I know Greek organizations and know that many are good and provide an important belonging place for their members. However, in regard to systemic relevance, they now stand as bastions of socio-economic and cultural separatism and sometimes contribute to anti-intellectual cultures. Such is the possibility at the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/04/u-maryland-suspends-most-fraternities-and-sororities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f7a3ca45a4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f7a3ca45a4-198574017&mc_cid=f7a3ca45a4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University of Maryland, which just suspended all of its Greek organizations</a> for conduct that "threatened the safety and well-being of members of the university community." Maryland <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/18/maryland-ends-suspension-all-five-greek-organizations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3a47a1dae9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3a47a1dae9-198574017&mc_cid=3a47a1dae9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">reversed is broad suspension of all Greek organizations</a> and retained only 5 for further investigation. Of course, the Fraternity Forward coalition issued a restraining order and plans to continue to pursue litigation against Maryland. When an institution has to act this broadly, something is wrong systemically and that is the conclusion that an unfortunate number of institutions need to confront.</p><p>Right of association adherents will say that institutions cannot prohibit student associations such as Greek organizations. Case law demonstrates that they are correct. However, as far as I know, case law does not require an institution to support and provide resources to organizations that it does not officially recognize. Colleges and universities could choose to simply say "enough already" and push these organizations into an independent status and inform students to affiliate with them at their own risk.</p><p>A second example of anachronistic practice is competitive intercollegiate athletics. I have long been an advocate for U.S. higher education to stop pretending that athletic programs such as the University of Michigan and Ohio State University are "college teams." They haven't been for quite some time and continuing the fantasy is expensive and harmful to institutions that strive to compete with the likes of teams that are essentially semi-professional farm teams for the NFL and NBA.</p><p>The number of institutions that break even or make money from Division I NCAA competition is somewhere around 10%. In the other cases, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/12/college-athletics-costs-are-affordability-issue-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ec16a11193-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ec16a11193-198574017&mc_cid=ec16a11193&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students are charged to underwrite the deficit</a>.</p><p>Charlie Baker, Chief of the NCAA, finally announced a possible strategy to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/athletics/2023/12/06/charlie-bakers-plan-paying-players-and-sustaining-ncaa?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3a04dd7079-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3a04dd7079-198574017&mc_cid=3a04dd7079&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">allow big-time athletic programs to compensate their players</a>. Such a strategy would <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2021/06/rewarding-work.html" target="_blank">reward student work</a> and that turned into the question of whether or not <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2024/03/13/athlete-unions-threaten-college-sports-panel-argues?mc_cid=cd567a7aef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">student athletes should be allowed to form unions</a>. Baker's proposal would allow Division I athletic programs free rein in determining compensation related to athlete's names, images, and likenesses. For a mere $30,000 annual investment in athlete support, institutions would become part of a new subdivision with the highest revenue sources and the best records. These wealthy and successful programs have proposed the Baker model for years.</p><p>There are numerous things that international higher education planners and leaders should avoid and these two anachronistic practices are among the most egregious.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-4192877969417073542023-11-28T06:21:00.000-08:002024-01-09T10:44:42.335-08:00Colonialism's other names<p>With colonialism and decolonization becoming more common in academic and general conversation, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/11/28/are-humanities-rallying-cries-or-analytical-tools?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b818bf5c6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b818bf5c6-198574017&mc_cid=9b818bf5c6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz offers a list of different types of colonialism</a> (citing Nancy Shoemaker) and advice on how social justice critiques in the humanities can be preserved as an analytical tool rather than used to politicize discourse. To avoid charges of politicizing the classroom, Mintz advises scholars to:</p><ul style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(147, 197, 253, 0.5); --tw-ring-inset: var(--tw-empty,/*!*/ /*!*/); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(229, 231, 235); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; list-style: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.5em; text-align: left;"><li>Teach students how to analyze and critique ideas from multiple perspectives, rather than promoting a single political viewpoint.</li><li>Actively include a wide range of perspectives in the curriculum, not just various political viewpoints but also diverse cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives, ensuring that the curriculum is not dominated by any single ideology.</li><li>Be transparent about the use of theory and methods, demonstrating that humanities research is grounded in rigorous scholarship rather than political bias.</li><li>Ensure that classrooms and academic forums are spaces for open dialogue and debate and encourage intellectual diversity and mutual understanding.</li><li>Reaffirm the fundamental objectives of the humanities: to foster empathy and cultural understanding and the complexity of human experience and to contextualize political issues within broader social, economic and cultural frameworks.</li></ul><div><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: white;">These commitments to teaching in the humanities are potentially buttressed by <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/01/09/new-global-history?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f5275605b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f5275605b-198574017&mc_cid=6f5275605b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">new global histories</a> that are now available. It is critical to update previous characterizations that are the product of, and reinforce the goodness of, colonialist bias. The present age of economic globalism "needs a very different kind of history, a big-picture history that places the biggest issues of our time - colonialism and its legacies, the environment and climate, gender and sexuality, infectious diseases, migrations and diasporas, race and caste, revolutions and civil wars, and slavery and other forms of unfree labor."</span></div>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-67572492415570778332023-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:002024-03-14T06:39:04.031-07:00International student enrollment surges<p>While there were mixed messages about <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-24-enrollment-predictions.html" target="_blank">overall 2023-24 enrollment</a> throughout U.S. higher education, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2023/11/13/international-enrollment-rockets-past-pre-pandemic?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0f6b83d325-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0f6b83d325-198574017&mc_cid=0f6b83d325&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">international 2022-23 student enrollment surged</a> beyond pre-pandemic levels. The surge in applications may partially be <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2024/01/12/international-admission-offices-plagued-fraud-and?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ec16a11193-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ec16a11193-198574017&mc_cid=ec16a11193&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">attributable to fake applications</a>, the result of prospects originating from the broader southeast Asian region. The eventual figures for 2023-24 will hopefully sustain the increasing number of international students, although the mix has shifted from China to India and Africa.</p><p>As the enrollment of international students from China slows, the number of Indian students seeking admission in U.S. institutions is replacing them. For Indian students and their families, enrollment in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-universities-international-enrollment-4df3d86ed204762e34fc17a838218964" target="_blank">high quality U.S. programs is viewed as opening doors</a> that would not have opened if they studied in India.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/26/brown-extends-need-blind-policy-international-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=39cab91635-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-39cab91635-198574017&mc_cid=39cab91635&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Brown University's "need blind" admission of international students</a> will likely result in more and increasingly well-qualified applicants. Time will tell if this turns into a trend as international students are increasingly seen as valuable not only for the tuition they pay, but the value they bring to the learning community. Analysts warn that increasing competition from higher education providers like Canada may erode gains in current enrollment due to complications in obtaining visas and rising costs. The decline in China's economy is almost sure to result in continued erosion of the number of Chinese students coming to the U.S.</p><p>On the other side, institutions need to make sure that international students are not characterized, or profiled, in ways that subjects them to assumptions, stereotypes, and targeting. An essay by an instructor of English offers a specific type of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/02/international-students-racial-profiling-and-ai-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c48389daf6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c48389daf6-198574017&mc_cid=c48389daf6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">profiling in relation to AI at the University of Manitoba</a>. Profiling of various sorts include language proficiency, privilege, and social engagement.</p><p>If U.S. institutions want to continue hosting international students, taking them seriously is of paramount importance. The release of <i><a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/10/supporting-international-students-in-us.html" target="_blank">Supporting International Students in U.S. Higher Education: A Theory-Based Approach</a> </i>(Roberts & Ammigan, 2024) could help education leaders improve the experience of international students, retaining those who are now in the U.S. and also contributing to positive experiences that translate to encouragement for others to follow.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-69472318637662932882023-11-06T07:16:00.002-08:002023-11-06T07:18:53.487-08:00Trump's "free" on-line university<p>Donald Trump's provocational efforts have now moved to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/11/06/trump-hits-colleges-wokeness-pitches-free-online?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fec39059bb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fec39059bb-198574017&mc_cid=fec39059bb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">revolutionizing higher education through a national on-line university</a>. Skeptics say that, even if he is able to gain reelection, the proposed university will end up like "the wall" - a promise unfulfilled. The strategy to fund it is to use taxes on college and university endowments that are larger than $500,000 to redirect to the new higher education option.</p><p>In proposing the national on-line university Trump is planting a flag that addresses multiple points of dissatisfaction that he has, some of which are shared by his electoral base. The issues that are wrapped into the proposal include: cost, recognizing prior learning, expanding access, replacing "radical left" accreditors (dismantling DEI), and uprooting "wokeness."</p><p>"I think it suggests frustration with the political direction of higher education. Trump thinks he can score political points by basically poking higher education and saying that they're too liberal and woke and that his university won't be like that," opined a professor at the University of Tennessee.</p><p>The <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/10/hamas-and-israel.html" target="_blank">Hamas and Israel war added fuel to the fire</a> of anti-wokeness with higher education institutions attempting to navigate the ground of allowing expression of different views in the face of attempts to silence any advocacy for Palestine as anti-semitic. It is easy to conclude that Trump might have observed <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/02/assault-on-learning.html" target="_blank">DeSantis' attack on higher education in Florida</a> as an indication that having a higher education strategy as part of his platform could pay dividends. DeSantis' assault has taken on many of the same issues that Trump champions.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-68088655513066388362023-11-01T07:09:00.003-07:002024-02-15T10:28:10.260-08:00Lack of purpose driving anxiety<p>A recent study of young adults (ages 18-25) conducted by Harvard's Graduate School of Education found approximately <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/physical-mental-health/2023/11/01/lack-purpose-drives-anxiety-depression-young-adults?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=19505679a5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-19505679a5-198574017&mc_cid=19505679a5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">twice as many reporting anxiety and depression</a> compared to the younger cohort of 14-17 years olds. The study found "... key drivers of young adults' emotional challenges, including finance (56 percent), pressure to achieve (51 percent) and a perception that the world is unraveling (45 percent). Social Media was lower on the list of influential factors; it only drove anxiety and depression among 28 percent of young adults." The authors of the report recommended helping students cultivate meaning and purpose through community service, developing deeper relationships, and focusing on more than their achievements.</p><p><a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/02/hope-for-current-generation.html" target="_blank">Fostering hope and possibility</a> has been advocated by others, including my own advocacy for <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Learning-Leadership-Students-Potential/dp/1119111218" target="_blank">Deeper Learning in Leadership</a></i> in 2007. Leadership programs on college and university campuses have a critical responsibility to encourage students to pursue a life-long journey of discovering and focusing convictions in ways that make a difference for others while at the same time bringing meaning to their lives. Discovering purpose also has the potential to help students internalize their perception of achieving, which is a powerful alternative to the "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/learning-innovation/2024/01/24/never-enough-and-roots-our-student-mental-health?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e666751f00-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e666751f00-198574017&mc_cid=e666751f00&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">never enough</a>" feeling that can sometimes undermine positive mental health.</p><p>Placing a priority on discovering purpose which in turn creates hope and possibility in students may sound as if it's something that higher education has been doing for ever, and it probably is. The problem is one of missing the forest for the trees; most institutions offer a breadth of opportunity in curriculum and cocurriculum that looks more like going to the grocery store without a menu or shopping list - just take anything and you can figure it out when you get home. The University of Minnesota provides personal <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/11/20/engagement-coaching-gives-students-student-org?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d54e26ea93-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d54e26ea93-198574017&mc_cid=d54e26ea93&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">coaching to help students find engagement </a>opportunities that align with their personal goals. Engagement coaching focused on leadership as 'conviction in action' (the definition I proposed in 2007) involves simply starting with a flicker of interest, uses that to drive engagement, remains open to new possibilities, and deepens over a lifetime.</p><p>Finding a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/15/assessments-guide-students-academic-career-choices-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f9630aa6e6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f9630aa6e6-198574017&mc_cid=f9630aa6e6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">place to start can occur through personality assessment</a> such as the MBTI and Strengths Quest. What's important to recognize is that these assessments reflect trend and compare patterns among students but they don't necessarily align with the passions a student might have. Using the search for purpose coupled with assessment could be powerfully used to both inform and inspire students in their search.</p><p>In addition to encouraging focus in student learning about leadership, institutions could impact students' experiences by being more intentional about what it cultivates in its leaders. When institutions contradict what they advocate in student learning by how they operate and model leadership, students see the hypocrisy. At the same time that institutions are well served to focus on students' leadership learning, they need to provide <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2023/11/01/principles-and-tools-leadership-programs-should-include-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=19505679a5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-19505679a5-198574017&mc_cid=19505679a5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">substantive leadership cultivation for its administrative and academic leaders</a> as well.</p><p>The other important issue surfaced by the Harvard study was the importance of deepening relationships. Being engaged then becomes the path to belonging, which often involves <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/09/22/survey-barriers-college-students-campus?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b8a86e81ed-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b8a86e81ed-198574017&mc_cid=b8a86e81ed&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">barriers that are more present from students of diverse cultural</a> backgrounds. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/physical-mental-health/2023/11/08/new-epidemic-gripping-college-campuses-loneliness?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=74a3bfc4f3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-74a3bfc4f3-198574017&mc_cid=74a3bfc4f3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Surgeon General's "We are made to connect"</a> campus tour is drawing attention to the loneliness and isolation that students can sometimes experience. This need to be part of something greater than oneself is universal across generations and the discovery of purpose is almost always explored with others and results in connecting with and making a difference for others.</p><p>Ultimately, students' pursuit of purpose has to be complemented by an effective career services strategy. A recent <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2023/11/30/survey-what-college-students-want-career?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bca40db68e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bca40db68e-198574017&mc_cid=bca40db68e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">survey of students' use of the career or placement offices</a> on campus provides important guidance on what students need, most of which is pretty transactional. However, the building blocks of exploring purpose are at the foundation of what will eventually be a positive launch when students graduate. Preparation for work that is aligned with students' interests is at the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/05/sheeo-report-ranks-workforce-development-top-priority?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3148510a46-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3148510a46-198574017&mc_cid=3148510a46&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">top of the list of state higher education</a> leaders' priorities.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-51352103005293220782023-10-24T06:37:00.001-07:002024-01-18T08:03:19.289-08:00Professionalization in student affairs?<p>As student affairs perspectives and practices have spread across the world, those employed in student support positions have questioned how they should best prepare for their roles. The new edited collection of articles, <i><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15360695/2023/2023/183" target="_blank">Towards Professionalization of Student Affairs Across the Globe</a></i>, raises questions about the purpose of professionalization and how it is unfolding in different regions. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e2Gpw2_94c" target="_blank">Student Affairs Now podcast with the editor</a>s provides summary points from the book.</p><p>A repeated message throughout this collection is that professionalization has merits but must be pursued within the unique cultural context of each higher education institution. And, increasing professionalization is dependent on capacity building at the local level that draws educators into these roles instead of erecting barriers that exclude them. The essential questions of "for what purpose" and "to whose benefit" must be addressed in looking at a field that rests in the ambiguous "third space" of many institutional organization charts.</p><p>Steve Mintz' <i>Inside Higher Education</i> <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/01/11/its-time-campuses-truly-think-outside-box?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">thinking outside the box</a> piece reinforced the "third space" notion by asserting that organization divisions of academic and student affairs might be dismantled. Mintz identified the benefits of linking extracurricular activities to academics, increasing faculty involvement, and aligning academic and career advising to dismantling the bureaucracy of these divisions. Such a proposal challenges notions of expertise and professional preparation that may threaten some student affairs educators but it's actually consistent with the thinking of some early visionaries of student affairs work.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-37171546104639026502023-10-19T06:45:00.007-07:002024-03-12T08:46:22.821-07:00Understanding democratic decline<p>The warnings are accelerating that democracy is at risk around the world, and especially in the U.S.A. The Brookings Institute report, <i><a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/understanding-democratic-decline-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">Understanding Democratic Decline in the United States,</a></i> indicates that by multiple measures it has fallen out of "full democracy" to "flawed democracy" status.</p><p>Evidence of democratic decline is <a href="https://www.prri.org/research/threats-to-american-democracy-ahead-of-an-unprecedented-presidential-election/" target="_blank">most alarming as a lead-up to the 2024</a> U.S. Presidential election. The recent PRRI and Brookings research indicates growing acceptance of violence as a tool of political change and agree that it may be necessary to break laws or norms in order to correct the drift of the country toward views that they oppose. Former President Trump appears to have a strangle-hold on the Republican nomination, a clear reflection of the anti-government mood that endorses lawlessness as a legitimate alternative.</p><p>Higher education has <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2021/10/are-universities-indispensable-to.html" target="_blank">long claimed a role in cultivating citizenship</a> and democratic practice. The hope is that this commitment can be renewed by adopting principles such as those recommended by the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/23/how-improve-college-campus-dialogue-belonging-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=75be423f64-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-75be423f64-198574017&mc_cid=75be423f64&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Constructive Dialogue Institute</a>, which launched a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/12/new-initiative-launched-help-improve-dialogue-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b18d84e65c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b18d84e65c-198574017&mc_cid=b18d84e65c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Leadership Institute for presidents and higher education leaders</a> to help them improve inclusion and belonging while advocating free expression. Even while being <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/02/assault-on-learning.html" target="_blank">threatened by conservative state leaders like Ron DeSantis</a>, it's important to renew a commitment to foster open and free inquiry on campus. And student affairs educators can help by not only keeping dialogue open but by fostering student organizations attentive to fair processes of participation and engagement.