Meanwhile in Higher Education
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Meanwhile in Higher Education
@meanwhileinhe.bsky.social
A hand-curated collection of higher education news with a focus on shared governance and academic freedom.
Meanwhile at Sonoma State...

President announces plans to eliminate 46 positions, stop 23 programs, end 6 departments, and merge departments and schools.

budget.sonoma.edu/sites/budget...
budget.sonoma.edu
January 22, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Meanwhile in closings and mergers...

This @insidehighered.com article nicely summarizes the closings and mergers in U.S. higher ed in 2024.

www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
2024 has seen more college closures than last year
At least 16 nonprofit institutions announced closures this year as the sector grapples with enrollment challenges and financial pressures. Various others merged.
www.insidehighered.com
December 13, 2024 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Meanwhile in Higher Education
As the lead author on the AAUP's report on Emporia State, I am… not shocked to learn that its administration is flailing menacingly like this
This is quite a story: After a decade of enrollment declines, Emporia State's president wants to orchestrate a hostile takeover of the local technical college (which has grown considerably during this period). Everyone is fighting for students.
Emporia State University president faults tech college for competition, envisions hostile takeover • Kansas Reflector
Emporia State University president Ken Hush in a letter to a local economic development agency accused Flint Hills Technical College of competing for students and warned that lawmakers could force a h...
kansasreflector.com
December 12, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Meanwhile at Alverno College...

Six months after declaring financial exigency, college is removed from "financial distress" list by accreditor.
www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/ne...
www.bizjournals.com
December 12, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Meanwhile at Tennessee State U...

Amid conflicts with board of trustee and state government, President Ronald Johnson resigns after ~120 days in office.
www.tennessean.com/story/news/e...
Tennessee State University interim President Ronald Johnson resigns abruptly
Ronald Johnson's resignation comes as tensions remain high at Tennessee State University over finances and leadership issues.
www.tennessean.com
December 12, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Meanwhile at Barnard...

Administration announces benefit cuts for faculty and staff to address $23m deficit. No budget analysis has been released to faculty since 2019.

www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/12...
With $252 million in projected debt, Barnard makes cuts to faculty and staff benefits
<html><head><meta charset="utf-8"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>With $252 million in projected debt, Barnard makes cuts to faculty and staff benefits</titl...
www.columbiaspectator.com
December 6, 2024 at 6:41 PM
Meanwhile at UConnecticut...

Provost report recommends eliminating five programs, combining six concentrations, and continue to review 36 majors. The programs have not been named publicly.
today.uconn.edu/2024/12/vast...
Vast Majority of UConn’s Small Majors to Remain In Place Under Review’s Proposed Outcome - UConn Today
The vast majority of small academic programs under review by UConn administrators are expected to remain in place when the Provost’s Office presents its rec ...
today.uconn.edu
December 6, 2024 at 6:24 PM
Meanwhile at the U.S. Naval Academy...

A District Court rules that the Academy can continue to use race based admissions policies.
wapo.st/3ZlJi1P
Naval Academy can consider race in admissions, federal judge rules
The decision comes after the Supreme Court rejected the use of affirmative action in college admissions
wapo.st
December 6, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Meanwhile at the U of Sussex...

Administration announces plans to reduce faculty and staff by 300.
Around 300 jobs set to go in ‘very difficult’ Sussex redundancies
Vice-chancellor says university has ‘done everything’ it can to reduce costs before cutting jobs
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 26, 2024 at 8:19 PM
Meanwhile at UDenver...

University makes staffing cuts in light of $11m shortfall. College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences votes for a resolution of no confidence in Chancellor Jeremy Haefner.

www.denverpost.com/2024/11/25/u...
DU makes cuts as declining enrollment creates budget deficit, drawing concern from faculty, students
On Friday, faculty leaders in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences — the university’s largest academic unit — took a vote of no confidence against the chancellor.
www.denverpost.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:47 PM
Meanwhile at U.S. rural colleges/universities...

Due to program elimination rural students have fewer opportunities to major in humanities, languages, and other traditional majors. Some schools are seeing enrollment drop after the eliminations.

www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Rural students’ options shrink as colleges slash majors
As enrollments fall, rural-serving universities are shedding degree programs ranging from music to chemistry.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 26, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Meanwhile at Utah Tech University...

Faculty Senate passes no-confidence resolution in school's leadership and call for an independent investigation into former President Biff Williams.

www.sltrib.com/news/educati...
Utah Tech faculty take rare no-confidence vote against school leaders over handling of allegations against ex-president
The Faculty Senate at Utah Tech University passed a rare no-confidence resolution against the school’s senior leaders over their response to the allegations of sexual misconduct by the former presiden...
www.sltrib.com
November 25, 2024 at 6:47 PM
Meanwhile in Idaho...

