Afternoon Update: How a College Decides Who Its Peers Are

College pays $400,000 to professor punished for pronouns; St. Vincent College reacts to racist lectures; Penn State-Altoona cuts 6 programs; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. THE REVIEW | OPINION [How a College Decides Who Its Peers Are]( By Susan Poser [STORY IMAGE]( Questions of institutional identity are at the core of the process. ADVERTISEMENT BACKGROUNDER [Who Does Your College Think Its Peers Are?]( By Jacquelyn Elias [STORY IMAGE]( The Chronicle compiled the peer institutions for nearly 1,500 institutions from the 2020-21 year. BACKGROUNDER [‘An Art and a Science’: Colleges’ Tricky Task of Selecting Peers]( By Audrey Williams June [STORY IMAGE]( Institutions’ choices say something about their values, perceived status, and aspirations. THE REVIEW [The Yale Law School — or the Yale School of Drama?]( By Len Gutkin [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, David Duchovny’s aborted Ph.D. IN THE CLASSROOM [College to Pay $400,000 to Professor Punished for Refusing to Use Student’s Pronouns]( The faculty member was penalized after he said his Christian beliefs prevented him from meeting a transgender student’s request that she be addressed as a woman. He sued, and Shawnee State University, in Ohio, settled with him after a court allowed the lawsuit to proceed. (Yahoo News) UGLY WORDS [Saint Vincent College Responds to Racism Claims in Lectures Last Week]( After speakers said Black people in America have more privilege than white people do, and Vice President Kamala D. Harris had attained her post because of her race, leaders of the Pittsburgh-area college denounced racism. One said the comments had “made me cringe.” (Trib Total Media) CURRICULUM [Penn State at Altoona Will Cut 6 Programs]( Programs to be dropped are integrative arts, mathematics, science, political science, the associate degree in science, and minors in math and dance. In addition, eight faculty contracts will not be renewed, and eight faculty searches have been canceled or postponed. (Altoona Mirror) PUBLISHING [A White Academic’s Book About Black Feminism Is Pulled After an Outcry]( [Critics]( of Bad and Boujee: Toward a Trap Feminist Theology cited cultural appropriation, a failure to credit Black women in the field, the use of Black vernacular, and a cover photo implying the author is Black. The publisher said those were “serious and valid” objections. (The New York Times, Sojourners) EVENTS [Browse Upcoming and On-Demand Virtual Events]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join a discussion with national experts and leading practitioners on how to navigate an uncertain future and what new ideas your institution can pursue. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. SPONSOR CONTENT | New Jersey Institute of Technology [A STEM Powerhouse, NJIT Makes Partnerships Industry Standard]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Library of the Future]( [The Library of the Future]( Academic libraries occupy a central position on campus, literally and figuratively. Explore the challenges libraries and librarians have endured in recent years, how this transformation is affecting institutions, and the ways they’ve adapted to it. [Order your copy today.]( NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK What did you think of today’s newsletter? [Strongly disliked]( | [It was ok]( | [Loved it]( 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. © 2022 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037