Afternoon Update: Is Africa the Next Big Thing in International Admissions?

Faculty strike ends at Illinois-Chicago; AAUP to investigate Hamline; federal earmarks are higher-ed boon; $2.9-million hazing settlement; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now read The Chronicle on [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. GLOBAL PROSPECTS [Is Africa the Next Big Thing in International Admissions?]( By Karin Fischer [STORY IMAGE]( Home to more young people than anywhere else in the world, the continent has a growing middle class. ADVERTISEMENT ACADEMIC LABOR [U. of Illinois at Chicago Classes Resume After Faculty-Contract Deal Is Reached]( A four-day strike was suspended after the faculty union and administrators agreed late Sunday on a tentative contract that would raise minimum salaries and the salary pool, and would [expand mental-health support](. A vote to ratify the four-year deal has not been set. (WBEZ, The Chronicle) THE REVIEW [Diversity, Free Speech, and Blasphemy]( By Len Gutkin [STORY IMAGE]( Plus: Did a prominent scholar rat out striking grad students? ACADEMIC FREEDOM [AAUP Opens Inquiry Into Hamline U.]( The American Association of University Professors [said]( it would investigate the Minnesota university’s decision [not to rehire]( a part-time instructor after a [Muslim student complained]( about her showing an Islamic painting of the Prophet Muhammad in an art-history class. (AAUP, The Chronicle) ACADEMIC PORK [Federal Earmarks Are a Boon for Higher Ed]( Congress sent more than $1.7 billion to nearly 550 colleges and universities in earmarks in a vast spending bill enacted in December. Although a few institutions received tens of millions for projects, the median payment was $1.25 million, according to an Inside Higher Ed analysis. CAMPUS SAFETY [Stone Foltz’s Family Settles With Bowling Green State U. in Record Hazing Lawsuit]( The student died of alcohol poisoning in 2021 after a Pi Kappa Alpha initiation event. The fraternity was later permanently banned from the Ohio campus, and several former members were criminally charged. The suit alleged that Bowling Green had ignored hazing at its Greek-letter groups. The $2.9-million settlement is said to be the largest in such a case in state history. (The Plain Dealer) STUDENT LIFE [Fraternities and Sororities Say U. of Dubuque Blindsided Them With Suspension]( The Iowa university’s administration said the groups’ chapters had just 10 active members, and most would be graduating this spring. (KCRG) ATHLETICS [U. at Albany Basketball Coach Pleads Not Guilty in Alleged Assault of Player]( Dwayne Killings, who coaches the men’s team on the State University of New York campus, was accused of pushing one of his players against a locker and slapping him across the face before a 2021 game. The university fined Killings $25,000 and suspended him for five games. (Times Union) FINANCES [Board Chair of Maryland’s College-Savings Program Resigns Amid Criticism of Problems]( Peter Tsirigotis quit on Friday, a day after state lawmakers assailed his agency’s handling of problems in one of its college-savings plans. Hundreds of families have been unable to use all of the money in their accounts, and some have scrambled to pay tuition this year. (The Washington Post) 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 | University of Birmingham [Thinking critically about Big Data]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Reimagining the Student Experience - The Chronicle Store]( [Reimagining the Student Experience]( Many colleges are intentionally rethinking and reshaping what has broadly become known as the student experience. [Order your copy today]( to explore the many forces affecting the student experience with the goal of making students’ time on campus more engaging. 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. © 2023 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037