Kevin R. McClure
@drkevinrmcclure.com
Professor of Higher Ed & Dept Chair | Author of The Caring University (JHUP, 2025) | Co-Director of the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges | Columnist at The Chronicle of Higher Education
Reposted by Kevin R. McClure
"Hiring professors with PhDs is meaningless if administrators are the ones deciding what gets taught,” he said. “Faculty will start asking not, ‘Is this accurate?’ but ‘Will this get me in trouble?’ That’s not education, it’s risk management.”
#HigherEd
#HigherEd
Leonard Bright, president of the Texas A&M Chapter of the AAUP said faculty were not consulted on the proposed changes, which he called “a direct violation” of their expertise + freedom to teach. “If that’s the case, there’s just going to be a further black eye on higher education here in Texas.”
Texas A&M to vote on banning “race and gender ideology”
The proposal appears to mark the first time a Texas university system offers definitions of what kind of instruction related to race and gender should not be permitted.
www.texastribune.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:57 AM
"Hiring professors with PhDs is meaningless if administrators are the ones deciding what gets taught,” he said. “Faculty will start asking not, ‘Is this accurate?’ but ‘Will this get me in trouble?’ That’s not education, it’s risk management.”
#HigherEd
#HigherEd
Sick to my stomach. They are cutting a really, really strong Educational Administration department with some top-notch faculty.
There is very little public service ethos left in higher ed. You either contribute to revenue/prestige in particular ways, or you are expendable.
There is very little public service ethos left in higher ed. You either contribute to revenue/prestige in particular ways, or you are expendable.
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Sick to my stomach. They are cutting a really, really strong Educational Administration department with some top-notch faculty.
There is very little public service ethos left in higher ed. You either contribute to revenue/prestige in particular ways, or you are expendable.
There is very little public service ethos left in higher ed. You either contribute to revenue/prestige in particular ways, or you are expendable.
This is next trip is just long enough that I have to actually be strategic about what I pack. And I hate it.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This is next trip is just long enough that I have to actually be strategic about what I pack. And I hate it.
One little thing I've learned through all of this that might be good for academics to know - it's hard to sell books. People have a ton of options and finite attention/resources.
Getting lots of emails these days from people selling "Amazon visibility and sales" services to authors. It feels pretty predatory.
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 PM
One little thing I've learned through all of this that might be good for academics to know - it's hard to sell books. People have a ton of options and finite attention/resources.
Getting lots of emails these days from people selling "Amazon visibility and sales" services to authors. It feels pretty predatory.
November 11, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Getting lots of emails these days from people selling "Amazon visibility and sales" services to authors. It feels pretty predatory.
I'm a prude but think this market could be more regulated.
I saw a can the other day with 50mg of THC. You're supposed to dose/dilute it, but...
I saw a can the other day with 50mg of THC. You're supposed to dose/dilute it, but...
Edible Arrangements' parent company is expanding into another flower-related category — THC — as the U.S. market for intoxicating hemp beverages booms.
“It felt like a natural next step for us,” said CEO Somia Farid Silber. “People ask about edibles in our stores all the time.”
“It felt like a natural next step for us,” said CEO Somia Farid Silber. “People ask about edibles in our stores all the time.”
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I'm a prude but think this market could be more regulated.
I saw a can the other day with 50mg of THC. You're supposed to dose/dilute it, but...
I saw a can the other day with 50mg of THC. You're supposed to dose/dilute it, but...
Reposted by Kevin R. McClure
Did you know I wrote a book?! Advanced copies are out and blurbs are in— coming your way Feb 10, 2026. And of course the very best thing to do is preorder your hardcover copy or audiobook! www.harpercollins.com/products/in-...
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Did you know I wrote a book?! Advanced copies are out and blurbs are in— coming your way Feb 10, 2026. And of course the very best thing to do is preorder your hardcover copy or audiobook! www.harpercollins.com/products/in-...
So, it's looking like there will be an audiobook version of my book. Not read by me! Not exactly sure how it all works, but an audiobook producer has acquired the rights.
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
So, it's looking like there will be an audiobook version of my book. Not read by me! Not exactly sure how it all works, but an audiobook producer has acquired the rights.
the minute Halloween ends, the decorations become extra weird. I've been looking at Pennywise across the street for a week now and it gets more bewildering by the day.
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
the minute Halloween ends, the decorations become extra weird. I've been looking at Pennywise across the street for a week now and it gets more bewildering by the day.
You know, I don't anything about the company. But Canva is a damn good tech product at a time when that's hard to come by.
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
You know, I don't anything about the company. But Canva is a damn good tech product at a time when that's hard to come by.
Why do Americans have so little trust in major institutions? Because we can't predictably rely on them to do what they were built to do.
