Weekly Briefing: Rutgers's president struck a deal with protesters. He tried to defend it to Congress.

Some UC instructors make less than their TAs; professors share tactics to improve students' readings skills; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Weekly Briefing Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. Rutgers’s president sits in the hot seat - He started his presidency during the pandemic. This week, he defended himself before Congress. Jonathan S. Holloway, president of Rutgers University’s three campuses, struck a deal earlier this month with pro-Palestinian student groups who had set up tents on the New Brunswick campus. Administrators told activists to negotiate or be cleared by force. Though there was no violence or arrests at New Brunswick, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican of North Carolina, called the tactic “shocking” and summoned Holloway and two other college presidents to testify before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Read [our Francie Diep’s profile on Holloway](. - How did that hearing go? Here’s something that stood out to our newsroom: Holloway was asked if he was currently being considered to lead Yale University — and responded that he was not. Close readers of Francie’s story will note that Holloway earned his Ph.D. at Yale and was the first Black dean of Yale College, and he [was rumored]( to be in the running for the presidency. - At the University of California, some TAs are making more than faculty members. About 48,000 graduate students, postdocs, and researchers in the University of California system went on strike in 2022 and won pay increases and expanded benefits. The minimum academic-year pay for first-year teaching assistants will increase from $25,000 to $36,000 this fall. For some lecturers, learning that their TAs are paid more than them is difficult to accept. Now the union that represents librarians and non-tenure-track lecturers wants administrators to confront the “pay inversion.” [Our Adrienne Lu reports](. - Who does your college think its peers are? Every year, colleges select their peer institutions when reporting to the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. They get a customized report that compares their performance to that of their chosen peers based on measures like enrollment, graduation rates, and average staff salaries. Our Jacquelyn Elias created and updated [this interactive visualization]( with data from the 2022-23 year, so you can see who your college thinks its peers are and who thinks your college is a peer. - How instructors are improving students’ literacy skills. Last week, this newsletter shared [our Beth McMurtrie’s story]( on students coming to college less willing and able to read. In this week’s Teaching newsletter, Beth shared tactics from instructors who are trying to tackle this challenge. [Read them here](. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. ADVERTISEMENT Lagniappe - Read. Happy Memorial Day weekend. Let’s kick off summer-reading season by sharing what we’re reading. Brand-new book or borrowed and beat paperback, they’re all great. Tell me what you’re reading, and I’ll share in a future newsletter: fernanda@chronicle.com. - Listen. I heard the song “[A Quiet Thing]( by Wes Montgomery on the radio while I was working and immediately stopped to listen (sorry, editors!) because I found it so wonderful. I hope the same happens to you. —Fernanda 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 current trends in higher ed, effective ways to manage a department, strategic planning, and more. [Register today!]( Chronicle Top Reads LOOMING LIABILITIES [A Major Sports Settlement Is Poised to Cost Colleges Billions. How Would They Pay for It?]( By Nell Gluckman [STORY IMAGE]( Hundreds of universities are hammering out a historic deal, the consequences of which could touch every part of campus. SPONSOR CONTENT | Skanska [Green Campuses, Greener Futures: The Mass Timber Revolution]( Learn how institutions like Princeton University are leveraging mass timber to achieve ambitious sustainability goals, reducing carbon footprints while enhancing campus landscapes. DISCIPLINED FOR DIPLOMACY [College Presidents Are Getting in Trouble for Cutting Deals With Protesters]( By Kate Hidalgo Bellows [STORY IMAGE]( Critics say the agreements excuse protesters’ rhetoric and violations of campus policy. POLITICAL SCUFFLE [A University Title IX Official Is Suspended After Saying He’d Comply With Title IX]( By Sarah Brown [STORY IMAGE]( The action by the Texas A&M University system underscores an escalating conflict over the federal law, which governs how colleges handle complaints of sexual harassment and other sex-based discrimination. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Athletics Advantage - The Chronicle Store]( [The Athletics Advantage]( For tuition-driven institutions, sports are often a key recruiting tool. [Order this report]( for insights on how small colleges are using athletics to drive student enrollment, engagement, and retention. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Search jobs on The Chronicle job board]( [Find Your Next Role Today]( Whether you are actively or passively searching for your next career opportunity, The Chronicle is here to support you throughout your job search. Get started now by [exploring 30,000+ openings]( or [signing up for job alerts](. 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