Afternoon Update: How a student emergency-aid experiment became a lifeline

DEI ban in Texas nears passage; AAUP says Hamline U. violated academic freedom; U. of Michigan buys $75 million in regent's properties; 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](. GIVING HOPE [How a Student Emergency-Aid Experiment Became a Lifeline]( By Eric Hoover [STORY IMAGE]( An initiative at Milwaukee Area Technical College that put faculty and staff members in charge of offering emergency assistance to students has spread to 28 institutions. ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [Why Calls for a ‘Return to Rigor’ Are Wrong]( By Kevin Gannon [STORY IMAGE]( What’s the point of pursuing “solutions” that exacerbate student disengagement, the very problem they are supposed to solve? THE REVIEW [Our Most-Read Stories This Year So Far]( By Len Gutkin [STORY IMAGE]( Plus, summer reading recommendations from Chronicle staffers. ANTI-DEI BILLS [A Ban on Texas Public Universities’ Diversity Offices Inches Closer to Becoming Law]( The Texas House on Friday gave preliminary approval to legislation that would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and programs as well as mandatory diversity training. The bill was amended in several ways, so if the House passes it, differences with a stricter measure in the Senate would have to be worked out. Meantime, the House [took no action]( on a bill to ban the teaching of [critical race theory]( and the measure died. (The Texas Tribune, The Chronicle) STUDENT SUCCESS [Texas Is Poised to Fund Community Colleges Based on Student Outcomes]( The state Senate unanimously approved a House bill on Friday to fund the state’s community colleges based on how many of their students graduate with a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year university. Currently, the colleges are largely funded based on the number of hours students spend in a classroom. (The Texas Tribune) FACULTY [Report Finds Hamline U. Violated Academic Freedom]( The American Association of University Professors says in a [report]( that the private university in Minnesota violated the academic freedom of Erika López Prater after a student complained of having been offended by the adjunct professor’s presentation of two centuries-old images of the Prophet Muhammad during her art-history class last October. After the [incident]( which [Hamline called]( “Islamophobic” even though the [Muslim world]( is itself [divided]( over [such artworks]( López Prater was [let go](. She has since sued the university, and its [president]( has [resigned](. (AAUP, The Chronicle) FACILITIES [U. of Michigan Board Approves $75-Million Purchase of Regent-Assembled Properties]( The university said it was buying the dozens of properties in Ann Arbor at cost from Ron Weiser, a [controversial]( board member who brought them together for purchase. The land will be used for campus housing. (Crain’s Detroit Business, Detroit Free Press) TITLE IX ALLEGATIONS [Cal State Didn’t Examine Claims That Fullerton President Inproperly Touched Students]( Campus officials were notified of reports in 2019 and 2021 accusing Framroze Virjee of inappropriately touching students but never investigated. The reports involve alleged unwanted contact to which the students objected, though Virjee, who plans to retire in July, said he had done nothing wrong and had not been informed of the reports. Cal State, which has [drawn criticism]( for [alleged sexual misconduct]( by [other]( [leaders]( said it had not investigated because the allegations were “unverified and unsubstantiated” and the students did not file formal complaints. (Los Angeles Times, The Chronicle) CAMPUS CUTS [5 Executives Are Fired at Indiana U. of Pennsylvania to Cut Costs and Red Tape]( The public university, whose enrollment has plummeted since 2010, said other officials would handle the duties of two vice presidents, the chief marketing officer, and two associate vice presidents. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) GRADUATION PROTEST [Hollywood CEO Is Booed at Boston U. Commencement Over Writers’ Strike]( David Zaslav, chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery and a BU alumnus, faced boos and jeers from audience members on Sunday during his speech at the university’s graduation ceremony. The protesters shouted expletives and chanted, “Pay your writers!” and “We don’t want you here!” (The Washington Post) GRADUATION PROTEST [New College of Florida Graduates Turn Their Backs in Protest of Leaders and Changes]( In the public college’s first commencement since a [conservative takeover]( of its [board]( dismissal of its president, and [tenure denials]( for [five professors]( hundreds of students and other attendees at Friday’s event wore masks and turned their backs. The graduation took place a day after a student-run [alternative ceremony](. (Sarasota Herald-Tribune, The 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!]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Restructuring a University - The Chronicle Store]( [Restructuring a University]( In 2022, Henderson State University declared financial exigency after realizing it could no longer avoid hard choices. This case study of the university’s path to near-ruin highlights lessons for any college leader contemplating a restructuring to keep an institution viable. [Order your copy]( to learn about key factors to consider in a restructuring process. 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