The Idaho State Board of Education is considering a resolution that would prohibit "central offices, policies, procedures or initiatives are dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion".

www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/i...
Idaho State Board of Education considers resolution to limit DEI policies in public universities
The Idaho State Board of Education is considering adopting a resolution that would address concerns from lawmakers and Idahoans about existing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Idaho’s publi...
www.idahostatejournal.com
November 25, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Meanwhile at West Virginia University...

Board of Governor eliminates five graduate and two certificate programs.

search.app?link=https%3...
WVU board approves elimination of 5 graduate, 4 undergraduate programs
West Virginia University’s Board of Governors unanimously approved termination of five graduate programs and two certificate programs during Friday’s...
search.app
November 24, 2024 at 4:57 PM
Meanwhile at Florida State...

Board of Trustees remove 432 courses from GenEd.

www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...
FSU board OKs removal of over 400 courses from general education offerings after review
“We’re living through an era of legislature-driven higher education reform,” FSU Provost Jim Clark said.
www.tallahassee.com
November 24, 2024 at 1:29 AM
Meanwhile at Georgetown...

President John DeGioia steps down, will remain on faculty. DeGioia had suffered a stroke in June.

www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Longtime Georgetown president DeGioia steps down months after stroke
Georgetown President John DeGioia steps down after 23 years at the university’s top leader, citing health issues.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2024 at 7:42 PM
Meanwhile at UMichigan...

The Board of Trustees is reportedly moving to make significant cuts to the university's DEI efforts.
www.chronicle.com/article/is-d...
Is DEI in the Crosshairs at the U. of Michigan?
In the aftermath of a critical <i>New York Times</i> story, faculty leaders fear regents are considering cuts to one of the nation’s most unapologetically ambitious models.
www.chronicle.com
November 22, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Meanwhile in Mississippi...

The Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, which oversees of public universities in the state, removed "diversity", "diverse", & "inclusive" from policy documents. This includes requirements to review diversity outcomes.

mississippitoday.org/2024/11/21/i...
IHL deletes the word 'diversity' from its policies
Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees , which oversees the state's public universities, voted Thursday to delete the word “diversity” from several policies.
mississippitoday.org
November 22, 2024 at 12:56 PM
Meanwhile at Penn State...

Analysis shows that Board of Trustees spend less than 8% of public meeting time in discussion and deliberation. Substantive discussion appears to occur in closed-door private meetings, possibly violating PA's Open Meetings law.
www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...
Most Penn State trustee discussions focus on athletics, bylaws
Penn State’s board spends limited time publicly debating key issues like the budget and strategic plans. Most deliberations focus on athletics and bylaws.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 21, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Meanwhile in North Carolina...

UNC Charlotte and UNC Wilmington revise their mission statements to remove references to diversity.
www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/e...
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 21, 2024 at 1:57 PM
Meanwhile at St, Augustine University (Raleigh, VA)...

School secures high-interest (27%) loan to cover debt and work toward returning to full accreditation from probation. Initial amount is $7million, with potential to borrow $30million.

www.wral.com/story/here-s...
Here's how Saint Augustine’s University plans to use its $7 million loan
Saint Augustine's University plans to use its $7 million loan to pay past due and future payroll taxes and other debts, according to a document obtained by WRAL News.
www.wral.com
November 20, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Meanwhile at UofCalifornia system...

Two separate unions are holding a two day strike 11/20 and 11/21. While the unions focus on service workers, patient care staff, and healthcare workers, it is expected that there will be solidarity strikes impacting classes.

www.capradio.org/articles/202...
University of California workers announce strike over pay, health care disputes
Two unions that represent university health care employees, patient care technical staff and service workers will strike on Wednesday and Thursday. They say contract negotiations with the university h...
www.capradio.org
November 20, 2024 at 3:14 PM
Meanwhile at Edinburgh University...

Administration announces staffing cuts (voluntary and mandatory) to address structural deficit of £30 million. That is one week's operational costs for the university.
www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...
Edinburgh University boss announces job losses due to national insurance hike
The university said it is opening a voluntary redundancy scheme and compulsory redundancies may be necessary "if unavoidable" due to the financial climate.
www.edinburghlive.co.uk
November 19, 2024 at 5:41 PM
Meanwhile at University of North Texas...

Administrators change the title and course descriptions of approximately 200 courses in order to avoid DEI-like wording.

www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/t...
UNT faculty slam university for removing references to race and equity in course names
Professors and instructors say the university is preemptively censoring itself after administrators removed references to race and equity in dozens of College of Education course titles and descriptio...
www.texastribune.org
November 19, 2024 at 5:29 PM