</p><p>Central to countering democratic decline is a commitment to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/11/09/why-campuses-need-centers-pluralism-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f3e6b7d09-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f3e6b7d09-198574017&mc_cid=6f3e6b7d09&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">embrace the true pluralism</a> that exists throughout the U.S.A. Few enclaves can afford to remain closed to the diversity of culture, thought, faith, and politics that exists in their midst. Eboo Patel's essay ends with, "In this moment of extreme polarization, to serve the nation and improve themselves, campuses need to become laboratories and launching pads for pluralism." <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/11/17/war-college-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b8a86e81ed-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b8a86e81ed-198574017&mc_cid=b8a86e81ed&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Zimmerman's <i>Campus Politics</i> </a>was published 7 years ago but Mintz recommends it as a timely perspective as campuses are caught in the cross-hairs of ideological conflict.</p><p>One of the questions that must be asked is whether the ideals of democracy have ever worked for everyone in the U.S. and elsewhere. This question is addressed in the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63FxZpdncQ8" target="_blank">Democracy Re/Designed</a>" project which asserts from the start that it has not worked for many in the American context. This project and the explanation of its origins and purpose describes an aspirational democracy that is equitable, inclusive, and just.</p><p>A core challenge to protecting democratic ideals and systems is the profusion of information from various media, including uncontrolled social media. Media of all types reflect specific philosophical and political views which warrant examination for both <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/teaching/2023/12/13/teaching-students-information-and-disinformation-literacy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1bfe869566-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1bfe869566-198574017&mc_cid=1bfe869566&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">information and disinformation</a>. Tamara Schwartz, author of <i>Information Warfare</i>, recommends teaching that highlights 1) the individual, 2) the information ecosystem, and 3) rivalry for power as important elements to judging the credibility of various information sources. Examining the psychological dynamics of technology and media can then reveal how the power of cults and propaganda lead to control of information and people.</p><p>House <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2023/11/15/house-republicans-blame-dei-programs-campus-antisemitism?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cc3b2b8e12-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cc3b2b8e12-198574017&mc_cid=cc3b2b8e12&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Republicans blamed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives for the rise in anti-Semitism</a> that has accelerated in recent months. Perhaps those blaming higher education and DEI work should review the discord and dissension spurred during Trump's rise to the U.S. Presidency and sustained in his current bid to return to the White House. Teaching while open conflict dominates the news is challenging. However, the current circumstances will become history and should be explored with a full understanding of how we got to a place where <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/11/15/framework-teaching-conflict-not-violence-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cc3b2b8e12-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cc3b2b8e12-198574017&mc_cid=cc3b2b8e12&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">divisiveness seems to lurk everywhere.</a></p><p>Accelerating the attack on democratic practice in higher education, conservative activists issued the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/11/16/new-front-right-wing-attack-academia-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9df5e3b826-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9df5e3b826-198574017&mc_cid=9df5e3b826&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">General Education Act</a> as a way to dictate the content of higher education institutions. The legislation "would force public colleges to adopt a uniform general education curriculum devoted to conservative values, give a new dean near-total power to hire all faculty to teach these classes and then require the firing of many existing faculty members in the humanities and social sciences."</p><p>The Brookings report is not an opinion piece, but is supported by multiple indicators of decline in democratic institutions including a dysfunctional legislature, executive overreach, and an increasingly biased judiciary. The report also clearly indicates that the Trump presidency was not responsible for the decline but was more a wake-up call for the gradual erosion of democratic safeguards.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-69318210394262830102023-10-17T11:12:00.001-07:002024-01-08T08:07:49.217-08:00Supporting International Students in U.S. Higher Education - new book<p>Darbi L. Roberts and Ravichandran Ammigan saw a need for a resource for student affairs educators and they filled it with an impressive list of chapter contributors in their book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/3031463943?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_B5XZP0A1PB6QEXQ3GBKV&language=en-US" target="_blank">Supporting International Students in U.S. Higher Education: A Theory-Based Approach</a>.</i> Now available for pre-order, the description reads, "The book explores practical and strategic implications of a more integrative approach to international student support both inside and outside of the classroom, while also utilizing a critical lens in applying models that were originally built for predominantly white institutions and US citizens."</p><p>The critical factors of 1) inclusive rather than exclusionary cultures and practices, 2) critical examination of theory and practice to respond to diverse cultural backgrounds of students, and 3) partnership among student affairs educators and international educators are artfully addressed in ways no authors have previously attempted. International students are a valuable resource and should be treasured for the perspective they bring to US institutions. It's time to move away from seeing them as "exceptional" or "other," a move that will enhance their US learning experiences as well as all those who fully engage them.<br /></p><p>International students comprise a large proportion of graduate school enrollment in U.S. institutions and addressing how to better support them is included in Roberts and Ammigan's book. Roshni Rao of Johns Hopkins University offers <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/carpe-careers/2024/01/08/international-grad-students-should-engage-self?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=93b43c1294-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-93b43c1294-198574017&mc_cid=93b43c1294&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">complementary advice to international scholars</a> which includes self-advocacy that highlights the value each brings to the institutions where they study and serve.</p><p>This book couldn't be more timeline after revelation that the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/30/us-news-rankings-erase-international-students-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=7cc2bc1666-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-7cc2bc1666-198574017&mc_cid=7cc2bc1666&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">U.S. News cut factors related to international students</a> in their rankings. Doing so demonstrates a major point of <i>Supporting International Students...</i> that international students should not only be the responsibility of internationalists but that success results where institutions adopt a highly integrated approach.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-36299224460374993712023-10-11T11:58:00.030-07:002024-03-17T05:05:13.447-07:00Hamas and Israel<p>If you haven't studied-up on conflict, war, and the horrors that emerge from them, the urgency to do so grows each day. This is the message offered by <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/10/11/confronting-wars-horrors?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1ad3241b1a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1ad3241b1a-198574017&mc_cid=1ad3241b1a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz and he provided a list of books</a> that have potential to inform us about how bad it can really become. As civilians hunkered down or fled to the south of Gaza and Israel positioned for and pursued their ground assault, campus demonstrations <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/24/middle-east-fallout-continues-college-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9eac311006-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9eac311006-198574017&mc_cid=9eac311006&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">supporting the two sides erupted</a> with one condemning Hamas for terrorist atrocities and the other encouraging Israel's restraint in victimizing Palestinian citizens. An early Generation Lab poll of 978 college students found that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/25/poll-finds-most-us-college-students-blame-hamas-attack?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8202d04c02-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8202d04c02-198574017&mc_cid=8202d04c02&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">two-thirds saw Hamas' attack as terrorism</a> while the blame for it was mixed.</p><p>The repercussions of Hamas attack and response by Israel has had many twists and turns that are summarized in this continuing post. However, it is very clear that U.S. higher education will continue to be impacted as the growing <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/03/15/building-growing-network-oppose-palestinian-genocide-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9c3c749211-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9c3c749211-198574017&mc_cid=9c3c749211&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">network of academic organizations that oppose the retaliation of Israel</a> against Hamas and Gazan citizens stirs reactions among conservatives. As academics mobilize and conservatives persist in attacking higher education for multiple issues, the heat will continue to rise.</p><p>Universities are caught in a trap of their own creation - they have not taught students about the background to the Israel v. Palestine conflict. The result is <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/11/28/colleges-fail-teaching-israel-palestine-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b818bf5c6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b818bf5c6-198574017&mc_cid=9b818bf5c6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">incomplete understanding and fractious declarations</a> rather than constructive discourse. The <i>NY Times</i> indicated that previous restriction of speech that offended liberal-leaning students established a one-sided expectation. Two sides are now claiming hate speech by the other, with higher education leaders caught in the middle trying to determine if speech should be equally restricted or if students have to resign themselves to being uncomfortable hearing allegations that are repugnant to them. Assuming that the goal is to support free expression, educators need to help students discern the difference between <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/18/are-students-embracing-ignorance-or-violence-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c95ea11db2-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c95ea11db2-198574017&mc_cid=c95ea11db2&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">ignorance and violence versus earnest expression</a> of informed understanding. Adherence to First Amendment <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/05/private-colleges-should-follow-first-amendment-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3148510a46-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3148510a46-198574017&mc_cid=3148510a46&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">freedom of expression that favors no specific perspective</a> is judged through the beholder's eye, which challenges educational leaders as well. When university leaders <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/12/01/uc-faculty-members-oppose-viewpoint-neutral-middle?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=817ac00f85-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-817ac00f85-198574017&mc_cid=817ac00f85&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">attempted to establish a California-wide "viewpoint neutral" initiative</a> on the Middle East, the system's President was accused of bias.</p><p>University student organizations that support an independent Palestinian state and oppose the occupation and control of Israel in Gaza were quick to call out the long-standing subjugation of Palestinian's in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. Some of these statements started with condemnation of Hamas' actions and then moved to identifying the problem of injustices of the control of Gaza. Others went directly to blaming Israel for creating an environment of desperation that rationalized Hamas' cruelty. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/11/universities-slow-responses-hamas-attacks-draw-scrutiny?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1ad3241b1a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1ad3241b1a-198574017&mc_cid=1ad3241b1a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Universities were criticized for their slow response </a>to the Hamas attack as well as to student organization statements. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/20/harvard-scholars-president-has-been-mum-about-palestinians?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=00e44cc982-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-00e44cc982-198574017&mc_cid=00e44cc982&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Harvard's new President was criticized</a> for both not speaking up for Palestinian activists and for being slow and weak in condemning Hamas' attack.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/23/middle-east-tensions-prompt-semester-sea-ship-reroute?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=602bb0bc4f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-602bb0bc4f-198574017&mc_cid=602bb0bc4f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Semester at Sea revised its itinerary</a> to avoid the Red Sea, Oman, and Dubai after being warned of risks in the Middle East. Franciscan University of Ohio offered to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/religion/2023/10/23/catholic-university-expedites-transfer-jewish-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=602bb0bc4f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-602bb0bc4f-198574017&mc_cid=602bb0bc4f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">welcome Jewish students</a> who have been targeted with anti-Semitism. And the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/10/23/coming-reckoning-elite-higher-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=602bb0bc4f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-602bb0bc4f-198574017&mc_cid=602bb0bc4f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">backlash to Palestinian student activism</a> among university Boards and Alumni is putting greater pressure on institution leaders to handle dissent carefully, especially as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/11/02/what-do-universities-owe-their-donors?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fbfcc91e03-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fbfcc91e03-198574017&mc_cid=fbfcc91e03&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">donors act on belief that their opinions should be reflected</a> in campus decisions. Donor influences on Presidential and institutional statements can be viewed as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/12/19/its-not-donor-control-its-donor-activism-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2a8056715b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2a8056715b-198574017&mc_cid=2a8056715b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">donor control or simply donor activism</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/safety/2023/10/27/students-fearful-campus-amid-hate-incidents-and-protests?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=7ef2a35888-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-7ef2a35888-198574017&mc_cid=7ef2a35888&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Jewish students feared personal harm</a> when a pro-Palestinian group assembled outside the library at Cooper Union while three <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/27/three-palestinian-students-shot-burlington-vermont?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e9f15226c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e9f15226c-198574017&mc_cid=8e9f15226c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students of Palestinian descent were accosted and shot at the University of Vermont</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/11/10/columbia-suspends-two-pro-palestinian-groups?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0f6b83d325-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0f6b83d325-198574017&mc_cid=0f6b83d325&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Columbia University suspended two pro-Palestine student groups</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/16/george-washington-u-suspends-sjp-violating-policies?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9df5e3b826-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9df5e3b826-198574017&mc_cid=9df5e3b826&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">George Washington University suspended</a> its Students for Justice in Palestine groups as well. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/07/northwestern-students-face-charges-newspaper-parody?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0d53e668d0-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0d53e668d0-198574017&mc_cid=0d53e668d0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Northwestern University students face criminal charges</a> for a parody front page to the student newspaper, a move opposed by many on campus. Meanwhile, higher education institutions in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2023/10/26/palestinian-campuses-head-abyss-israeli-war-grows?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a764bae25f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a764bae25f-198574017&mc_cid=a764bae25f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Gaza and the West Bank have virtually shut down</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/physical-mental-health/2023/12/08/israel-gaza-border-college-healing-mission-after?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=28f25e0a7b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-28f25e0a7b-198574017&mc_cid=28f25e0a7b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">some strive to rebuild</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/13/tension-over-israel-hamas-war-grows-college-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3806bd8071-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3806bd8071-198574017&mc_cid=3806bd8071&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Demonstrations broke out at colleges and universities</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/10/tensions-over-israel-hamas-war-continue-rile-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ab505a96a2-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ab505a96a2-198574017&mc_cid=ab505a96a2&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">continued while Israel retaliated</a>, challenging administrators to find a balance between fostering debate among factions versus clearly condemning the brutality of Hamas. Harvard's debacle over student protests led it to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/teaching/2024/01/26/harvard-reiterates-guidelines-handling-student-protests?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=39cab91635-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-39cab91635-198574017&mc_cid=39cab91635&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">reiterate guidelines for student protests.</a> Having issued one set of protest guidelines soon after October 7, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/03/07/columbias-protest-policy-less-stringent-last-iteration?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d384522f45-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d384522f45-198574017&mc_cid=d384522f45&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Columbia reissued the guidelines after input from faculty and students</a>. Beyond clarifying rules for protest, the very <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/08/aclu-urges-education-dept-reject-antisemitism-definition?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=15598dd4cd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-15598dd4cd-198574017&mc_cid=15598dd4cd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">definition of what constitutes anti-Semitism is under debate</a>. The <a href="https://myacpa.org/statement-on-the-horrific-violence-and-crisis-in-israel-gaza-the-west-bank/" target="_blank">American College Personnel Association</a> issued a statement on how to respond to competing student perspectives. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/12/01/michigan-cancels-student-vote-israel-palestine-referenda?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=817ac00f85-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-817ac00f85-198574017&mc_cid=817ac00f85&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University of Michigan cancelled a student vote</a> on Israel v. Palestine when pro-Palestinian activists allegedly attempted to influence the outcome. Calling for financial <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/12/06/divestment-top-issue-among-pro-palestinian-college-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3a04dd7079-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3a04dd7079-198574017&mc_cid=3a04dd7079&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">divestment is another way pro-Palestine students</a> are registering their opposition to Israel's retaliation in Gaza.</p><p>Politicians intensified the challenges for higher education leaders with Virginia Foxx, the top Republican on the House Education Committee, saying that "Too many colleges require lock-step discipleship behind woke policies and politics." U.S. Presidential candidate, Tim Scott, took Foxx's criticism to another level when interviewed by CNN. The U.S. Education Department first placed <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/17/us-lists-colleges-under-review-possible-bias-against-jews-muslims?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b8a86e81ed-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b8a86e81ed-198574017&mc_cid=b8a86e81ed&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">six universities on a list to be investigated for civil rights violations</a> based on anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim or anti-Arab incidents, later <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/13/ed-department-opens-six-more-civil-rights-investigations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1bfe869566-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1bfe869566-198574017&mc_cid=1bfe869566&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">updated the list with six more</a>. By March 7, 2024, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/07/us-opens-civil-rights-probes-uc-berkeley-four-others?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d384522f45-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d384522f45-198574017&mc_cid=d384522f45&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Education Department investigations grew to fifty</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/12/04/pushback-against-lawmakers-calls-antisemitism?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d99bcb568b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d99bcb568b-198574017&mc_cid=d99bcb568b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Indiana University's faculty are pushing back on Congressman Jim Banks'</a> allegation that the University has not dealt with anti-Semitism. The impact of demonization of higher is evident in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/14/new-poll-shows-widespread-public-doubt-college-leaders?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=30b5d159c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-30b5d159c5-198574017&mc_cid=30b5d159c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">declining confidence in higher education leaders</a> post October 7.</p><p>While tracking hate and anti-semitism is important, investigations gone wrong could <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/13/knight-institute-cautions-doj-tracking-campus-antisemitism?