Afternoon Update: Ben Sasse steps down before he gets the chance to reshape U. of Florida

Vance is coming for higher ed; piloting a postacademic career; protests cost U. of California $29 million; Michigan fires tenured professor; 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](. LEADERSHIP [Ben Sasse Came to U. of Florida to Reshape Higher Ed. He Stepped Down Before He Got the Chance.]( By Eric Kelderman [STORY IMAGE]( The former Republican U.S. senator, who was named president in 2022, is resigning to help his wife deal with serious health issues. ADVERTISEMENT [Ben Sasse Came to U. of Florida to Reshape Higher Ed. He Stepped Down Before He Got the Chance.]( THE REVIEW | ESSAY [J.D. Vance Is Coming for Higher Ed]( By Eboo Patel [STORY IMAGE]( Trump’s pick for VP has academe in his sights. ADVICE [How to Pilot a Postacademic Career]( By William Pannapacker and Jennifer Polk [STORY IMAGE]( Two Ph.D.s who left academe and now run their own businesses offer advice on professional transitions. CAMPUS UNREST [This Spring’s Campus Protests Cost U. of California $29 Million, Mostly for Policing]( According to preliminary estimates, the highest costs for the [protests over the Israel-Hamas war]( — $10 million — were incurred on the university’s Los Angeles campus, where a [melee between protesters and counterprotesters]( went on for hours, did substantial damage, resulted in many injuries, and was followed by hundreds of arrests. (Los Angeles Times, The Chronicle) FACULTY [U. of Michigan Board Fires Nursing Professor Who Had Tenure]( The Board of Regents voted on Thursday to dismiss Robert Stephenson, who had been on paid leave for more than a year. The university declined to say why he had been fired, but documents obtained by The Detroit News show that the move followed an investigation that found he had sexually harassed two people in his lab. Stephenson’s lawyer declined to comment to the News. STUDENT LIFE [U. of California at San Diego Gets Approval to Build 6,000-Bed Housing Village]( The $2-billion plan to construct towering dormitories, which was endorsed this week by UC’s Board of Regents, aims to help ease the university’s chronic housing shortage — a [common]( problem [across the 10-campus system]( and [across the state]( that has resulted in [controversial]( building [proposals](. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Chronicle) TECHNOLOGY [Texas A&M U. Cancels Classes in Response to CrowdStrike Outage]( The university system’s flagship, in College Station, said the campus would remain open as it deals with the impact of the software problem, which comes from a widely used cybersecurity tool. The [university emphasized]( that the problem is not a cyberattack but a technical fault. Meantime, Michigan’s [Henry Ford College said]( it would be closed today because of the outage. (KBTX, college statements) Upcoming Workshop [The Chronicle's Crash Course in Academic Leadership | August 2024] If you’re curious about becoming an academic administrator, we’re once again offering The Chronicle’s Academic Leadership Crash Course, a four-hour virtual workshop designed for faculty aspiring to administrative roles. Join us in August to gain essential insights, practical tips, and valuable resources that will help you pursue your next professional step. [Learn more and register!]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Adapting to AI - The Chronicle Store]( [Adapting to AI]( Artificial intelligence has taken higher ed by storm, and the implications extend far beyond the classroom. [Order this report]( to improve your understanding of AI technologies, and explore how other colleges are adapting their policies and guidelines. 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](. 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