If my upcoming travel gets disrupted, it will be inconvenient but not tragic. On the other hand, there are people who will undoubtedly have very important travel plans coming up. It breaks my heart that we live in a country where basic things are breaking down.
November 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Why do Americans have so little trust in major institutions? Because we can't predictably rely on them to do what they were built to do.
If my upcoming travel gets disrupted, it will be inconvenient but not tragic. On the other hand, there are people who will undoubtedly have very important travel plans coming up. It breaks my heart that we live in a country where basic things are breaking down.
November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
If my upcoming travel gets disrupted, it will be inconvenient but not tragic. On the other hand, there are people who will undoubtedly have very important travel plans coming up. It breaks my heart that we live in a country where basic things are breaking down.
I find it annoying that I have submit to draft remarks for our chancellor to come to our EdD graduation ceremony and congratulate the graduates.
...you just say congrats, we are proud of you?
...you just say congrats, we are proud of you?
November 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I find it annoying that I have submit to draft remarks for our chancellor to come to our EdD graduation ceremony and congratulate the graduates.
...you just say congrats, we are proud of you?
...you just say congrats, we are proud of you?
Heyo - I'm still trudging through a piece on faculty motivation in a time that's, well, de-motivating.
I've talked to lots of lovely folks BUT if you happen to be in a role where you are trying things to animate or support faculty, help rediscover joy or community or purpose, etc. I'd love to chat!
I've talked to lots of lovely folks BUT if you happen to be in a role where you are trying things to animate or support faculty, help rediscover joy or community or purpose, etc. I'd love to chat!
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Heyo - I'm still trudging through a piece on faculty motivation in a time that's, well, de-motivating.
I've talked to lots of lovely folks BUT if you happen to be in a role where you are trying things to animate or support faculty, help rediscover joy or community or purpose, etc. I'd love to chat!
I've talked to lots of lovely folks BUT if you happen to be in a role where you are trying things to animate or support faculty, help rediscover joy or community or purpose, etc. I'd love to chat!
Reposted by Kevin R. McClure
the question nobody with a soul is asking, answered by people nobody wants to hear from
November 6, 2025 at 12:58 PM
the question nobody with a soul is asking, answered by people nobody wants to hear from
This is a good article from @leegee.bsky.social on the academic program review at Nebraska. This is the one using Academic Analytics and AAU membership-based metrics. www.chronicle.com/article/a-un...
U. of Nebraska’s Attempt to Measure Academic Programs’ Productivity Draws Faculty Ire
Administrators at the Lincoln campus say insufficient state aid and a decline in enrollment resulted in a $27.5-million budget deficit.
www.chronicle.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
This is a good article from @leegee.bsky.social on the academic program review at Nebraska. This is the one using Academic Analytics and AAU membership-based metrics. www.chronicle.com/article/a-un...
Reposted by Kevin R. McClure
To prep for the higher ed policy class on censorship next week, I'm rereading Schrecker's No Ivory Tower. Buddy this intro has it all! SCOTUS jumping on the bandwagon, disregard of first amendment rights, why congressional hearings played such a key role, how private companies aided the government.
October 30, 2025 at 6:54 PM
To prep for the higher ed policy class on censorship next week, I'm rereading Schrecker's No Ivory Tower. Buddy this intro has it all! SCOTUS jumping on the bandwagon, disregard of first amendment rights, why congressional hearings played such a key role, how private companies aided the government.
Chronicle moratorium on op-eds related to FIRE or AAUP (I'll allow the latter if it's related to an AAUP policy document as opposed to debating the advocacy agenda of the organization).
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Chronicle moratorium on op-eds related to FIRE or AAUP (I'll allow the latter if it's related to an AAUP policy document as opposed to debating the advocacy agenda of the organization).
I regret to inform you that simply not sending emails *is* a good strategy for getting fewer emails.
November 3, 2025 at 3:44 PM
I regret to inform you that simply not sending emails *is* a good strategy for getting fewer emails.
Starbucks is out here trying to sell a $2 protein cold foam with 3g of protein.
November 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Starbucks is out here trying to sell a $2 protein cold foam with 3g of protein.
Alright, seems like a solid midwest/great lakes thing. But also some south-ish.
Did/do you call lollipops "suckers" and where are you from?
November 1, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Alright, seems like a solid midwest/great lakes thing. But also some south-ish.
Did/do you call lollipops "suckers" and where are you from?
November 1, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Did/do you call lollipops "suckers" and where are you from?
Is it asking too much for a federal law requiring companies to use the brown packaging tape that's easy to rip versus the clear plastic kind?
October 31, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Is it asking too much for a federal law requiring companies to use the brown packaging tape that's easy to rip versus the clear plastic kind?
I'm spending a lot of time getting people to complete an online training where it's not easy see where the final submit button is.
October 31, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I'm spending a lot of time getting people to complete an online training where it's not easy see where the final submit button is.