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1bfe869566-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1bfe869566-198574017&mc_cid=1bfe869566&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">imperil first-amendment principles</a>, including the often overlooked <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/12/14/colleges-suppress-pro-palestinian-organizing-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=30b5d159c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-30b5d159c5-198574017&mc_cid=30b5d159c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">right of peaceful assembly</a>. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/law-policy-and-it/2023/12/19/higher-education-and-first-amendment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2a8056715b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2a8056715b-198574017&mc_cid=2a8056715b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">lack of clarity about higher education's protection of the First Amendment</a> has resulted in troubling variations in policy and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/02/19/college-leaders-crack-down-student-protests?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ab2e8c22b4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ab2e8c22b4-198574017&mc_cid=ab2e8c22b4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">crack-downs on some campuses</a>.</p><p>The scheduling of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2023/12/05/college-presidents-face-grilling-over-israel-palestine-protests?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f980845b7d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f980845b7d-198574017&mc_cid=f980845b7d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Presidents of Harvard, Penn, and MIT to speak</a> before the House Education and Workforce Committee began with the hope that it would improve understanding of how institutions approach free versus threatening speech. The three <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2023/12/05/house-republicans-castigate-presidents-harvard-penn-and-mit?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3a04dd7079-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3a04dd7079-198574017&mc_cid=3a04dd7079&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Presidents instead faced Virginia Foxx</a> starting off by saying that anti-Semitism was the "poisoned fruit" of their institutions' cultures. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2023/12/07/what-campus-antisemitism-hearing-could-mean-higher-ed?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=062d58d279-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-062d58d279-198574017&mc_cid=062d58d279&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Reviews of the three Presidents' testimony was all over the place</a>, some criticizing the House Committee for its hostility and others alleging evasion on the part of the Presidents. Liz Magill, President of Penn, faced backlash for her <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/12/07/documentary-fuels-academic-freedom-debates?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=062d58d279-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-062d58d279-198574017&mc_cid=062d58d279&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">testimony as well as for campus events perceived to be anti-Semitic</a>, which led to the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/08/penn-president-pressured-resign-over-antisemitism-hearing?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=28f25e0a7b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-28f25e0a7b-198574017&mc_cid=28f25e0a7b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Penn Board of Trustees seeking her resignation</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/12/11/missteps-antisemitism-prompt-penns-president-resign?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5c08dd84a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5c08dd84a-198574017&mc_cid=b5c08dd84a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">she complied after being swept up in a flurry of criticisms</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/12/12/harvard-president-faces-mounting-pressure?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=62d6fca20f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-62d6fca20f-198574017&mc_cid=62d6fca20f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Harvard's President, Claudine Gay, confronted pressure</a> and initially prevailed with the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/12/13/harvard-board-backs-embattled-president?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1bfe869566-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1bfe869566-198574017&mc_cid=1bfe869566&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">support of Harvard's Board.</a> Foxx wasn't ready to let it go and initiated plans to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/21/lawmakers-probe-harvards-handling-plagiarism-allegations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8dbd5cf801-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8dbd5cf801-198574017&mc_cid=8dbd5cf801&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">investigate Harvard's handling of Gay's plagiarism</a> allegations but Gay <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2024/01/02/harvard-president-resigns-amid-controversy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e76d18fa43-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e76d18fa43-198574017&mc_cid=e76d18fa43&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">preempted it by resigning</a> after only 6 months in her position. The controversy over Gay's plagiarism will likely lead to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/books-publishing/2024/01/22/how-many-casualties-would-plagiarism-war-produce?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8bf60953af-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8bf60953af-198574017&mc_cid=8bf60953af&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">more conservative investigations</a> of prominent academic figures. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/04/mit-president-announces-new-steps-improve-campus-climate?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c338235062-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c338235062-198574017&mc_cid=c338235062&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">MIT's president announced new initiatives</a> for a New Year to address student discipline, free expression, and DEI. The House Committee agreed to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/08/house-launches-investigation-harvard-penn-and-mit?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=28f25e0a7b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-28f25e0a7b-198574017&mc_cid=28f25e0a7b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">investigate the "learning environment"</a> of the three prestigious universities and issued a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/14/house-condemns-presidents-testimony-antisemitism-hearing?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=30b5d159c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-30b5d159c5-198574017&mc_cid=30b5d159c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">resolution condemning the Presidents' testimony</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/11/20/pulling-colleges-federal-funds-would-be-nuclear?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d54e26ea93-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d54e26ea93-198574017&mc_cid=d54e26ea93&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Investigations into institution's handling of anti-Semitism were expected to require significant time with potential removal of federal funds</a> reserved only as the last resort. The first <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/10/house-republicans-seek-tranche-documents-harvard?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1780b24aa3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1780b24aa3-198574017&mc_cid=1780b24aa3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">investigation of Harvard continued</a> via a nine-page letter (with Harvard responding with over <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/30/harvard-turned-over-1k-pages-documents-house-committee?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a06915327b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a06915327b-198574017&mc_cid=a06915327b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">1,000 pages of documentation</a>) and another investigation was launched based on <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/08/education-dept-opens-second-civil-rights-probe-harvard?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=15598dd4cd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-15598dd4cd-198574017&mc_cid=15598dd4cd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">allegations that Arab and Muslim students have also been targeted</a>. Harvard asserted that it fully complied with the House Committee's demands but faced a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2024/02/16/harvard-subpoena-congress-sends-higher-ed-message?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ab2e8c22b4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ab2e8c22b4-198574017&mc_cid=ab2e8c22b4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">subpoena to provide more</a>, which <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/06/foxx-says-harvard-failed-comply-subpoena?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4859c230fd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4859c230fd-198574017&mc_cid=4859c230fd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Foxx again declared was inadequate</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/25/house-committees-antisemitism-probe-penn-kicks?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3140bea877-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3140bea877-198574017&mc_cid=3140bea877&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Penn's investigation via a 14-page letter</a> from representative Foxx. Preempting the investigations, House Republicans have already revealed publicly how they <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/20/house-republican-details-plan-crack-down-universities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0ec2e62d92-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0ec2e62d92-198574017&mc_cid=0ec2e62d92&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">plan to punish universities after proving that they neglected to address anti-semitism</a>.</p><p>And taking down higher education institutions isn't the only target for Foxx. After an auditor for financial statements for the Education Department found irregularities, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/19/foxx-wants-cardona-answer-failed-audit?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5d737e8d80-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5d737e8d80-198574017&mc_cid=5d737e8d80&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Foxx is set to investigate Secretary Cordona</a> for failure to lead Education. On the flip side, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/safety/2024/03/05/liberty-university-fined-14-million-clery-violations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4859c230fd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4859c230fd-198574017&mc_cid=4859c230fd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Foxx demonstrated her bias in defending Liberty University</a> after it agreed to a $14 million settlement with the Department of Education for Clery Act violations.</p><p>There are many <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/12/11/lessons-antisemitism-hearing-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5c08dd84a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5c08dd84a-198574017&mc_cid=b5c08dd84a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">lessons to be learned about confronting anti-Semitism</a> from the House Committee hearing. One of the primary insights is that campus unrest on contentious issues should be anticipated as much as possible. Higher education leaders need to inculcate principles of expression of dissent and humane civic discourse in advance of controversy, including open fora where all can engage. One of the challenges of exploring different views is establishing clear and equitable <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/12/15/ivies-uc-campus-speech-should-be-free-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9dc9f4def2-DNU_2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9dc9f4def2-198574017&mc_cid=9dc9f4def2&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">parameters for the free expression of diverse perspectives</a>. When potentially inflammatory moments occur, if statements are deemed helpful, they should be clear and should avoid placing legal issues as the priority.</p><p>An example statement that the 3 university Presidents at the House Committee hearing might have used is included in an article on the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/12/11/publics-growing-disgust-elite-private-universities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5c08dd84a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5c08dd84a-198574017&mc_cid=b5c08dd84a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">growing public disgust with elite higher education</a> institutions. It is clear in retrospect that the House Committee didn't only intend to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism on elite campuses but <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/01/03/changing-campus-cultures-elite-universities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e76d18fa43-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e76d18fa43-198574017&mc_cid=e76d18fa43&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">orchestrated the hearing to draw attention to perceived liberalism and intellectual equivocation</a> on these campuses; Harvard's former President <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/04/former-harvard-president-defends-explains-herself-op-ed?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c338235062-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c338235062-198574017&mc_cid=c338235062&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Gay reinforced this notion</a> in an op-ed for the NYT. The aftermath of former <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2024/01/08/did-gay-fail-harvard-or-did-harvard-fail-gay?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=93b43c1294-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-93b43c1294-198574017&mc_cid=93b43c1294&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">President Gay's demise raises the question of who failed whom</a>. Walter Kimbrough, a student affairs educator and former President of Dillard University, offered insight on how the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/08/thoughts-context-claudine-gays-resignation-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=93b43c1294-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-93b43c1294-198574017&mc_cid=93b43c1294&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">"contextualizing" of the 3 university Presidents was defensible but failed </a>in the "context" of deliberate bating by Representative Stefanik during the House Committee hearing. Continuing the crusade against higher education, Representative Foxx scheduled the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/12/columbia-president-testify-house-antisemitism-hearing?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b18d84e65c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b18d84e65c-198574017&mc_cid=b18d84e65c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Columbia University President and Board members before the House Committee</a> in April 2024. Criticism has spread beyond elite institutions and leaders should take note of the broad conservative agenda of discrediting higher education institutions in general. As the House Committee hearing demonstrated, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/01/03/why-many-presidents-struggle-when-dealing-crises-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e76d18fa43-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e76d18fa43-198574017&mc_cid=e76d18fa43&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">clear purpose and carefully honed communication</a> is essential in this era of intense scrutiny. In addition to focusing on free expression while protecting against acts of discrimination and threat, <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4404984-higher-education-needs-to-reform-itself-it-also-needs-to-defend-itself/" target="_blank">higher education needs to figure out how to defend itself</a> from politicized attacks.</p><p>The five contenders included in the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/09/republican-candidates-criticize-campus-antisemitism-responses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f3e6b7d09-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f3e6b7d09-198574017&mc_cid=6f3e6b7d09&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">November 8, 2023, Republican U.S. Presidential debate</a>, pushed the narrative that higher education must back Israel and prohibit pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Other political responses to the Hamas and Israel conflict include a bi-partisan U.S. Senate <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/26/lawmakers-criticize-campus-responses-hamas-israel-war?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a764bae25f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a764bae25f-198574017&mc_cid=a764bae25f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">resolution condemning anti-Semitism</a> on campuses while the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/religion/2023/11/09/house-committee-spars-over-antisemitism-campus?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f3e6b7d09-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f3e6b7d09-198574017&mc_cid=6f3e6b7d09&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">House Judiciary Committee debated causes of rising anti-Semitism</a>. A Senate bill to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/12/senate-bill-takes-campus-antisemitism?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ec16a11193-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ec16a11193-198574017&mc_cid=ec16a11193&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">require reporting of anti-Semitism</a> would result in better data about what's actually happening on campus. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/26/florida-bans-some-students-justice-palestine-chapters?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a764bae25f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a764bae25f-198574017&mc_cid=a764bae25f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Florida banned Students for Justice in Palestine</a> at its state institutions rationalizing the move based on the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization. Countering Florida's prohibition of Students for Justice in Palestine, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/02/aclu-urges-colleges-not-investigate-pro-palestine-groups?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fbfcc91e03-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fbfcc91e03-198574017&mc_cid=fbfcc91e03&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">ACLU urged campuses to not investigate them</a>. Governor <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/11/desantis-invites-students-facing-antisemitism-florida?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Disantis invited students from other states</a> who experience anti-Semitism to transfer to Florida schools.</p><p>Implications of the Hamas attack and Israel's response come in different forms and include <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/31/biden-administration-takes-steps-curb-campus-antisemitism?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=23419446b9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-23419446b9-198574017&mc_cid=23419446b9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">increasing anti-Semitic and anti-Palestinian sentiments</a>. One study found that <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/73-jewish-college-students-experienced-seen-antisemitism-start-school-rcna127014" target="_blank">73% of Jewish students observed or were subject to anti-Semitism</a> since the fall term began, while another study indicated that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/12/15/new-study-highlights-campus-antisemitism-hot-spots?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9dc9f4def2-DNU_2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9dc9f4def2-198574017&mc_cid=9dc9f4def2&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Jewish students' reports of anti-Semitism vary across campuses</a>. Both <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/diversity/2024/03/08/report-most-jewish-muslim-students-fearful-amid-conflict?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8cd451b975-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8cd451b975-198574017&mc_cid=8cd451b975&mc_eid=c88ef0b734">Jewish and Palestine-sympathetic students fear retaliation</a> for expressing their views. Different perspectives on specific phrases, such as "from the river to the sea," are central to their fears. A staff member at American University of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/31/fbi-investigates-anti-palestinian-message-american-u?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=23419446b9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-23419446b9-198574017&mc_cid=23419446b9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Palestinian background was threatened</a> in a note left in his mailbox. A <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/16/stanford-investigates-instructor-after-jewish-student-complaints?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e3612a8cf9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e3612a8cf9-198574017&mc_cid=e3612a8cf9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Jewish student's report of a Stanford professor blaming the conflict on the Zionist movement</a> is under investigation while anti-Semitic <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/29/online-posts-threaten-cornell-universitys-jewish-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=7cc2bc1666-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-7cc2bc1666-198574017&mc_cid=7cc2bc1666&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">online posts threatened students at Cornell</a>; 21-year old <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/01/cornell-student-arrested-allegedly-threatening-jews?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=19505679a5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-19505679a5-198574017&mc_cid=19505679a5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Cornell junior was charged</a> with posting threats using inter-state communications. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/31/jewish-faculty-staff-need-spaces-community-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=23419446b9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-23419446b9-198574017&mc_cid=23419446b9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Calls to support Jewish faculty</a> emerged as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/17/fallout-israel-hamas-war-continues-roil-us-campuses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fa7eab00b3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fa7eab00b3-198574017&mc_cid=fa7eab00b3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">fallout from donors, alumni, and politicians </a>intensified. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/10/24/editor-fired-after-sharing-onion-article-israel?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8202d04c02-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8202d04c02-198574017&mc_cid=8202d04c02&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Repercussions for academics expressing their opinions</a> will challenge campus leaders and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/26/denouncing-student-activists-puts-them-risk-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a764bae25f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a764bae25f-198574017&mc_cid=a764bae25f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">faculty attempting to hold steadfast to principles of freedom</a> of expression.<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/17/probing-tensions-around-speech-and-antisemitism-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fa7eab00b3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fa7eab00b3-198574017&mc_cid=fa7eab00b3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank"> Jeff Herbst, President of American Jewish University</a> urges educators to defend free expression even when condemnation escalates, saying, "The antisemites will keep coming, and freedom of speech should not go anywhere. Addressing this climate in an intentional, forceful manner would be in the best tradition of the liberal arts."</p><p>There is <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/11/22/college-presidents-discuss-art-institutional?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=629464dd79-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-629464dd79-198574017&mc_cid=629464dd79&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">wide variation in how Presidents believe</a> they should offer statements, reinforcing that care should be taken by <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2023/10/31/advice-leaders-crafting-statements-during-crises-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=23419446b9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-23419446b9-198574017&mc_cid=23419446b9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">institutional leaders</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/01/23/key-criteria-making-presidential-statements-about-issues-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a885a6c0e0-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a885a6c0e0-198574017&mc_cid=a885a6c0e0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Restraint is likely the best strategy</a>, starting with consideration of the centrality of any issue to a specific institution's mission. Professing being exhilarated by the Hamas attack, a Cornell professor was <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/18/cornell-leaders-condemn-prof-exhilarated-hamas-attack?