Melissa Carleton
@melissacarleton.bsky.social
Lawyer for institutions of higher education. Special interest in Title IX and FERPA. Genealogist, Queen fan. Likely to break into song at any moment. She/her. Opinions mine.
There should be a chart that compares where you are and how many inches of snow you are supposed to get, then tells you how much bread and milk to hoard.
January 22, 2026 at 2:19 AM
There should be a chart that compares where you are and how many inches of snow you are supposed to get, then tells you how much bread and milk to hoard.
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
These new federal regulations--taking effect in just three months--that require digital materials to be accessible still aren't getting the attention they deserve in higher ed. In a decentralized system with limited faculty support, compliance will be a major challenge.
Higher Ed Prepares for New Era of ADA
Looming federal regulations update the ADA to make web content and mobile apps more accessible to people, including college students, with disabilities. But universities are scrambling to comply by th...
www.insidehighered.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:17 AM
These new federal regulations--taking effect in just three months--that require digital materials to be accessible still aren't getting the attention they deserve in higher ed. In a decentralized system with limited faculty support, compliance will be a major challenge.
The floof monster is perturbed I will not walk her when it is 17 degrees outside.
January 21, 2026 at 12:33 AM
The floof monster is perturbed I will not walk her when it is 17 degrees outside.
Dear law firms - stop this. This is not healthy for the humans we are hiring, or the profession we steward. Let people learn and grow before we swoop on them like harpies. Geesh.
It’s January 20 and LinkedIn is awash with “I’m so humbled to be joining X Firm as a summer associate in 2026 and 2027!” posts.
January 21, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Dear law firms - stop this. This is not healthy for the humans we are hiring, or the profession we steward. Let people learn and grow before we swoop on them like harpies. Geesh.
I wanna know if the viral bus post led to an increase in Bluesky users, because I definitely have told people to join today.
January 21, 2026 at 12:11 AM
I wanna know if the viral bus post led to an increase in Bluesky users, because I definitely have told people to join today.
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
this is just pure terror theatre, because all of us are photographed at multiple points inside the airport, as we check in, as we go through security, as we wait and as we hand in our boarding passes to board.
Pure terror theatre.
Pure terror theatre.
New— An American citizen boarding flight from Boston to Lisbon just now told me after showing boarding pass, every passenger stopped on jetway by two ICE agents demanding to take their photo. When passenger asked why, ICE threatened to detain them. If they said no photo, couldn't board/TBD detained.
January 20, 2026 at 11:34 PM
this is just pure terror theatre, because all of us are photographed at multiple points inside the airport, as we check in, as we go through security, as we wait and as we hand in our boarding passes to board.
Pure terror theatre.
Pure terror theatre.
👀
NEWS: The Social Security Administration has referred two DOGE employees for Hatch Act violations after discovering contacts with a political group seeking SSA data to overturn election results. www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 7:36 PM
👀
The comments 😭🤣
i feel like the viral bus thread resonates because at every step of the way you're like "ok surely this will be resolved shortly, any second now," which seems like what all the passengers are also thinking. then the fact that the situation doesn't resolve and the bus just keeps going is an Allegory
January 20, 2026 at 7:24 PM
The comments 😭🤣
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
Toad sat on the edge of his bed. “Blah,” said Toad. “I feel down in the dumps.”
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
January 20, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Toad sat on the edge of his bed. “Blah,” said Toad. “I feel down in the dumps.”
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
“Why?” asked Frog.
“I am thinking about tomorrow,” said Toad.
Anyone have a quirky spot near Boulder that they love?
January 20, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Anyone have a quirky spot near Boulder that they love?
Still waiting
Can we get a Fall Unified Regulatory Agenda for 2025 please?
January 20, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Still waiting
One year of so much nonsense.
January 20, 2026 at 12:57 AM
One year of so much nonsense.
Dog, what have you done?
You're a big floofy pup
That chewed on my rug
Oh mama, I'm just havin' fun
On the couch with my toys
It's where I belong now mama
BIG FLOOFY DOG
I'm gonna keep on dancing with my
BIG FLOOFY DOG
You're a big floofy pup
That chewed on my rug
Oh mama, I'm just havin' fun
On the couch with my toys
It's where I belong now mama
BIG FLOOFY DOG
I'm gonna keep on dancing with my
BIG FLOOFY DOG
January 19, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Dog, what have you done?
You're a big floofy pup
That chewed on my rug
Oh mama, I'm just havin' fun
On the couch with my toys
It's where I belong now mama
BIG FLOOFY DOG
I'm gonna keep on dancing with my
BIG FLOOFY DOG
You're a big floofy pup
That chewed on my rug
Oh mama, I'm just havin' fun
On the couch with my toys
It's where I belong now mama
BIG FLOOFY DOG
I'm gonna keep on dancing with my
BIG FLOOFY DOG
You need the coffee before the scrolling this morning.
January 19, 2026 at 1:52 PM
You need the coffee before the scrolling this morning.
I'm writing something about discrimination law, so I went to ED's Office for Civil Rights page entitled "Know Your Rights" for some basic reference info. If you click on four of the six topics for more information, the links are all broken. Sigh.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
Know Your Rights
Introduction page for civil rights enforced by the Office for Civil Rights
www.ed.gov
January 18, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I'm writing something about discrimination law, so I went to ED's Office for Civil Rights page entitled "Know Your Rights" for some basic reference info. If you click on four of the six topics for more information, the links are all broken. Sigh.
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
www.ed.gov/about/ed-off...
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
A cartoon by Joseph Mirachi, from 1974. #NewYorkerCartoons
January 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
A cartoon by Joseph Mirachi, from 1974. #NewYorkerCartoons
Watching this one as a FERPA geek
Penn has refused to comply with an EEOC subpoena seeking a list of Jewish students and faculty at Penn. The EEOC is now suing the university over its refusal to cooperate.
Jewish students and faculty at Penn ask that their names not be turned over in federal antisemitism investigation
www.inquirer.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Watching this one as a FERPA geek
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
The NYT has numbers on the cuts at the Dept of Education.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
January 10, 2026 at 1:24 AM
The NYT has numbers on the cuts at the Dept of Education.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Almost 800 people have been cut at Federal Student Aid. That's a lot larger than I expected. And IES has been gutted.
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
2026’s refresh rate is wild I go do some chores and like 14 major world events have happened
January 12, 2026 at 1:15 AM
2026’s refresh rate is wild I go do some chores and like 14 major world events have happened
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
Come back again and wake me up at about half past May.
January 10, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Come back again and wake me up at about half past May.
This is exhausting.
January 10, 2026 at 2:47 AM
This is exhausting.
Reposted by Melissa Carleton
A prompt that lives rent-free in my head: How is your life honoring the billions of women who lived before you?
January 6, 2026 at 3:29 AM
A prompt that lives rent-free in my head: How is your life honoring the billions of women who lived before you?
Can we get a Fall Unified Regulatory Agenda for 2025 please?
January 7, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Can we get a Fall Unified Regulatory Agenda for 2025 please?
I am sad that these are legit questions. I am sad that anyone feels like they can't take parental leave up because of pressure from colleagues. If you work for a place that makes you feel that way - there are plenty of other places to work!
And if you can, respond to Kate!
And if you can, respond to Kate!
January 7, 2026 at 1:04 AM
I am sad that these are legit questions. I am sad that anyone feels like they can't take parental leave up because of pressure from colleagues. If you work for a place that makes you feel that way - there are plenty of other places to work!
And if you can, respond to Kate!
And if you can, respond to Kate!