Afternoon Update: How diverse are student populations on college campuses in the U.S.?

Let students annotate syllabi; Texas House to fight Senate over bills to ban tenure and DEI; court overturns two Varsity Blues convictions; 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 [Apple News]( [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. DATA [How Diverse Are Student Populations on College Campuses in the U.S.?]( [STORY IMAGE]( Explore new data on the race, ethnicity, and gender of students at more than 3,800 colleges and universities. ADVERTISEMENT TEACHING [Looking for Feedback? Ask Students to Annotate the Syllabus.]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( Professors share their strategies for getting more-meaningful course evaluations from students. DUELING LEGISLATION [Texas House Signals Readiness to Fight Senate Over Bills to Ban Tenure and DEI Efforts]( Rep. John Kuempel, the Republican sponsor of the House legislation, pledged to defend [his measure]( which would dial back [Senate bills]( to [eliminate tenure]( and diversity, equity, and inclusion offices. But faculty members and students at the state’s public colleges say that the [House version would]( still [hurt higher ed](. (The Texas Tribune, The Chronicle) DEI ON CAMPUS [U. of Wisconsin Cuts Diversity Statements From Hiring Process]( The move on the [controversial]( [statements]( may still not be enough to appease Republican legislators, who, as in [other states]( are pushing for the [elimination]( of colleges’ diversity, equity, and inclusion offices altogether. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Chronicle) ADMISSIONS [Appeals Court Overturns Fraud and Conspiracy Convictions in Varsity Blues Scandal]( A three-judge panel found that a lower court had made crucial missteps in the trial of Gamal Abdelaziz and John Wilson, the first parents to take their chances in front of a jury. The two were [convicted]( in 2021 for their roles in [the college-admissions scandal]( in which scores of parents, coaches, and others were [accused of using bribery]( and other means to get [affluent students]( into [selective colleges](. (The New York Times, The Chronicle) GOVERNANCE [Florida Senate Refuses to Confirm One of DeSantis’s Trustees for New College]( The Senate adjourned without taking up the confirmation of Eddie Speir, even though it confirmed the Republican governor’s six other nominees to the small public college’s board. Speir had called for the firing of New College’s president and all faculty members. (Florida Politics) THE BORROWERS [Federal Student-Loan Interest Rates Will Rise to Highest Level in a Decade]( The rates on new loans of all types will increase by about half a percentage point on July 1, following the Treasury Department’s auction on Wednesday of 10-year notes, the government bond to which the rates are tied. The rates are recalculated each year. (Politico) THE NEW MEMBER [Texas Governor Signs Bill Adding Stephen F. Austin State U. to U. of Texas System]( The legislation signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, technically “abolishes” the existing institution in Nacogdoches, Tex., and establishes it as a new university under the authority of the university system’s Board of Regents. (Houston Chronicle) 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. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs] [Join us in June]( for a virtual professional development program which will provide the space, time, and tools to help department chairs take on the challenges and opportunities of the role. Through workshops, high-level seminars, and individual development plans, chairs will think strategically about their departmental and institutional impact. [Register today!]( SPONSOR CONTENT | Rice University [How Rice University is Enhancing Undergraduate Research]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Reimagining the Student Experience - The Chronicle Store]( [Trouble at the Top]( Many leaders and industry observers say it has been decades since the heat on presidents has been this intense. [Order your copy today]( to explore what today’s presidents are up against, how things are changing, and how to navigate new challenges. 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