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=abdfb031ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-abdfb031ef-198574017&mc_cid=abdfb031ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">rebuked by its President and Board</a>. As one group of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/18/college-leaders-issue-joint-statement-supporting-israel?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=abdfb031ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-abdfb031ef-198574017&mc_cid=abdfb031ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">college presidents issued a joint statement,</a> others <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/10/18/college-leaders-mideast-statements-spark?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=abdfb031ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-abdfb031ef-198574017&mc_cid=abdfb031ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">questioned the utility of these statements </a>and still others said that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/18/stop-statement-wars-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=abdfb031ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-abdfb031ef-198574017&mc_cid=abdfb031ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">statements should just stop.</a> The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/05/utah-governor-tells-presidents-avoid-political-statements?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f980845b7d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f980845b7d-198574017&mc_cid=f980845b7d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Governor of Utah told university presidents to avoid</a> political comment all together and the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/12/hochul-asks-ny-institutions-prohibit-calls-genocide?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=62d6fca20f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-62d6fca20f-198574017&mc_cid=62d6fca20f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Governor of New York told state universities to prohibit calls for genocide</a>. The accusation of evasiveness in statements could be averted by deploring hateful speech and asserting the importance of not <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/12/20/what-harvards-president-should-have-said-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0ec2e62d92-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0ec2e62d92-198574017&mc_cid=0ec2e62d92&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">selectively determining what can be said</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/01/26/uc-system-barnard-debate-departmental-political?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=39cab91635-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-39cab91635-198574017&mc_cid=39cab91635&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Academic departments making public statements</a> in relation to the Hamas v. Israel war is also potentially inflammatory. California is considering banning departments and centers from making statements, a move that some faculty view as encroachment on academic freedom. It will be interesting to see if <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/02/27/professors-evacuated-put-leave-hectic-pro-palestine?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1258a44171-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1258a44171-198574017&mc_cid=1258a44171&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">conflict between opposing sides so volatile that it required evacuation</a> of faculty at San Jose State University will lead California to go further than just discouraging public statements. </p><p>Some individual faculty are <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/20/who-can-speak-israel-palestine-conflict-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=00e44cc982-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-00e44cc982-198574017&mc_cid=00e44cc982&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">intimidated by the possible implications of speaking out</a> and believe that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2023/12/08/censoring-palestine-supporters-during-hamas-israel-war-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=28f25e0a7b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-28f25e0a7b-198574017&mc_cid=28f25e0a7b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">any criticism of Israel is viewed as anti-Semitic</a>, which <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/12/18/israels-war-gaza-fuels-faculty-free-speech-battles?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bca40db68e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bca40db68e-198574017&mc_cid=bca40db68e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">some view as restricting free speech</a>. The Faculty Council at the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/02/07/campus-vote-antisemitism-resolution-microcosm?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0d53e668d0-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0d53e668d0-198574017&mc_cid=0d53e668d0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University of North Carolina declined to condemn a faculty member</a> for comments made after the Hamas attack in October based on free speech considerations. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/08/my-colleagues-stayed-silent-face-antisemitism-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=15598dd4cd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-15598dd4cd-198574017&mc_cid=15598dd4cd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Faculty Council avoidance was sharply criticized</a> by some UNC faculty. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/11/21/gaza-speech-allegedly-blocked-nca?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d3ef94fd14-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d3ef94fd14-198574017&mc_cid=d3ef94fd14&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">National Communication Association told speakers not to use "genocide"</a> in their speeches due to ambivalence about reactions but they <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/27/communication-association-apologizes-blocked-gaza-speech?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e9f15226c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e9f15226c-198574017&mc_cid=8e9f15226c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">later apologized</a> for its decision. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/08/american-studies-association-members-criticize-gaza-statement?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=74a3bfc4f3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-74a3bfc4f3-198574017&mc_cid=74a3bfc4f3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">American Studies Association drew criticism</a> from its members in reaction to its statement. U.S. Department of Education urged institutions to make clear statements <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/08/ed-dept-warns-colleges-antisemitism-and-islamophobia?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=74a3bfc4f3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-74a3bfc4f3-198574017&mc_cid=74a3bfc4f3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">condemning anti-Semitism as well as Islamophobia</a>. Others, particularly those in faith-based organizations, are striving to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/10/20/campus-leaders-promote-open-dialogue-israel-hamas-war?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=00e44cc982-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-00e44cc982-198574017&mc_cid=00e44cc982&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">foster respect and dialogue</a> with the podcast "<a href="https://www.interfaithamerica.org/podcast/syeed/?utm_source=campaign_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=podcast_s2" target="_blank">How can we engage in 'sacred witness?'</a>" a wonderful example. Faculty who have expertise in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/academics/2024/01/05/students-flock-courses-israeli-palestinian-conflict?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3148510a46-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3148510a46-198574017&mc_cid=3148510a46&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Middle East history are stepping up with courses</a> and students appear to be flocking to them. Sometimes stepping up comes with repercussions such as the political science <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/shared-governance/2024/01/11/indiana-u-sanctions-professor-supporting-pro?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">professor who helped a pro-Palestinian student group</a> schedule a meeting at the University of Indiana. Other educators suggest that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/10/24/diversity-and-inclusion-campus-after-hamas-attacks?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9eac311006-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9eac311006-198574017&mc_cid=9eac311006&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">focusing on local concerns</a> through research, engagement with public education and health institutions, and imbedding service learning would help. Two <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2023/12/20/ut-austin-yanks-tas-who-gave-mental-health?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0ec2e62d92-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0ec2e62d92-198574017&mc_cid=0ec2e62d92&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">TAs at the University of Texas were dismissed</a> for issuing a message to "acknowledge the mental health implications of the current escalation of violence in Gaza" and offering mental health resources for students in their class who were impacted by campus reactions to a Palestinian Solidarity Committee's teach-in. Further west from Austin, an <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/05/texas-tech-professor-leave-hateful-antisemitic-comments?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=29841fc359-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-29841fc359-198574017&mc_cid=29841fc359&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">assistant professor at Texas Tech was placed on leave</a> after social media posts that were viewed as anti-Semitic.</p><p>The reality is that the Hamas and Israel conflict is complicated by a very contentious history and the current circumstances change by the hour. This quagmire calls for higher education to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/02/01/how-higher-ed-really-failing-students-gazaisrael-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4e15c261d8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4e15c261d8-198574017&mc_cid=4e15c261d8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">help students by focusing on media literacy, critical thinking, and promoting the value of free exchange</a> of ideas. However, even freedom of expression is challenging under current conditions, demonstrated in the bias of the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/16/aaup-critiques-israel-arent-invariably-antisemitic?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9df5e3b826-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9df5e3b826-198574017&mc_cid=9df5e3b826&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">AAUP statement advocating freedom of expression</a> that also asserted that critiques of Israel's retaliation are inherently anti-Semitic. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/academic-freedom/2024/02/14/aaup-joins-labor-unions-call-ceasefire-gaza?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e297f4c050-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e297f4c050-198574017&mc_cid=e297f4c050&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">AAUP eventually joined labor unions in calling for a cease-fire</a> as the devastation of Gaza and loss of innocent lives was recognized. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/02/01/american-university-bans-indoor-protests?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4e15c261d8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4e15c261d8-198574017&mc_cid=4e15c261d8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">American University's examination of policies related to protests</a> is repeated across many campuses as attempts are made to harmonize a commitment to fostering an inclusive campus climate with a commitment to freedom of expression.</p><p>In an already contentious political environment, U.S. institutions and perhaps colleges and universities around the world, will need to <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2022/03/ideological-feuds-continue.html" target="_blank">figure out how to have very difficult conversations, support the expression of opposing views, and avoid the devolution into chaos</a> that some recall from their institutions in the 1960s. Berkeley, a center of the free speech movement in the 1960s, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2024/02/29/uc-berkeley-evacuates-event-amid-pro-palestinian-protest?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">evacuated attendees when protesters became violent</a>. That Berkeley would descend into violence over expression of diverse views reinforces the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/02/29/berkeley-protests-business-usual-or-cause-alarm?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">critical need to set standards for discourse and enforce them</a>. While the 1960s is remembered for opening free speech, the more ominous realization is that public sentiment and political partisanship that targets higher education is beginning to look a lot like the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/01/11/house-probes-harvard-others-mark-watershed-moment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">dark days of McCarthyism</a> of the 1950s.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-22492055027506572342023-09-22T07:59:00.003-07:002023-11-03T06:44:24.966-07:00"Cruise ship" higher education<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/09/22/higher-ed-has-student-housing-crisis-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=931c6ff861-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-931c6ff861-198574017&mc_cid=931c6ff861&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Ryan Craig makes the analogy that some institutions have become "cruise ships"</a> with luxury accommodations, entertainment, and attentive service staff to tend to cruisers' needs. Much like cruise corporations, many colleges have an off-putting sticker price that is often heavily discounted through special promotions. Specific to the ancillary provision of student housing, 10 flagship institutions raised fees by 25% over the last 10 years with some campuses offering "economy" accommodations as low as $9,000 but up to "luxury" levels at almost $25,000 for 30 weeks of the year (these prices are before food). The discounting strategy of cruiselines relies on one important item to make up the difference - alcohol is always full price!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The cruise ship analogy applies to elite higher education to an even greater degree. Mintz describes these institutions as including many <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/11/03/have-elite-universities-become-too-student-centered?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c5b59f0c21-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c5b59f0c21-198574017&mc_cid=c5b59f0c21&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students who bring an expectation of privilege</a> that causes them to make unreasonable demands. Specific to causes privileged students advocate, they may not do enough analysis to understand the complexity of the problems about which they complain.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Citing David Foster Wallace's <i>A supposedly fun Thing I'll Never Do Again</i>, Craig references some of the most annoying aspects of cruise travel being "'large, fleshy, red, loud, coarse, condescending, self-absorbed, spoiled, appearance-conscious, greedy' American tourists 'waddling into poverty-stricken ports in expensive sandals.'" From an educator's view, the cruise ship experience described here, or any travel for that matter, is even more exasperating when the privilege of travel and/or education is undertaken <a href="https://pursuingleadership.blogspot.com/2023/07/traveling-with-critical-perspective.html" target="_blank">without a critical learning point of view</a>.</span></p><p>"So let's have colleges offer student serial semesters at sea and begin housing students on cruise ships. Although it won't work as well in Austin or Lawrence, Kan., it's fine with me as long as the new college cruise dorms restrain themselves from trying to make money off students one alcohol at a time," Craig closes in cryptic hyperbole.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-29591152243259429982023-09-08T07:16:00.001-07:002023-12-30T07:59:55.167-08:00Getting a good start - Orientation<p>I started my career in the Preview CSU program - first as an orientation leader, then student coordinator, and graduate student director. This immersion in helping new students get a good start resulted in my first professional position as Assistant Director of Orientation at the University of Maryland, an incredible decision that led so many other good things in my worklife.</p><p>A recent survey of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/08/31/survey-what-college-students-want-orientation?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=89642a95c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-89642a95c5-198574017&mc_cid=89642a95c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Student Voice of 2,802 students</a> found that students were mostly positive about their orientation to college. Enthusiasm differed based on in-person versus alternative modality and a one size fits all approach does not respond to the variety of interests students express. Feeling connected as a result of orientation, accessing resources, feeling more prepared for college, and making friends were some of the outcomes new students experienced.</p><p>Some campuses <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/09/07/why-colleges-are-paring-down-new-student?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=dc84600013-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-dc84600013-198574017&mc_cid=dc84600013&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">pared down and focused their approach to orientation</a>, focusing on the essentials in a shorter period of time and following up with ongoing opportunities. The current generation of students entering higher education directly out of high school may have needs that are different than their predecessors. "Gen P" (referring to pandemic-experienced) students may be "'under-socialized,' academically underprepared and more concerned about not being 'mentally ready' for college."</p><p>Research on how students adjust to college from 22 campuses and 29,611 students differentiated students by experience rather than presumed identity. Students were encouraged to <a href="https://www.futurity.org/belonging-in-college-2918732-2/" target="_blank">read other students' stories of finding a "belonging place" and compare those experiences to their own</a>. The authors of the study indicated that "sharing a hopeful way to think about belonging (planting a 'high-quality seed') will make a difference" only if it falls on fertile soil - meaning that the comparative experience is honest and truly possible.</p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 25, 25); color: #1a1919; font-family: NeuzeitOffice-Regular; font-size: 12pt;">But if the soil is inhospitable for a given group</span>Having implemented an exhaustive evaluation of Maryland's orientation each year when I led the program, I know how difficult it is to respond to the nuance of student experience. However, the research indicates that orienting new students is central to all students' experience, regardless of type of institution or student background. Experience from the international campuses of Education City in Qatar indicates that the importance of orientation is no less important in settings outside of the U.S.A.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-17194150130886600362023-07-26T07:52:00.002-07:002023-07-26T11:39:48.513-07:00ACE takes back the Higher Education Research Institute<p>When <a href="https://seis.ucla.edu/news/alexander-sandy-astin-1932--2022" target="_blank">Dr. Alexander Astin</a> worked for ACE, he created one of, if not the most, influential longitudinal research projects in higher education with the Freshmen Survey. Astin left ACE to go to UCLA and took HERI with him but now, after his death in 2022, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/2023/07/26/american-council-education-join-ucla-managing-freshman-survey?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=17727f998e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-17727f998e-198574017&mc_cid=17727f998e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">ACE is taking back HERI</a>. The return of HERI to ACE makes sense in many ways, especially given ACE's desire to serve as a hub of research to inform policy and practice. However, moving research to "ACE, which is a membership organization that advocates (or lobbies, though its officials dislike that term) on behalf of colleges and universities," could well risk the possibility of skewed research that primarily benefits its members.</p><p>Sandy Astin's legacy is profound and has benefited institutions, families, and students for decades. Ironically, when I entered Colorado State University in 1966, I was likely in the first sample to take the Freshmen Survey. As my professional career in higher education emerged, I used the HERI surveys at multiple institutions and was fortunate to form a friendship with Sandy, and his wife Lena, through the work on the <a href="https://www.heri.ucla.edu/PDFs/pubs/ASocialChangeModelofLeadershipDevelopment.pdf" target="_blank">Social Change Model of Leadership Development</a>. The Astin's influenced higher education in untold ways and hopefully the HERI move to ACE will honor that legacy.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-90603029581684646392023-07-03T13:48:00.040-07:002024-03-11T06:45:09.101-07:00Supreme Court strikes down Affirmative Action<p>It was no surprise when the Supreme Court judgement against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina's "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/06/29/supreme-court-rules-against-affirmative-action?mc_cid=0960cf26c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">ended affirmative action</a>." Their finding asserted that considering race in admissions decisions violated the 14th Amendment - equal protection under the law. Those who opposed affirmative action celebrated while <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/06/30/advocates-celebrate-ruling-striking-down-race-conscious?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8b565d1177-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8b565d1177-198574017&mc_cid=8b565d1177&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">diversity advocates were already looking for ways to consider criteria related to disadvantages</a> prospective students faced before attempting to enter higher education. Some even suggest that the Supreme Court's action could help return affirmative action to its <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/11/27/could-reparations-replace-race-conscious-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e9f15226c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e9f15226c-198574017&mc_cid=8e9f15226c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">core purpose - reparations in admissions</a>. The irony is that the strategy examined in the case, the "Harvard Plan," purported to offer opportunity to prospects of broader socio-economic means but it most likely <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/31/selective-admissions-trial-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b0f5862ebc-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b0f5862ebc-198574017&mc_cid=b0f5862ebc&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">couldn't be applied at institutions of lesser means</a>. In the end, a Brookings Institute study concluded that the Supreme Court decision won't have much impact because most <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/08/affirmative-action-ban-wont-impact-most-admissions-report?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=74a3bfc4f3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-74a3bfc4f3-198574017&mc_cid=74a3bfc4f3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students of diverse cultural backgrounds don't enroll at elite institutions</a> anyway.</p><p>As institutions <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/29/ohio-colleges-reassess-legality-race-based-scholarships?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">reassessed the legality of race-based scholarships</a>, understanding the prohibition of affirmative action was muddied when the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/05/supreme-court-declines-west-point-affirmative-action-case?