Afternoon Update: The past month has seen a flurry of no-confidence votes in college presidents

Colleges can change; lawyerization of higher ed; applying for dean; teaching the Israel-Hamas war; zombie colleges; prehistory's lessons; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL [The Past Month Has Seen a Flurry of No-Confidence Votes in College Presidents]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( The Israel-Hamas war has sparked many recent votes by faculty members, but it’s not the only reason. ADVERTISEMENT THE REVIEW | OPINION [Colleges Need to Change. But Can They?]( By James Shulman [STORY IMAGE]( Inertia rules the day. New thinking could upend that. THE REVIEW | OPINION [The Lawyerization of Higher Education]( By Louis H. Guard and Joyce P. Jacobsen [STORY IMAGE]( A wildly expanded legal presence on campuses is here to stay. ADVICE [Ask the Chair: ‘Should I Apply for a Deanship?’]( By Kevin Dettmar [STORY IMAGE]( How to balance your sense of obligation to your department with what you really want out of your career. THE REVIEW | ESSAY [What We Can Learn From Ancient History (and What We Can’t)]( By Jacob Mikanowski [STORY IMAGE]( Two new books take very different approaches to the study of humanity’s origins. TEACHING [How to Teach About Contentious Topics Like Israel and Hamas]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( One professor shares his approach to debating fraught issues. SCAM ALERT [Zombie Colleges Are Living Another Life Online, and No One Can Say Why]( An investigation by USA Today found nine defunct colleges that have been [resurrected online]( by both American and foreign scammers, in order to collect money (and maybe identities) from would-be students. None of the purported colleges is accredited or can receive federal student aid, and their websites list nonexistent locations and personnel. LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE [Louisiana Governor’s Potential Power Over Higher Ed Is Pulled Back in Senate Bill]( The legislation [would originally have given]( Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, unprecedented authority over appointed boards and commissions, including the ability to hire presidents of public university-system campuses. The State Senate amended the measure, which could have threatened the campuses’ accreditation, so it would not cover those presidents. (Louisiana Illuminator) THE ALTERNATIVE [Occidental College to Vote on Divesting From Israeli-Linked Companies]( Under a deal with pro-Palestinian protesters, the California institution’s board will take the vote. In return, the protesters will dismantle their encampment, will not rebuild it later, and will not disrupt commencement. Occidental also said it would not discipline protesters. The deal makes Occidental [one of a handful]( of colleges to [peacefully end encampment](. (Los Angeles Times, The Chronicle) LOCAL POLITICS [County Restores Funding to Piedmont Virginia Community College]( The Louisa County Board of Supervisors had [yanked $5,859 in support]( after a documentary film, Israelism, was screened on campus. Board members deemed the film antisemitic and cut the funding last month, but they voted unanimously to restore it after hearing from the college president. (WVIR) LEADERSHIP [President of Cornell U. to Retire on June 30]( Martha E. Pollack has led the New York university for more than seven years. The provost, Michael I. Kotlikoff, will serve as interim president starting on July 1. (University statement) UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs | June 2024] [Join us in June]( for a professional development program tailored to the needs of department chairs. Experienced academic leaders will provide insights on the the current trends in higher ed, effective ways to manage a department, strategic planning, and more. [Register today!]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Virtual Events: Tune In Live COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS [The Future of Academic Internships]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: May 15, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. What if colleges offered internship opportunities to every student who wanted one? Join us to discuss the future of college internships. With Support From Strada. [Register here.]( STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP [Working Together to Improve the Institution]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: May 23, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. How can colleges succeed in challenging, hypercompetitive times? The answer may be cohesion and cooperation, says a new survey on shared governance. Join us to discuss it. With Support From Huron. 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