Your Career: Finding solutions for teaching angst

How can administrators help instructors who are struggling to teach disengaged students? ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. How can administrators help instructors who are struggling to teach disengaged students? If you’re on any academic social-media channels, you have surely read the stream of teaching angst from faculty members. They say the many classroom problems that were identified after in-person teaching resumed — low attention span, poor work ethic, aggressive behavior — have only gotten worse this academic year. Any problem that affects faculty and staff members and students is a managerial and leadership problem, too. The question is: What can administrators do to help, and not make things worse through inaction or missteps? First, leaders must appreciate that the “disengagement problem” can vary by educational setting, population, instructor, and discipline. One of the slippery slopes of being an administrator and having access to the big data — institutional dashboards of aggregate numbers for graduation rates, enrollment, retention, and so on — is that it’s easy to lose sight of the need to disaggregate to individual groups and to individuals. Not all college students are going through the same post-pandemic academic challenges. That means the potential fixes must be nuanced. The best solutions may come from the collaborative efforts of department chairs in similar disciplines, rather than from a top-down, one-size-fits-all approach. A leader’s role can be to get people talking and to come up with the money to support new programs they propose. Continue reading: “[Admin 101: How to Help Professors in Their ‘Worst Semester Ever,’]( by David D. Perlmutter Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. A Reading Riddle Have you noticed a change in students’ willingness or ability to read? While this has been a challenge going back decades, some faculty members [feel]( like we’ve hit a [crisis point](. Many students aren’t doing the class readings, instructors say, or have difficulty understanding and interpreting what they read. Their tolerance for challenging readings has declined. Students may also have trouble rephrasing arguments, synthesizing lecture notes, and contrasting and categorizing what they read. Our Beth McMurtrie is digging into the what and why of this issue and wants to hear from you. You can write to her at beth.mcmurtrie@chronicle.com or fill out this [Google form](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [Ask the Chair: ‘Who Do I Turn To for Advice?’]( By Kevin Dettmar [STORY IMAGE]( Being a department head involves difficult and often-isolating work, but you don’t have to do it alone. SPONSOR CONTENT | Queen’s University Belfast [Leading the Charge in Green Technology Innovation]( ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [It’s Time to Start Teaching Your Students How to Be a Student]( By Emily J. Isaacs [STORY IMAGE]( The role that professors need to take in today’s college classrooms departs sharply from the one they tend to prefer. ACADEMIC FREEDOM [A New Indiana Law Will Enforce ‘Intellectual Diversity’ for Professors. Here’s What It Might Mean.]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( The law’s provisions have raised fears of intrusion into academic freedom and other possible unintended consequences. FEELING MUZZLED [UCLA Punished a Prominent Scientist for ‘Destructive and Harmful Conduct.’ She Says It’s ‘Unjust Persecution.’]( By Katherine Mangan [STORY IMAGE]( Priyanga Amarasekare was suspended and later put on involuntary leave for breaching the Faculty Code of Conduct. She hopes that speaking out will help clear her name. RESEARCH INTEGRITY [Here’s the Unsealed Report Showing How Harvard Concluded That a Dishonesty Expert Committed Misconduct]( By Stephanie M. Lee [STORY IMAGE]( Francesca Gino said that another professor could have meddled with her data — but Harvard said she didn’t offer any proof. GOVERNANCE DISPUTE [Does This University Senate Have Too Much Power?]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( Trustees and administrators have initiated a study of shared governance at the University of Kentucky. Faculty members see an effort to strip them of their authority over educational policy. FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Fostering Students' Free Expression - Buy Now]( [Get 12 Months]( [of Chronicle Reports]( [Order our new]( Digital Reports Bundle and save on a year’s worth of in-depth reports. Buy before March 31 to secure a copy of our latest release, Higher Education in 2035, plus The Athletics Advantage and A Toolbox for Deans as a one-time bonus. SPONSOR CONTENT | University of North Carolina Charlotte [Recipe for Success]( UNC Charlotte's focus on diversity isn't just a goal—it's a mission. Discover how the university's commitment to inclusivity drives innovation and excellence in the tech industry. What we’re reading Here’s more on career issues and trends from around the web. See something we should include? [Let me know](mailto:denise.magner@chronicle.com?subject=Your Career feedback). - An [essay]( in the Harvard Business Review offers an “introvert’s guide to visibility in the workplace.” - A [report]( in The Wall Street Journal on “post-achievement” professionals who aren’t retired, aren’t motivated by money, and “have zero to prove.” - In Roxane Gay’s latest [Work Friend]( column in The New York Times, she offers advice on how to deal with the use of AI tools in the workplace. MORE CAREER RESOURCES [Career Services at the Center]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: March 26, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. In a tough job market for recent graduates, colleges must better integrate career support into their programs. Join us for an expert panel on what they’re doing. With Support From the University of Florida. [Register here.]( [The Chatbot Student Experience: What Lies Ahead?]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: April 3, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. New AI tools expand chatbot capabilities, making them more helpful to students in navigating admissions and enrollment. This forum will explore best practices for chatbots on campus. With Support From AWS. [Register here.]( DATA [How Much Are Public-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 195 chief executives at public doctoral universities and systems in 2022. DATA [How Much Are Private-College Presidents Paid?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Base pay, bonuses, and benefits for 312 chief executives at private colleges with expenditures of $100 million or more in 2021. Upcoming Workshop [The Chronicle's Women Leading Change Program | Spring 2024] [Join us this spring]( for a virtual professional development program designed for women leaders across various roles in higher ed. This workshop series will help participants better understand the complex set of challenges they may face and think creatively to implement transformative change on their campuses. [Reserve your spot today!]( JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Assistant/Associate Professor of International Business]( Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina [Search other jobs.]( CAREER RESOURCES [Career Resources]( [Read the March collection]( for insights on navigating the anticipation of job offers. Explore our topics on how hiring decisions transpire, managing anxiety, and what to do if you receive an offer! NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037