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=46a21283e4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-46a21283e4-198574017&mc_cid=46a21283e4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Supreme Court declined to consider a case brought against West Point</a>. Included in the decision was the majority opinion offered by Chief Justice Roberts that "potentially distinct interests" could be a rationale for considering race in academy applicant selection. The West Point decision was followed by the Supreme Court passing on a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/02/22/supreme-court-passes-another-affirmative-action-case?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b14c42eae-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b14c42eae-198574017&mc_cid=9b14c42eae&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Virginia case alleging discrimination at a magnet school</a>.</p><p>There was pervasive confusion after the Supreme Court decision on Affirmative action but the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/15/biden-administration-issues-guidance-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bf83eb39b7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bf83eb39b7-198574017&mc_cid=bf83eb39b7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Biden administrations guidance</a> began to chart a way forward. The real parameters of the Supreme Court decision were anything but clear, with some educators <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/17/what-affirmative-action-decision-means-beyond-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=734dd9dc5a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-734dd9dc5a-198574017&mc_cid=734dd9dc5a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">fearing that the decision would be pushed into more than just admissions decisions</a>, resulting in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/09/are-colleges-overcorrecting-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=81a5bd119d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-81a5bd119d-198574017&mc_cid=81a5bd119d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">over-correction that the affirmative action decision didn't justify</a>. A <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/20/affirmative-action-lawsuits-return-vengeance?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=68f1db193f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-68f1db193f-198574017&mc_cid=68f1db193f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">"new blitz" of lawsuits</a> based on the Supreme Court decision will continue to stir up many questions of what the decision actually meant. The question is if the assertion that race-based decision making is <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/09/are-colleges-overcorrecting-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d5165f9a0c-AdmissionsInsider_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d5165f9a0c-198574017&mc_cid=d5165f9a0c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">exploitation or over-correction</a>. The University of North Carolina chose to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/31/unc-board-changes-admissions-hiring-policies-race?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b0f5862ebc-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b0f5862ebc-198574017&mc_cid=b0f5862ebc&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">extend the Supreme Court's judgement to hiring practices</a>. <i>Inside Higher Education </i>compiled "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/20/booklet-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cacb816726-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cacb816726-198574017&mc_cid=cacb816726&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">The Ruling Explained</a>..." to assist educators as they sorted out the implications of the Supreme Court decision while l<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/29/legislators-and-regulators-duel-affirmative-actions-wake?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9700bfb621-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9700bfb621-198574017&mc_cid=9700bfb621&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">egislators and regulators continued to squabble</a> over the practical implications.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-outlines-strategies-increase-diversity-and-opportunity-higher-education" target="_blank">Biden-Harris Administration stayed stalwart</a> in providing ways to sustain access and inclusion in higher education. "This work builds upon the historic efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure all students have the opportunity to access higher education, including securing a historic increase in the Pell Grant, fixing the broken student loan system, and supporting HBCUs, MSIs, and community colleges." <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/socioeconomics/2023/10/17/survey-two-three-college-presidents-oppose-affirmative?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fa7eab00b3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fa7eab00b3-198574017&mc_cid=fa7eab00b3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Presidents of higher education institutions broadly condemned the Supreme Court's decision</a> and predicted steep declines in enrollment of under-represented students. However, 86% believe that their institutions will maintain their current diversity of enrollment. Public opinion is a different matter with <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/68-percent-americans-say-ban-on-race-conscious-admissions-is-mostly-good-gallup/704666/" target="_blank">68% of Americans believing that eliminating affirmative action was a positive change</a>.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Students for Fair Admissions, the group that launched the Harvard and UNC lawsuit, sent an email notice to 150 public and private institutions </span><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/07/13/demands-students-fair-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c5c040f205-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c5c040f205-198574017&mc_cid=c5c040f205&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">directing them to comply with the Supreme Court's findings.</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Higher education associations publicly challenged the assertions of the communication with David Hawkins, chief education and policy officer of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, saying that colleges and universities should not rely on SFFA for guidance but turn to their own legal counsel and governance bodies. </span><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/07/affirmative-action-ruling-sparks-concerns-about?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5fa315bf03-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5fa315bf03-198574017&mc_cid=5fa315bf03&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">"Interpretive overreach"</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> could result in more drastic limitations for institutions striving to increase diversity on their campuses. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">The president of UNC's carefully worded statement indicates </span><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/10/unc-responds-supreme-court-ruling?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e20138ed8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e20138ed8-198574017&mc_cid=8e20138ed8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">intent to comply with the Supreme Court ruling while still serving the diversity</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"> of the state's citizens. When <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/25/admissions-officers-congregate-chart-course-forward?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b8fb4058b0-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b8fb4058b0-198574017&mc_cid=b8fb4058b0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">admissions staff and college placement counselors</a> met, conversations focused largely on how to retain commitments to diversity while responding to the Supreme Court's ruling.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/07/yale-affirmative-action-case-dropped-stipulations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=89642a95c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-89642a95c5-198574017&mc_cid=89642a95c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Yale University avoided litigation </a>of its affirmative action case by Students for Fair Admissions. Agreement between litigants and the University included adding training to prevent preferential use of race in admissions decisions; disallowing access to prospects' racial identity, prohibition of creating reports that include racial profiles of the student population, and ensuring that race in not included in financial aid determinations. Yale also added new measures to expand outreach and create more of a sense of belonging among students.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">The </span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/affirmative-action-ruling-students-reaction-rcna87061" target="_blank">first class to be recruited after overturning affirmative action</a><span style="color: #333333;"> is struggling with what they now have as options. </span><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/race-ethnicity/2023/07/12/affirmative-action-ends-hbcus-wait-or-prepare?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f017ec2912-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f017ec2912-198574017&mc_cid=f017ec2912&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">HBCUs anticipate that applications may surge </a><span style="color: #333333;">as students from minoritized backgrounds consider their higher education futures. In addition, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/24/what-affirmative-action-ban-means-summer-programs?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=60201bd617-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-60201bd617-198574017&mc_cid=60201bd617&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">summer preparation programs for minoritized students</a> may now be targeted as the Supreme Court's affirmative action decision ripples through higher education. One way of avoiding reference to race is to highlight <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/socioeconomics/2023/08/03/varied-definitions-first-generation-confuse-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=624e67e6cb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-624e67e6cb-198574017&mc_cid=624e67e6cb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">first-generation </a>status, which acknowledges systemic blocks to access and class.</span></span></p><p>The new criteria for "disadvantage" is likely to be some indication of socio-economic status. In fact, minoritized groups in the U.S.A. for the most part make significantly less than white citizens. Minoritized groups also cluster in residential areas so that a prospective students' zip code could even be an indication that an applicant is from a diverse background. So, race or color would be the driving force but would be incidental to a student's economic background or place of residence. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/01/08/gauging-feasibility-class-based-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=93b43c1294-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-93b43c1294-198574017&mc_cid=93b43c1294&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Addressing economic status or "class"</a> to offer more educational opportunity beyond privileged populations could be challenging. For those who thought that preferences for athletes helped minority students, it actually <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/24/end-admissions-preferences-athletes-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=60201bd617-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-60201bd617-198574017&mc_cid=60201bd617&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">advantages students from high-income families</a> to a much larger degree. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/09/18/preferences-wealthy-applicants-are-shameful-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5a94907fcb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5a94907fcb-198574017&mc_cid=5a94907fcb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Access for wealthy students</a> has increased in general across many institutions. In addition, youth sports corruption "turned play into one more scramble for advantage" that resulted in early identification with specific sports and "devastating physical injuries and emotional despair."</p><p>Economic status as an indication of hardship happens to also be related to another issue in higher education as the cost of attendance has risen over the last 50 years - taking out loans to attend college. Again, the Supreme Court blocked the path to leveling the financial playing field by <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/06/30/supreme-court-blocks-bidens-debt-relief-plan?mc_cid=c1473d87ca&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">overturning President Biden's debt-relief plan</a>. Of course taking out a loan to attend college isn't always done by low socio-economic status students. Privileged families have been known to take out loans for college attendance as a form of "cheap" cash flow. The difference, poor students are challenged to pay back their loans and privileged families jot off a quick check when the loan terms are no longer advantageous. The Biden administration immediately <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/06/30/supreme-court-blocks-bidens-debt-relief-plan?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8268880e6b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8268880e6b-198574017&mc_cid=8268880e6b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">forged ahead with a debt-relief plan</a> to address the debt of lower income students and families, but <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/08/24/biden-still-fighting-student-loan-forgiveness?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=dfe3e5fd73-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-dfe3e5fd73-198574017&mc_cid=dfe3e5fd73&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">other measures are likely to emerge as Biden continues</a> to push for meaningful strategies to help relieve debt.</p><p>The law suit filed July 3, 2023, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/05/groups-file-complaint-about-harvards-legacy-admissions-policy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8268880e6b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8268880e6b-198574017&mc_cid=8268880e6b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">challenges legacy admissions at Harvard University</a>, where 70% of its donor-related or alumni applicants are white. The legal challenge appears to be solidly on popular ground since the <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4104037-majority-of-college-students-do-not-support-legacy-admissions-survey/" target="_blank">majority of students oppose the advantage granted to legacies</a>, with s<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/08/data-show-admissions-gap-between-white-and-asian-applicants?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2c77182777-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2c77182777-198574017&mc_cid=2c77182777&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">tudents of Asian backgrounds perhaps most profoundly impacted.</a> The law suit asserts, and a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/26/would-ending-legacy-admissions-improve-elite-college?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=17727f998e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-17727f998e-198574017&mc_cid=17727f998e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">recent report by Harvard researchers</a> confirms, that legacy priority is essentially another form of affirmative action based on one's connections and family heritage, a reality confirmed by three <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/12/three-calif-universities-admitted-legacy-applicants-who?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f017ec2912-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f017ec2912-198574017&mc_cid=f017ec2912&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">California private institutions that admitted unqualified legacy applicants</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/31/wesleyan-president-discusses-why-he-ended-legacy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b0f5862ebc-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b0f5862ebc-198574017&mc_cid=b0f5862ebc&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Wesleyan was the first to abandon</a> legacy admissions, a practice its president opposed for years. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/20/wesleyan-joins-institutions-ending-legacy-preferences?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cacb816726-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cacb816726-198574017&mc_cid=cacb816726&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">reversals at Amherst, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, Wesleyan, University of Minnesota</a>, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/28/occidental-college-ends-legacy-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cefed8e63d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cefed8e63d-198574017&mc_cid=cefed8e63d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Occidental College</a>, and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/01/virginia-tech-ends-legacy-admissions-and-early-decision?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4df11a0b8d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4df11a0b8d-198574017&mc_cid=4df11a0b8d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Virginia Tech</a> continued to dismantle the six times more likely admission of legacies at the most elite institutions. The University of Virginia moved its legacy window to the essay prompt "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/03/uva-alters-doesnt-end-legacy-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=624e67e6cb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-624e67e6cb-198574017&mc_cid=624e67e6cb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">personal or historic connection to UVA</a>" and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/01/29/state-bans-legacy-preferences-gain-bipartisan-steam?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f04137caf6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f04137caf6-198574017&mc_cid=f04137caf6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">legislation subsequently proposed the elimination</a> of legacy admissions at all state institutions, a move confirmed by the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/31/virginia-house-joins-senate-banning-legacy-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5e5021ec10-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5e5021ec10-198574017&mc_cid=5e5021ec10&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Virginia House</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/11/virginia-bans-legacy-preferences-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bad5ed97c4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bad5ed97c4-198574017&mc_cid=bad5ed97c4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">signed into law</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/07/wake-forest-launches-first-gen-early-action-option?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5fa315bf03-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5fa315bf03-198574017&mc_cid=5fa315bf03&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Wake Forest University devised another strategy</a> to encourage early action for first-generation students. As Raj Chetty, one of the authors of a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/24/paper-says-highly-competitive-private-could-diversify-student-bodies?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=249ab11c2a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-249ab11c2a-198574017&mc_cid=249ab11c2a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Harvard study of admissions at elite universities</a> said, "The key point is that we don't need to put a thumb on the scale in favor of the poor. We just need to take the thumb that we - perhaps inadvertently - have on the scale in favor of the rich."</p><p>The Supreme Court striking down affirmative action has opened a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/14/breathing-new-life-legacy-admissions-legislation?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6c781e3369-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6c781e3369-198574017&mc_cid=6c781e3369&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">flood-gate of legislation to end legacy admissions</a> and <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/legacy-admissions-donor-end-cardona-education-department-elizabeth-warren/691054/" target="_blank">Senators Markey, Warren, and Sanders urged the Education Department to end legacy admission</a>. The reality is that legacy preference has been challenged before and survived. Some defenders of <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/education/4144869-legacy-admissions-are-crucial-to-americas-higher-education-dominance/" target="_blank">legacy admission claim that it adds to the sense of community</a> unique to U.S. institutions that contributes to alumni loyalty and generous giving.</p><p>The Harvard and UNC case and the challenge to legacy admission confronts the very interesting juxtaposition between the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/05/affirmative-action-and-myth-merit-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8268880e6b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8268880e6b-198574017&mc_cid=8268880e6b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">myth of merit</a> and the myth that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/14/racial-threat-and-affirmative-action-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d5165f9a0c-AdmissionsInsider_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d5165f9a0c-198574017&mc_cid=d5165f9a0c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">affirmative action has been harmful to Asian Americans</a>, pitting Asian American against African American prospects. Unfortunately for Asian and Asian American prospective students at elite institutions, many families and students have largely <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/05/scotus-decision-not-win-asian-americans-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8268880e6b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8268880e6b-198574017&mc_cid=8268880e6b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">bought into the idea that merit is measurable</a> and related to a specific set of abilities. As a demonstration of the impact of what is perceived to be "measurable merit," research from five admissions cycles beginning in 2015 demonstrated that <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/asian-american-students-admissions-disadvantage-white-students/690152/" target="_blank">considering only standardized scores and extracurricular activities</a> would result in substantial increases in the number of East Asian and South Asian admits. Some critiques opine that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/07/10/education-privilege-laundering-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e20138ed8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e20138ed8-198574017&mc_cid=8e20138ed8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">merit is no more than image, reputation, and social ties</a> that is constructed by students and then sanctioned through admission to elite institutions. Grinnell College's vice president for student enrollment asserted that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/07/equity-based-defense-legacy-admissions-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5fa315bf03-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5fa315bf03-198574017&mc_cid=5fa315bf03&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">legacy admission at high-resourced institutions helped fund scholarship</a> for diverse students. Whether the Supreme Court will eventually take up legacy privilege will be interesting since it directly addresses the core issue of affirmative action - ability to pay for educational advantage that comes with a hefty economic benefit.</p><p>Some educators are already talking about the importance of the essay in college applications, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/07/10/will-essay-prompts-get-students-after-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8e20138ed8-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8e20138ed8-198574017&mc_cid=8e20138ed8&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">the essay providing a way for applicants to assert life experience</a> as central to their higher education aspirations. David Hawkins of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling advised, "so long as the methods and assessments are race-neutral, colleges should feel free to continue their efforts to derive contextual information from essays and interviews as part of the college application process." The essay can include anything, including identity struggles, hardship, and other disadvantages. The essay may help truly disadvantaged applicants but we can anticipate that college admissions coaches (who are paid handsomely by privileged families) will soon be creating ways to claim how difficult life is when the student has experienced the sheltered existence of a private school or a neighborhood dominated by students who are better in sports, music, or other ventures a student would have liked to pursue. My humble opinion is that this is leading to some very bad places and it's thanks to a Supreme Court that evidently didn't think through the full implications of their decision.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-45735797024332567162023-06-09T06:38:00.001-07:002023-06-09T06:38:30.695-07:00Iran struggles with too many college graduates<p>Iran has a unique challenge as it responds to "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2023/06/09/blind-growth-irans-universities-blamed-high-unemployment-rates?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3f806a537d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3f806a537d-198574017&mc_cid=3f806a537d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">blind growth</a>" of its universities that has resulted in mass unemployment. Estimates are that one million college graduates are presently unemployed, which undermines the common view of degrees providing enhanced career opportunity. Secondarily, having a large number of more highly educated and employed citizens can result in political unrest that would be a threat to governmental officials. Although Iran is not aligned with other regional governments, its citizens can be quite cosmopolitan and could seek immigration to Gulf and other Islamic countries, which would result in a brain-drain to Iran.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-41727547045097908162023-06-02T10:30:00.003-07:002023-12-21T10:58:53.230-08:00International educators meet in 2023<p>The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2023/06/02/meeting-international-educators-anxiety-clouds?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1a4d68effd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1a4d68effd-198574017&mc_cid=1a4d68effd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023 meeting of NAFSA (National Association of Foreign Student Advisors)</a> drew a big crowd in Washington, D.C. - 8,500 in all! The meeting attendance potentially marked coming back from the devastation of the pandemic. Reports of those who attended varied from hopeful to cautious.</p><p>Concerns included the reduction of funding for international programs, recruitment in particular, and continuing geopolitical tensions that influence students' willingness to travel or live in a host country. Issues such as these are addressed by individual campuses, with great variation in strategy and success, and leaders of NAFSA want the U.S. to agree to a national strategy around which all institutions can then rally.</p><p>The international attendees have been dominated by representatives from China in recent years. 2023 saw a continued decline in Chinese delegates being replaced by multiple countries; those leading the shift include India, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Viet Nam. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/06/07/chinese-universities-make-steep-tuition-increases?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=07d7d1110b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-07d7d1110b-198574017&mc_cid=07d7d1110b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Hefty increases of attending Chinese universities</a> could turn into a disincentive to stay in-country for higher education. Chinese students and scholars are still dominant in U.S. institutions even though there is growing <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/14/house-republicans-worry-about-chinas-influence-colleges?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=48063e8212-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-48063e8212-198574017&mc_cid=48063e8212&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">ambivalence in the face of Republican and Democrat concerns about Chinese competition</a> for economic and political prominence.</p><p>International education is also a two-way street, with U.S. students' choices in study abroad an important factor. Although numbers are increasing, U.S. study abroad has not rebounded from pre-pandemic levels. A variety of reasons contribute to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/study-abroad/2023/12/21/study-abroad-americans-all-absent-china?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8dbd5cf801-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8dbd5cf801-198574017&mc_cid=8dbd5cf801&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">U.S. students not studying in China</a> in large numbers. While diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China are strained, there are hopes that U.S. students will increasingly take the chance on China as an enriching international education experience.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-59660501879403646962023-05-19T07:13:00.007-07:002024-03-08T07:34:12.935-08:00Study abroad exploitation and enhancement<p>Study abroad opportunity is touted as one of the most powerful and coveted of educational experiences, yet who is able to participate, how it is marketed, and the content of learning when in a distant location can turn the experience into one of perpetuating ignorance and exploitation. While <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/05/19/avoiding-curricular-pitfalls-study-abroad?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fe55715ad6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fe55715ad6-198574017&mc_cid=fe55715ad6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Liz Bucar's commentary on the popular study abroad experience</a> she offered (Camino del Santiago in Spain) doesn't raise questions unfamiliar to discerning internationalists, it provides a very real example of how faculty can naively participate in cultural appropriation and perpetuate cultural myth. Bucar addressed how she would redesign the experience with the insights she has gained saying, "I plan to redesign my Camino program in a way that puts acknowledging exploitation at the center of the experience..." and "would be clear about its social justice objectives, insist on taking diversity seriously as a source of values and be willing to make students uncomfortable."</p><p>Having designed and taught in an undergraduate study abroad program, hosted graduate study abroad while working in Qatar (including Harvard University's School of Law), and created a joint "inquiry learning" initiative that involved participants from Qatar and three U.S. institutions, I offer a hearty "AMEN" to Bucar's essay. Eighteen years and many attempts later, the journey to truly transformative and respectful study abroad has included resistance, sad failures, and spectacular success.</p><p>Bucar's final comment is that she finally adopted a commitment to something that includes "much more ambitious goals than cultural competence." This last statement is particularly interesting since cultural competence is often referenced as one of the core outcomes of good study abroad. AMEN again! Cultural competence is important but study abroad that does not exploit has to accept the fact that a group of visitors are showing up in a foreign location, often ostentatiously displaying their privilege, and viewing their experience through the lens of superiority. Humility and curiosity have to be the starting place for any study abroad experience and both are <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/teaching/2023/07/12/fostering-intercultural-competence-among-diverse-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f017ec2912-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f017ec2912-198574017&mc_cid=f017ec2912&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">central to fostering intercultural competence</a>. Core to infusing humility is learning how student and faculty life experiences are part of systems and narratives that perpetuate myth and judgment.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/11/20/u-delaware-grows-international-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d54e26ea93-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d54e26ea93-198574017&mc_cid=d54e26ea93&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University of Delaware's World Scholars program</a> is an example of placing expectations on study abroad that include the commitment to do it, preparation by complementing international students' experiences, and by being purposeful when the student is abroad. The program includes 100-150 students who are "open-minded to other cultures and experiences, resilient, independent and mature, plus has shown commitment to other activities, present and past, and wants to contribute as a member of the World Scholars community." Since the program began in 2015, over 1,000 students have participated and the last cohort includes 33% minority students!</p><p>A central point related to exploitation in study abroad is who gets to participate. Students who study abroad are disproportionately female, white, and privileged. If the experience is one of the best higher education has to offer, then why would institutions and programs not strive to make it equally available to all? When it comes to faculty opportunity, the Fulbright program has been around since the 1940s and funded by taxpayers, yet it has an elite reputation and has <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/institutions/community-colleges/2023/05/31/push-more-community-college-fulbright-scholars?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1ea0eb428a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1ea0eb428a-198574017&mc_cid=1ea0eb428a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">excluded faculty at community colleges</a> throughout the decades. Another twist on the Fulbright award is where scholars go. For example, the Trump administration pulled China from the list of approved countries, which Biden did not reverse. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/03/08/us-should-encourage-americans-study-china-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8cd451b975-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8cd451b975-198574017&mc_cid=8cd451b975&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Sanctioning study in China</a> and other countries with which the U.S. disagrees seems in the spirit of promoting positive academic diplomacy. The elite brand of Fulbright is both a perceptual and real barrier to access, not unlike the "European tour" of the children of 19th century "Gilded Age" children. That privilege is a control of how students think about study abroad is a type of exploitation in itself.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-33900087682096068182023-05-12T07:14:00.062-07:002024-03-18T06:37:12.697-07:002023-24 enrollment predictions<p>Unless higher education can somehow convince the public to insist on more state allocations to help stem the rise in tuition, enrollment uncertainty will continue into next year and probably beyond. A survey of admissions directors indicated that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/18/breaking-down-inside-higher-eds-annual-admissions-survey?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5a94907fcb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5a94907fcb-198574017&mc_cid=5a94907fcb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">over half missed their enrollment targets for 2023</a>. Other trends reflected in the survey are that overturning affirmative action will lead to less diversity, recruitment strategies are moving toward attracting transfers, and the number of test optional institutions is increasing.</p><p>There was some recovery from the pandemic dip but <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/revenue-strategies/2023/05/12/grasping-foothold-enrollment-cliff" target="_blank">Doug Shapiro of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center</a> indicates that enrollment numbers stabilized at a level <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/05/24/leveling-bottom?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e5a904df1a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e5a904df1a-198574017&mc_cid=e5a904df1a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">1.2 million lower than in 2019</a>. Some thought that the class that should have entered in 2020 would bolster <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/09/20/lost-generation-high-school-graduates-skipped-college?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=68f1db193f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-68f1db193f-198574017&mc_cid=68f1db193f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">post-pandemic numbers were very low</a>. A study by EAB of 20,000 high school graduates in 2023 complicating projections when it found that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/06/12/why-students-opt-out-college?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8f4624a2fb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8f4624a2fb-198574017&mc_cid=8f4624a2fb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">20% potentially planned to opt out of college</a> attendance for a variety of reasons.</p><p>Early reports were that the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/10/26/undergraduate-enrollment-first-time-2020?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a764bae25f-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a764bae25f-198574017&mc_cid=a764bae25f&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023 undergraduate enrollment would be 2.1 percent higher</a>, the first increase since 2020. Later reports indicated that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/retention/2024/01/24/enrollment-rising-first-time-pandemic?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e666751f00-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e666751f00-198574017&mc_cid=e666751f00&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023 enrollment was up only 1.2 percent</a> with community colleges experiencing the largest increases. The bad news about the numbers is that, although total enrollment increased, first-year enrollment declined and the drop was most pronounced among white students at four-year institutions with more selective admissions standards. Might the Common App have helped? Fourteen institutions tried direct admission in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/11/06/common-app-expands-direct-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fec39059bb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fec39059bb-198574017&mc_cid=fec39059bb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023-24, admitting approximately 30,000 students</a> who were from more diverse backgrounds. With this success, the Common App is further expanding in 2024.</p><p>Although early <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/11/16/early-admissions-data-show-big-bump-applications?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9df5e3b826-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9df5e3b826-198574017&mc_cid=9df5e3b826&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">indications of 2024-25 applications show stronger resurgence</a> and, recruitment strategies will have to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/12/18/how-will-years-big-admissions-changes-shape-2024?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bca40db68e-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bca40db68e-198574017&mc_cid=bca40db68e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">address a number of complicating factors</a>. Applications for <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/01/18/report-minority-applicants-increase-post-affirmative-action?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c95ea11db2-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c95ea11db2-198574017&mc_cid=c95ea11db2&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Black and Latino students increased by 12% and 13%</a>, confirming the speculation that numbers would increase if the process is simplified. The unfortunate flip side of recruitment is that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/28/black-hispanic-students-greatest-risk-dropping-out?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e787c82697-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e787c82697-198574017&mc_cid=e787c82697&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Black and Latino students are more likely to drop out</a> during their studies, resulting in a revolver door or entry and departure. Early applications coupled with early decisions are likely to yield the best enrollment figures so institutions will be scrambling to make sure they are at the party. Some campuses are <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/11/28/recruiters-move-out-state-woo-nonresident-applicants?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b818bf5c6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b818bf5c6-198574017&mc_cid=9b818bf5c6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">reaching far beyond their former geographic boundaries</a> to secure their numbers. While increases are possible for some institutions, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/19/early-applications-harvard-drop-substantially?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2a8056715b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2a8056715b-198574017&mc_cid=2a8056715b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Harvard reported a drop of 17% in the number of early applications</a>, reflecting a number of challenges to its elite reputation.</p><p>My summary of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/revenue-strategies/2023/05/12/grasping-foothold-enrollment-cliff" target="_blank">enrollment trends in 2022-23</a> provided the roadmap that brought higher education to this point. The path was strewn with issues of declining confidence in higher education, pushback on tuition expenses, emergence of alternative credentialing, diversification of prospective students, and economic recovery that includes abundant employment opportunity.</p><p>College rankings are frequently factored into prospective students' decisions and they are viewed with glee or disdain by college/university PR departments. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/22/us-news-rankings-changes-spur-complaints-and-apologies?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=931c6ff861-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-931c6ff861-198574017&mc_cid=931c6ff861&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023 rankings reordered some institutions</a> based on a new measure of graduates' social mobility. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/09/why-new-us-news-rankings-are-flawed-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ee64291f3a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ee64291f3a-198574017&mc_cid=ee64291f3a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Vanderbilt University, one of the elites that dropped</a> in ranking, criticized the new methodology and encouraged other universities to consider whether or not they would continue to participate in the U.S. News process. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/09/vanderbilts-criticism-us-news-tone-deaf-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=ee64291f3a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-ee64291f3a-198574017&mc_cid=ee64291f3a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Jim Jump, past-president of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, suggested that Vandy over-reacted </a>and said that ranking of institutions should be about treatment effect rather than selection effect (attributed to Malcom Blackwell). The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2024/02/16/world-universityreputation-rankings-2023-results-announced?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2121e8f6ef-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2121e8f6ef-198574017&mc_cid=2121e8f6ef&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">2023 World University reputation rankings</a> reflected significant improvement in international presence, a change perhaps attributable to internationalization partnerships.</p><p>While <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/2023/09/13/us-news-not-behemoth-one-might-think?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=dc84600013-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-dc84600013-198574017&mc_cid=dc84600013&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students no longer place as much value in college rankings</a> they are still a factor about which institutions worry. Selective colleges able to increase numbers by playing to the rankings and reputation are not backing off. For example, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/retention/2023/08/02/tight-housing-middlebury-offers-students-10k-stay-away?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a6737b2cb1-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a6737b2cb1-198574017&mc_cid=a6737b2cb1&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Middlebury College's excess enrollment led to $10,000 payments to students</a> if they wait a year to come to campus and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/11/regional-colleges-target-students-neighboring-states?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=61d624b6d6-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-61d624b6d6-198574017&mc_cid=61d624b6d6&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">regional colleges are targeting students across state lines</a> to bolster shrinking enrollment.</p><p>Beyond college rankings, institutions are targeting prospects in increasingly focused niches. Examples include <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/12/04/small-colleges-bet-new-sports-boost-enrollment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d99bcb568b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d99bcb568b-198574017&mc_cid=d99bcb568b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">small colleges targeting athletes by creating new sports programs</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/12/11/rise-non-need-merit-aid-raises-equity-concerns?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5c08dd84a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5c08dd84a-198574017&mc_cid=b5c08dd84a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">"merit" scholarships that are competitive pricing strategie</a>s by another name. If there is increased revenue, the key will be if the costs of new programs will be covered and result in a net gain. New programs and competitive pricing is likely a contributing factor to the Fitch Ratings Outlook for Higher Education predicting that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/05/fitch-pressures-higher-ed-intensify?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f980845b7d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f980845b7d-198574017&mc_cid=f980845b7d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">less selective colleges and regional universities may have rough water ahead.</a> The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/11/sp-global-projects-mixed-outlook-higher-ed-2024?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5c08dd84a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5c08dd84a-198574017&mc_cid=b5c08dd84a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">S&P Global ratings reinforced</a> similar mixed projections.</p><p><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/06/05/can-our-campuses-reinvent-themselves-face-new-realities?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=07f6681452-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-07f6681452-198574017&mc_cid=07f6681452&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz' "what if" list</a> offers questions to ponder as campuses strive to reinvent themselves to be competitive now and in the future. My view is that higher education in the U.S.A. will thrive only if it addresses the following trends:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Higher education institutions begin to consider the unique niches, shared welfare, and purpose of all higher education as an ecosystem instead of more <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/institutions/regional-public-universities/2023/07/28/fraught-route-forward-regional?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cefed8e63d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cefed8e63d-198574017&mc_cid=cefed8e63d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">elite institutions poaching prospects</a> from those with lesser reputations.</li><li>Diverse motivations of prospective students, especially <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/opinion-despite-public-skepticism-higher-education-can-still-change-lives-for-generations-to-come/" target="_blank">first-generation students from diverse backgrounds</a>, are not only recognized but affirmed.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2023/07/28/house-subcommittee-explores-how-lower-cost-college?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cefed8e63d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cefed8e63d-198574017&mc_cid=cefed8e63d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">pushback of those who criticize higher education is acknowledged</a> and addressed in constructive ways.</li><li>Governmental support returns as an outcome of recognizing <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/careers/2023/08/30/study-shows-higher-ed-linked-kinder-healthier-citizens?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=45bbff9ce7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-45bbff9ce7-198574017&mc_cid=45bbff9ce7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">numerous other positive gains for college graduates</a>, reinforcing both a private benefit and a public good.</li></ul><div>The cost of higher education rose over the last 50+ years, resulting in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/18/new-analysis-finds-most-families-cant-cover-college-costs?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2e94ac2f4e-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2e94ac2f4e-198574017&mc_cid=2e94ac2f4e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">many families not having the funds required for their children to pursue higher education</a>. The real cost of attending university is sometimes difficult to determine and legislation is emerging to require <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2023/06/07/college-financial-transparency-legislation-gains-ground?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=07d7d1110b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-07d7d1110b-198574017&mc_cid=07d7d1110b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">greater truth/transparency related to expenses</a>. The <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/petermcpherson/2023/11/27/higher-education-is-taking-important-steps-on-cost-transparency/?sh=16575682708a" target="_blank">College Transparency Initiative, joined by 500+ institutions</a>, launched to help prospective students understand real costs of attendance. Tuition discounting has contributed to the confusion about cost, resulting in a new trend in private colleges (<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/28/time-get-real-about-tuition-and-discounting-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=dab84b1c11-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-dab84b1c11-198574017&mc_cid=dab84b1c11&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Bridgewater College</a>) rolling back tuition to reflect more accurately the cost of attendance. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/revenue-strategies/2023/09/15/amid-skepticism-colleges-value-tuition-resets-keep?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=763ae2213c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-763ae2213c-198574017&mc_cid=763ae2213c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Rolling back tuition is a risky deal</a> when only a few institutions do it, but the trend has accelerated. The impact of tuition roll-backs may have an <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/tuition-resets-new-research-does-it-work/695811/" target="_blank">immediate positive impact but then dissipate</a>. One study found that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/revenue-strategies/2023/10/12/after-tuition-resets-regional-colleges-see-biggest?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1f278e7a40-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1f278e7a40-198574017&mc_cid=1f278e7a40&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">regional institutions benefitted</a> from tuition resets while more nationally visible ones did not. The reality of tuition discounting and scholarships is that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/09/05/colleges-own-aid-choices-blame-inequities-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=772d031e1b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-772d031e1b-198574017&mc_cid=772d031e1b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">aid isn't getting to the students with the greatest financial need</a>. Intentionality is key and is demonstrated by the NYTimes analysis of which universities have <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/socioeconomics/2023/09/11/progress-backsliding-economic-diversity-selective-colleges?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0f04f35db1-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0f04f35db1-198574017&mc_cid=0f04f35db1&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">increased or decreased in proportion of Pell Grant students</a>. Fortunately, while cost is important, prospective <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/financial-aid/2023/11/08/cost-attendance-one-many-college-decision-influences?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=74a3bfc4f3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-74a3bfc4f3-198574017&mc_cid=74a3bfc4f3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">students still focus much of their attention on the actual collegiate experience</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The early drafts of the <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/gainful-employment-disclosure-website-regulations-biden/654378/" target="_blank">Education Department's "gainful employment"</a> model worried some educational leaders. When the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/09/27/education-department-finalizes-gainful-employment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d04dd41a4e-BNU_20230517_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d04dd41a4e-198574017&mc_cid=d04dd41a4e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">guidelines were published,</a> they included warnings to students who enroll in programs that incur debt that they will have difficulty repaying. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/12/04/why-higher-ed-needs-be-disrupted?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d99bcb568b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d99bcb568b-198574017&mc_cid=d99bcb568b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Ryan Craig in "What's wrong with college"</a> identifies a number of factors, including misalignment of academic programs with workforce preparation, that he recommends for disruption. While <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/academic-programs/2023/11/30/employers-want-grads-exposed-diverse-viewpoints?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fc8800b9c9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fc8800b9c9-198574017&mc_cid=fc8800b9c9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">employers of graduates are broadly satisfied</a> with graduates' capabilities, including exposure to a broad spectrum of ideas and viewpoints, more than <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/academics/2024/02/22/more-half-recent-four-year-college-grads-underemployed?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b14c42eae-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b14c42eae-198574017&mc_cid=9b14c42eae&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">half of recent 4-year college graduates report being underemployed</a>. Securing an internship reduces underemployment as well as students' choosing academic areas where employment opportunity is readily available. Over the long haul, institutions are likely to need to commit to re-engage with graduates to link them to constant changes in high-demand and new occupations.</div><div><br /></div><div>With the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/teaching/2023/06/07/why-calculate-how-much-students-pay-your-class-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=07d7d1110b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-07d7d1110b-198574017&mc_cid=07d7d1110b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">average cost of instruction calculated at $23/hour</a>, instruction might become one metric students will consider. Students' perception and concerns are confirmed in surveys, one indicating that <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/506384/current-college-students-say-degree-worth-cost.aspx" target="_blank">71% of current students either agree or strongly agree that attending college is worth it</a>, but <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2023/06/22/college-worth-it-recent-analysis-says-yes?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=076c41fdad-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-076c41fdad-198574017&mc_cid=076c41fdad&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">80% perceive the benefit to be only minimal</a>. Another survey indicated that while 85% say that a higher education is important, <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/gen-z-values-college-affordability-concerns-gallup/693762/" target="_blank">only 62% of Gen Z prospects</a> plan to pursue it. Sixty-three percent of current high school students express openness to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2023/11/02/high-schoolers-skip-college-gain-job-experience?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=f980845b7d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-f980845b7d-198574017&mc_cid=f980845b7d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">another path to work opportunity</a>, one of which is <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/teaching-learning/2024/01/23/microcredentials-rise-not-colleges?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a885a6c0e0-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a885a6c0e0-198574017&mc_cid=a885a6c0e0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">microcredentialing</a> offered most often by third-party providers outside higher education. Those who have <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/applying/articles/americans-have-less-confidence-in-higher-education" target="_blank">direct experience in higher education</a> generally have greater confidence in its benefit. Justifying the cost students incur changes based on the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/2023/08/09/americans-see-value-college-question-its-price?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=81a5bd119d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-81a5bd119d-198574017&mc_cid=81a5bd119d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">perception of different outcomes</a>, expanding beyond job prospects and potential earnings to health and satisfaction with the communities where graduates live. However, the general public's confidence in higher education has <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2023/07/11/american-confidence-higher-ed-hits-historic-low?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a1bae8ed11-DNU_2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a1bae8ed11-198574017&mc_cid=a1bae8ed11&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">dropped by an alarming 20%</a> over the last 8 years, with <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/gallup-public-confidence-higher-education-sinks-2023/686056/" target="_blank">36% presently having "a great deal" or "quite a lot of confidence</a><a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/gallup-public-confidence-higher-education-sinks-2023/686056/" target="_blank"> in it.</a>"</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/07/14/inside-bidens-plan-change-how-students-pay-college?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=48063e8212-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-48063e8212-198574017&mc_cid=48063e8212&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Biden administration's SAVE initiative</a> responded to the Supreme Court decision that provided college debt relit for lower income students. With <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/07/19/bidens-backup-student-loan-relief-will-be-long-risky?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=177445a843-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-177445a843-198574017&mc_cid=177445a843&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">putting the plan into action </a>possibly taking up to a year to implement, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/20/advocacy-groups-demand-biden-immediately-cancel-student-debt?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cacb816726-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cacb816726-198574017&mc_cid=cacb816726&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">175 advocacy groups are demanding that the plan be implemented </a>as quickly as possible. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/10/12/education-department-offers-more-insights-debt-relief?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1f278e7a40-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1f278e7a40-198574017&mc_cid=1f278e7a40&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Negotiation for rules on debt relief</a> progressed by using the Higher Education Act of 1965. Countering the Biden administration efforts, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/07/14/house-republicans-plan-cut-education-departments-budget?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=48063e8212-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-48063e8212-198574017&mc_cid=48063e8212&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Republicans are planning to slash the Education Department's budge</a>t by 15% and intend to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/09/06/congressional-republicans-seek-block-income-based-loan-plan?mc_cid=a15c842342&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">block the income-based debt relief</a> strategy. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/student-aid-policy/2023/07/17/higher-ed-groups-appalled-republicans-planned-budget?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=734dd9dc5a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-734dd9dc5a-198574017&mc_cid=734dd9dc5a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Higher education groups condemned the proposed cuts</a> of funding for work study and child care subsidies for parents in college.</div><div><br /></div><div>Reports about Latino student admission and retention are mixed, and that they are missing at <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/29/report-says-latinos-underrepresented-selective-privates?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=188a759cf7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-188a759cf7-198574017&mc_cid=188a759cf7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">elite selective institutions</a>. Although common application and direct admission have increased the number of applicants, evidence indicates that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/08/23/direct-admission-boosts-applications-not-enrollment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a61fc222a5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a61fc222a5-198574017&mc_cid=a61fc222a5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">enrollment of minoritized, low-income, and first-generation students has not</a>. Census Bureau data showed positive trends in <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/05/16/rising-hispanic-enrollment-degree-attainment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e22d9ba922-DNU_2021_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e22d9ba922-198574017&mc_cid=e22d9ba922&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Hispanic students entering and completing higher education</a> but <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latino-college-completion-gap-widening-compared-white-students-rcna95105" target="_blank">Excelensia in Education found that completion rates remain low</a>. The degree to which a particular institution reflects the demographics of its immediate geographic area is not only a positive indicator of service to the community but has allowed some institutions to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/07/what-does-it-take-buck-downward-enrollment-trends?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3ae0327712-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3ae0327712-198574017&mc_cid=3ae0327712&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">buck enrollment trends during tough times</a>. California state systems universities' <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/22/calif-report-shows-investing-latino-students-benefits-enrollment?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9b14c42eae-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9b14c42eae-198574017&mc_cid=9b14c42eae&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">commitment to serving Latino students paid off</a> in increasing enrollment. With community colleges disproportionately attracting less served populations, including those of Hispanic heritage, the fact that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/confessions-community-college-dean/2023/06/12/workforce-development-and-its?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8f4624a2fb-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8f4624a2fb-198574017&mc_cid=8f4624a2fb&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">workforce development programs</a> are offered there is an important attractor. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/01/employer-university-partnerships-can-raise-latino-graduation?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cb023dba22-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cb023dba22-198574017&mc_cid=cb023dba22&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University - employer partnerships can offer an even more direct link</a> between student success and employment. The economic <a href="https://www.edsurge.com/news/2023-08-16-which-colleges-pay-off-for-low-income-students" target="_blank">pay off for low-income students</a> favors those with degrees in health and technology and graduates of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/socioeconomics/2023/08/24/minority-serving-institutions-lead-economic-mobility?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=dfe3e5fd73-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-dfe3e5fd73-198574017&mc_cid=dfe3e5fd73&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">minority-serving</a> institutions. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/institutions/community-colleges/2023/08/21/modest-growth-community-colleges-fall?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cf17b6e6a3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cf17b6e6a3-198574017&mc_cid=cf17b6e6a3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Modest increases in enrollment at community colleges</a> may reflect the recent moderation of job growth that the U.S. has experienced as well as improved retention strategies.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/05/california-researchers-suggest-tips-support-comebackers?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=46a21283e4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-46a21283e4-198574017&mc_cid=46a21283e4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">"Comebackers" are a population that may help bolster enrollment</a>. Research in California determined that those who dropped out could return to complete their degrees if certain enticements were offered. Things like waiving application and enrollment fees, credit for prior learning, flexibility in learning methods, and expanded advising for adult learners would be welcomed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Graduate student applications and enrollment grew in 2022, but <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2024/02/20/students-enroll-graduate-school-better-job" target="_blank">employability and earning potential are key to their satisfaction</a>. Questions remain about the future of both graduate and undergraduate trends for international students. Popular among many international students, the <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-to-visa-program-for-foreign-graduates/695400/" target="_blank">Optional Practical Training stands</a> after the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge by unions that opposed it. A strategy used during declining domestic enrollment has been to <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2022/07/courting-chinese-students-requires-new.html" target="_blank">fill the gap with international students</a> through aggressive recruitment initiatives. One such model, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/international-students-us/2023/05/23/recruitment-partnership-falls-apart?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1f1c027133-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1f1c027133-198574017&mc_cid=1f1c027133&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">INTO Pathway partnership</a> was popular as institutions sought to tap the international student market but is now faltering in numerous institutions. Policies in other countries can help or hinder the efforts to maintain or grow international student enrollment. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2023/06/01/britain-bans-dependents-international-students?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2b878874d7-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2b878874d7-198574017&mc_cid=2b878874d7&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Britain's ban of trailing dependents</a> is an example that could hurt British institutions and help the U.S.A. But <a href="https://hechingerreport.org/thwarted-by-the-u-s-immigration-system-highly-skilled-workers-find-welcomes-elsewhere/" target="_blank">highly skilled graduates of U.S. institutions</a> are being lured away by offers of special visa status and countries such as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/global/2023/07/28/japan-expected-lose-140000-students-midcentury?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cefed8e63d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cefed8e63d-198574017&mc_cid=cefed8e63d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Japan may try to attract international students</a> as domestic enrollment plumets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of the perceived discriminatory impact of standardized testing, <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/over-1900-colleges-not-requiring-sat-act-scores-for-fall-2024-admissions/689110/" target="_blank">over 1,900 colleges</a> no longer require SAT and ACT scores. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/06/dartmouth-college-reinstate-standardized-testing?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d3fbe1bbce-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d3fbe1bbce-198574017&mc_cid=d3fbe1bbce&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Dartmouth College's returned to recommending submission of test scores</a> based on analysis of the impact on prospective applicants. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/06/brown-reinstates-standardized-testing-requirement?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4859c230fd-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4859c230fd-198574017&mc_cid=4859c230fd&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Brown University followed Dartmouth's lead</a> and the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/03/12/ut-austin-joins-return-standardized-testing-movement?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b18d84e65c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b18d84e65c-198574017&mc_cid=b18d84e65c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">University of Texas followed</a> saying that test scores are better predictors of future academic performance. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/02/07/dartmouth-admissions-dean-reinstating-test-requirements?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0d53e668d0-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0d53e668d0-198574017&mc_cid=0d53e668d0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Dartmouth officials indicated that their decision may be unique</a> as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/09/cornell-vanderbilt-extend-test-optional-policies?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cb0d5b1c4a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cb0d5b1c4a-198574017&mc_cid=cb0d5b1c4a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Cornell, Vanderbilt</a> and <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/13/university-missouri-system-extends-test-optional-policy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=87fbbc2271-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-87fbbc2271-198574017&mc_cid=87fbbc2271&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Missouri chose to extend</a> their test optional decisions. Yale chose a "<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2024/02/23/yale-adopts-test-flexible-admissions-policy?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=75be423f64-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-75be423f64-198574017&mc_cid=75be423f64&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">test-flexible"</a> option. The question of testing as well as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/10/16/state-university-systems-take-direct-admissions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e3612a8cf9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e3612a8cf9-198574017&mc_cid=e3612a8cf9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">state university systems moving to direct applications</a> is if these strategies actually disadvantage applicants from minoritized backgrounds. The Dartmouth change as well as evidence on early decisions is that they both may <a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/early-decision-policies-under-fire/700501/" target="_blank">advantage more privileged students</a>. Even the high school transcript is being called into question, with some recommending a move to a "<a href="https://www.highereddive.com/news/next-gen-credentials-high-school-transcripts/692823/" target="_blank">next gen competency credential.</a>" The move to "wholistic" decision making about prospective students is helpful but some educators caution that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/06/05/reconsidering-extracurriculars-admissions-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=07f6681452-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-07f6681452-198574017&mc_cid=07f6681452&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">extracurricular lists are also biased in favor of those who are privileged</a> by time and access. In the scramble for enrollment, the variability in approach raises <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/03/18/decisions-tests-raise-broader-questions-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3a47a1dae9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3a47a1dae9-198574017&mc_cid=3a47a1dae9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">multiple questions about what institutions are attempting to accomplish</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Join me in this unfolding question and planning for the preservation, and possible enhancement, of higher education's role in a progressive culture.</div><p></p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131989352154013821.post-55497486959352598422023-05-02T07:25:00.034-07:002024-02-27T10:21:34.230-08:00Leadership = an argument with tradition?<p>The <i>Inside Higher Education</i> essay by <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/confessions-community-college-dean/2023/05/02/leadership-and-social-defenses?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a8a1ec8692-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a8a1ec8692-198574017&mc_cid=a8a1ec8692&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Matt Reed, Leadership and Social Defense,</a> triggered a number of memories about attempts to lead during my higher education career. Reflecting on the dilemma of "stuck" organizations that seem to not be able to adapt to challenging circumstances, Reed drew from Gianpiero Petriglieri's <i>Harvard Business Review</i> article which described the struggle a change agent faces as "an argument with tradition." Having attempted to bring about change in numerous situations, the idea that a leader is literally challenging tradition and breaking up the family is particularly compelling. The point is that the root of familiar (the way we've always done it) is 'family' and in order for leadership to be successful, one has to convince the family that you're one of them.</p><p>The challenges faced by leaders and managers in U.S. higher education are numerous, perhaps no greater than in other eras, but substantial. Declining public confidence in higher education is part of the <a href="https://globalstudentaffairs.blogspot.com/2023/05/2023-24-enrollment-predictions.html" target="_blank">complex picture of enrollment projections</a>. Add to that evidence that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/29/behind-declining-standards-higher-ed-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=84cc8458b5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-84cc8458b5-198574017&mc_cid=84cc8458b5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">standards have been declining and a general malaise among the faculty.</a> The exploitation of workers by not compensating for overtime and challenging conditions has been present in U.S. institutions for a very long time, a condition that could change if a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/2023/11/13/colleges-say-proposed-overtime-rule-will-cause-tuition-increases-layoffs?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=0f6b83d325-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-0f6b83d325-198574017&mc_cid=0f6b83d325&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Biden administration proposal</a> is enacted. Challenges higher education is facing, coupled with the loss of employment or redirection of careers, involves a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/university-venus/2023/10/16/navigating-grief-higher-ed-career-transitions?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e3612a8cf9-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e3612a8cf9-198574017&mc_cid=e3612a8cf9&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">grieving process</a> that is often unrecognized.</p><p>Leadership is a complicated by the need to bolster confidence in education and the institutions that advance it while simultaneously <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/08/29/confronting-hard-truths-about-higher-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=84cc8458b5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-84cc8458b5-198574017&mc_cid=84cc8458b5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">confronting the hard truths</a> that result in vulnerabilities for the same institutions. As the "face" of the campus to all types of constituents, presidents are under a magnifying glass, with the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/01/22/tragedy-workplace-bullying-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8bf60953af-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8bf60953af-198574017&mc_cid=8bf60953af&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">balance between asserting direction and bullying</a> being particularly difficult line to manage. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/12/14/new-poll-shows-widespread-public-doubt-college-leaders?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=30b5d159c5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-30b5d159c5-198574017&mc_cid=30b5d159c5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">decline of public confidence</a> in leadership of U.S. higher education is pronounced and includes a belief that protection of reputation eclipses the focus on student learning. Macalester College's former President <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/10/12/can-colleges-adapt-todays-challenges?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1f278e7a40-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1f278e7a40-198574017&mc_cid=1f278e7a40&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">questioned if colleges can effectively adapt</a> to the challenges they face. He asserted that maintaining institutional reputations was one of the primary things standing in the path of change and included disciplinary loyalty, majors centered around the interests of faculty, shared governance, and prioritizing faculty as the #1 stakeholder as accompanying impediments.</p><p>Considered de facto leaders, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/08/01/abrupt-presidential-exits-underscore-jobs?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4df11a0b8d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4df11a0b8d-198574017&mc_cid=4df11a0b8d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">abrupt resignations of university presidents</a> indicates the vulnerability of the modern college presidency. Controversy was the impetus for resignation in some cases but others were a mystery. The unexplained non-renewal of the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/08/18/rutgers-newark-faculty-rally-behind-ousted?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=2e94ac2f4e-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-2e94ac2f4e-198574017&mc_cid=2e94ac2f4e&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Rutgers Chancellor resulted in wide-spread shock and condemnation</a> and a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/shared-governance/2023/09/25/rutgers-senate-says-its-lost-confidence-president?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b8fb4058b0-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b8fb4058b0-198574017&mc_cid=b8fb4058b0&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">loss of confidence in the President</a> while the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/09/19/la-sierra-university-president-steps-down-suddenly?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4d031d4908-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4d031d4908-198574017&mc_cid=4d031d4908&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">La Siera President's resignation</a> came after months of faculty concern. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/10/04/nichols-college-president-resigns-amid-misconduct-allegations?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=6f18b1a564-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-6f18b1a564-198574017&mc_cid=6f18b1a564&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">President of Nichols College resigned</a> after reports surfaced about being involved in a sexual assault scandal in previous employment. For other presidents such as <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/04/ucla-chancellor-resign-after-17-years?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b89670643d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b89670643d-198574017&mc_cid=b89670643d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">UCLA's Gene Block, 17 years</a> was a long time but his resignation will leave a gap that will be difficulty to fill. The case of Texas A&M is particularly interesting as an example of arguing with tradition because it involves <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/08/10/slow-then-sudden-downfall-university-leader?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3703c574b4-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3703c574b4-198574017&mc_cid=3703c574b4&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">two years of growing dissatisfaction capped off</a> by a more public controversy. The controversy that ended Kathy Banks' Texas A&M presidency involved a Black scholar who the university hoped would head its renewed journalism department during a period when state lawmakers launched a crack down on DEI practices. Banks claimed to be uninvolved but records later revealed her full knowledge and participation and a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/diversity-equity/2023/08/04/texas-am-pays-mcelroy-1m-report-reveals-presidents?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b89670643d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b89670643d-198574017&mc_cid=b89670643d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">$1 million payout to the scholar, Kathleen McElroy</a>. As Texas A&M strives to recover from Banks' Presidency, input from over 100 meetings across campus set the stage for<a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/09/21/new-report-makes-texas-am-reconsider-ex-presidents?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=682fc007b5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-682fc007b5-198574017&mc_cid=682fc007b5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank"> reversal of many of her "Path Forward" initiatives</a>.</p><p>After serving as president of Ohio State University and twice at West Virginia University, protestors called for the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/free-speech/2023/08/22/hundreds-students-protest-wvus-proposed-program-and-faculty?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=334e9daf25-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-334e9daf25-198574017&mc_cid=334e9daf25&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">salary of Gordon Gee to be reduced or for him to resign</a> as a result of enrollment declines that have led to a 10% reduction in programs and faculty. Gee's WVU debacle is perhaps a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/just-visiting/2023/08/24/higher-education-has-been-given-over-consultants?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=96b6adca59-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-96b6adca59-198574017&mc_cid=96b6adca59&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">harbinger of what higher education has become</a> - a commodity rather than a pathway to improve the human condition. Perhaps as an example, the "no-confidence" petition alleging that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2023/08/29/wvu-faculty-consider-voting-no-confidence-gee?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=84cc8458b5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-84cc8458b5-198574017&mc_cid=84cc8458b5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Gee mismanaged WVU's finances</a> was <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/shared-governance/2023/09/07/wvu-faculty-overwhelmingly-votes-no-confidence-gee?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3ae0327712-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3ae0327712-198574017&mc_cid=3ae0327712&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">overwhelming approved</a> by faculty. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/just-visiting/2023/09/15/change-coming-higher-ed-who-will-lead-it?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=763ae2213c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-763ae2213c-198574017&mc_cid=763ae2213c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">mismanagement accusation has stuck</a> in contrast to previous circumstances that reflected "institutional awe" of administrative decision making. Gee was noted for flamboyant bowties and outspoken assertions, some of which <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/09/21/wvu-abandons-award-winning-global-education-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=682fc007b5-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-682fc007b5-198574017&mc_cid=682fc007b5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">contradict his more recent actions</a>. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/tenure/2023/09/14/wvu-students-faculty-cry-out-last-day-vote-cuts?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=763ae2213c-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-763ae2213c-198574017&mc_cid=763ae2213c&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Protests over Gee's presidency</a>, and support from the WVU Board, continued until the last moment before <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/shared-governance/2023/09/15/despite-national-pushback-wvu-will-cut-faculty?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9334df2dd5-BNU_20230517_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9334df2dd5-198574017&mc_cid=9334df2dd5&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">cuts were enacted</a>. Now that termination notices are out to professors sacrificed in the WVU cuts, the <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/tenure/2023/10/17/wvu-professors-get-their-layoff-notices?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=fa7eab00b3-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-fa7eab00b3-198574017&mc_cid=fa7eab00b3&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">provost offered to hear them out</a> but few have much hope that anything will change.</p><p>Gee is one of the most obvious examples of what a British research study found is <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2023/11/03/narcissistic-presidents-linked-low-university?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c5b59f0c21-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c5b59f0c21-198574017&mc_cid=c5b59f0c21&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">problematic about some higher education leaders - narcissism</a>. Even though the methodology of the study might suggest caution in generalizing it, it isn't difficult to discern the impact when a narcissist is hired. In a hyper-competitive university environment, the constant need to claim excellence and superiority may end up causing leaders to advance themselves as much as their institution. Scott Green, former President of the University of Idaho, published a book on handling crises on campus that included <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2024/01/22/book-qa-crisis-handbook-college-presidents?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=8bf60953af-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-8bf60953af-198574017&mc_cid=8bf60953af&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">urging institutional leaders to demonstrate empathy </a>in their responses.</p><p>The estimated exodus of 25% within one to two years and 55% of presidents at U.S. colleges and universities within 5 years is sobering. The lack of clarity regarding the role of <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/11/repairing-trust-between-campuses-and-boards-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1ad3241b1a-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1ad3241b1a-198574017&mc_cid=1ad3241b1a&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Boards of trustees is clearly a precipitating factor</a>. Boards at <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/10/30/five-dysfunctions-board-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=7cc2bc1666-DNU_2021_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-7cc2bc1666-198574017&mc_cid=7cc2bc1666&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">small colleges can be particularly dysfunctional</a> as a result of hubris and over-confidence, the "bright shiny object" syndrome, fond memories of an institution that didn't exist, misplaced accountability, and inadequate data to support decision making. There are some pretty <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2023/11/17/10-key-steps-presidents-should-take-good-board-relations-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=49e65f3a77-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-49e65f3a77-198574017&mc_cid=49e65f3a77&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">no-nonsense guidelines to cultivate a good relationship</a> with a Board demonstrating that who's in charge and distrust can be avoided. The bottom line is that Presidents and their Boards need to have candid conversations about <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/02/20/what-presidents-need-boards-and-boards-need-presidents-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=376e5ecf41-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-376e5ecf41-198574017&mc_cid=376e5ecf41&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">what they expect each other with a focus on achieving clarity and trust</a>.</p><p>Whether championing change based on exigency or innovation, leadership challenges the status quo, or the stability of the 'family.' When coming from someone from the margin, <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/executive-leadership/2024/02/27/mary-hinton-joys-learning-lead-margins?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=1258a44171-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-1258a44171-198574017&mc_cid=1258a44171&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">leading may become more challenging but it may also present opportunity</a>. One of the clearest examples of the family bond in a complex organization that I faced was when I moved to Miami University in 1994. I was quickly introduced to the term "The Miami Way," which had no specifics but allowed those who used the term to define for themselves what they presumed the customs of the institution to be. The strategy for anyone who conceived of new possibilities was to convince others that you were family and that you cared as much (or more) about the institution than they did.</p><p>Miami University isn't the only place where leadership required an argument with tradition and a struggle to be part of the family. Especially when it comes to faculty who often see themselves as guardians of institutional culture, resolving to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/08/02/preparing-field-shared-governance-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a6737b2cb1-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a6737b2cb1-198574017&mc_cid=a6737b2cb1&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">engage as lifelong learners with diverse interests</a> might serve their institutions more effectively. Most of the organizations I've served had the "family" tension to greater or lesser degrees. The only places where an argument with tradition is not part of the leadership dilemma is in new organizations but it is fascinating how quickly even new organizations bond and create their own family and traditions as a way of resisting subsequent change.</p><p>The problem with family tradition in any organization is the potential to recognize fundamental changes that could threaten its future. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/09/12/which-path-forward-higher-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=bbe2531f71-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-bbe2531f71-198574017&mc_cid=bbe2531f71&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Steve Mintz sorts the various issues down to a two path dichotomy</a> - 1. cheaper paths to marketable credentials or 2. tweak the current 4-year degree model with more focus on career-conscious degree pathways, general education more aligned with majors, integrated and interdisciplinary linkages, and high impact practices. There are numerous educators who offer lists of challenges that must be faced in the years ahead. Three authors including Arthur Levine, Scott Van Pelt, and Denny Meadow offer <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2023/06/06/five-cs-navigate-higher-eds-great-upheaval-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=5c4d684f17-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-5c4d684f17-198574017&mc_cid=5c4d684f17&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">five Cs to help institutions navigate their way</a> to a reconstructed future. The Cs begin by centering the <u>Customer</u> and the other Cs reflect issues which are of greatest importance to prospective students; cost, convenience, content, and connections. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/12/04/why-higher-ed-needs-be-disrupted?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d99bcb568b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d99bcb568b-198574017&mc_cid=d99bcb568b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">Ryan Craig's "What's Wrong with college"</a> raises a host of issues that higher education needs to address. Lack of workforce alignment, poor completion rates, demographic shifts, threat to non-flagship institutions, and uncertain proof of benefit are on the list.</p><p>The idea of leadership arguing with tradition is exacerbated by the fact that <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/07/20/why-dubious-educational-ideas-and-practices-catch-and?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=cacb816726-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-cacb816726-198574017&mc_cid=cacb816726&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">higher education can be influenced by trendy educational ideas</a>. When an institution tries something and believes they are successful, there is a rush to tell the story and other institutions can be caught up with the enthusiasm for a new idea. The only problem - some "solutions" were not well formulated and there may not have been an effort to evaluate the innovation.</p><p>Leadership can make or break an institution's ability to <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/call-action/2023/09/28/using-employer-branding-address-higher-eds-talent-crisis?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=4f33d2687b-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-4f33d2687b-198574017&mc_cid=4f33d2687b&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">attract and retain employees</a>, especially when many are looking for opportunities to move. Creating a good campus climate is central and reinforces that leadership isn't a solo act. For those who presume to lead, engaging with others in mutually constructing the future is a <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/online-trending-now/2023/08/16/servant-leader-higher-education?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=7cae0dd2c1-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-7cae0dd2c1-198574017&mc_cid=7cae0dd2c1&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">tried and true idea advocated in "Servant Leadership</a>." Authenticity in leadership is a transcending factor that requires <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/01/24/determining-how-and-when-be-your-true-self-academe-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e666751f00-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e666751f00-198574017&mc_cid=e666751f00&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">balancing personal values, positional role, and institutional rules</a>. The <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2024/02/23/changing-campus-guard?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=75be423f64-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-75be423f64-198574017&mc_cid=75be423f64&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">generational shifts in leadership understanding, effective pedagogues, and salient issues </a>are all part of the current higher education balancing act.</p><p>New presidents and other leaders on campus could benefit from <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2023/06/09/creating-productive-onboarding-experience-new-presidents-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3f806a537d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3f806a537d-198574017&mc_cid=3f806a537d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">deep listening </a>as they begin their assignments. Using a strategy of a "teach-in" to provide background and context is a way of understanding the traditions and status of an institution on various topics. Whether new or experienced, institutional leaders can benefit from a strategy that has been used for decades, the "town hall." In order to be effective these gatherings should be <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/call-action/2023/08/09/best-practices-campus-town-hall-meetings?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=81a5bd119d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-81a5bd119d-198574017&mc_cid=81a5bd119d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">carefully planned with clear expectations</a> of the meeting and anticipated outcomes. These strategies complement <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/2024/01/11/two-strategies-onboarding-new-presidents-opinion?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=9a30586a9d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-9a30586a9d-198574017&mc_cid=9a30586a9d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">presidential on-boarding advice</a> of completing a diagnostic of the campus environment and identifying the most important influencers.</p><p>If leadership is an argument with tradition, starting by understanding your objective is essential. On the flip side, anyone who has been around higher education for a nano-second has probably realized that faculty are uncommonly uninformed about the nature of the institutions they serve and especially to not realize the breadth and uniqueness of American higher education. <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/blogs/higher-ed-gamma/2023/06/09/what-faculty-needs-know-about-history-american-higher?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=3f806a537d-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-3f806a537d-198574017&mc_cid=3f806a537d&mc_eid=c88ef0b734" target="_blank">If faculty understood more about the history, values, and uniqueness of their institutions</a>, they could become much more effective advocates for both sustaining and changing where they work.</p>Denny Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13976548371874726977noreply@blogger.com0