Afternoon Update: The campus job talk from hell

Columbia won't submit undergrad data to "U.S. News"; student apologizes for racist video; New College fires instructor, a DeSantis critic; 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](. THE REVIEW | ESSAY [The Campus Job Talk From Hell]( By Michael W. Clune [STORY IMAGE]( Threats. Psychosis. A gun. ADVERTISEMENT THE PECKING ORDER [Columbia U. Will Not Submit Data to the ‘U.S. News’ Undergraduate Rankings]( The university said an “exhaustive internal review,” which followed [accusations]( that [it had]( submitted [spurious data]( for the [rankings]( had led it to stop cooperating with U.S. News & World Report. It also made that decision because of concerns, like those cited recently by [law]( and [medical]( schools, that the [rankings]( skew [institutional priorities](. And it said it had posted online all relevant data about its three undergraduate programs. (Columbia statement, The Chronicle) RACE ON CAMPUS [Catch Up on the Roiling Debate Over Diversity Statements]( By Adrienne Lu [STORY IMAGE]( We’ve compiled a list of things to read about the effectiveness, legality, and controversies concerning diversity statements. UGLY WORDS [U. of Wisconsin at Madison Student Apologizes for Racist Video That Sparked Protests]( Audrey Godlewski, whose racial slurs and violent remarks about Black people circulated widely on social media last month, said in a public statement that she was sorry for the “pain and anger” she had caused, calling her comments “utterly disgusting and unacceptable.” Protesters had [called for her expulsion]( but the university said the First Amendment protected her remarks. (The Daily Cardinal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) FLORIDA FACULTY [New College of Fla. Fires Instructor, a DeSantis Critic, After Invitation to Black Scholar]( Erik Wallenberg, a visiting professor and the college’s only instructor in American history, said his contract had not been renewed by the interim president, Richard Corcoran, who was installed after [the governor’s]( board appointees [staged]( a [conservative takeover]( of the [public liberal-arts college](. A key factor, Wallenberg said, was his decision to have Marvin Dunn, a Black historian and another critic of the governor, speak to his class in April. (Miami New Times, The Chronicle) FINANCES [U. of Minnesota Students Will Get Bigger Refunds of Fees From Pandemic Semester]( The university has settled a class-action lawsuit involving some 60,000 students on all of its campuses who said they should have received more money back after Covid-19 forced a systemwide shutdown in the spring of 2020. The university has already issued $35.4 million in refunds. It is not yet known how much more it might pay. (St. Paul Pioneer Press) DISABILITY RIGHTS [Jury Awards $240,000 to Blind Students Who Sued Community College Over Accessibility]( The two students and the National Federation of the Blind [accused the Los Angeles Community College District]( of violating federal disability law because math and other courses were not accessible to blind students who use screen readers. (Statement by plaintiffs’ law firm, jury’s verdict) CAMPUS CUTS [U. of Toledo Plans to Slash Spending 7% in Next Fiscal Year’s Budget]( Among the cutbacks in the 2024 budget are the Ohio university’s staff of student-success coaches, about 20 people who help thousands of students by steering them to resources and keeping them on track to graduate. (WTOL) ATHLETICS [Harvard’s Women’s Ice-Hockey Coach Retires Amid Investigation Into Program]( Katey Stone, who has more wins than any other female coach of women’s hockey in collegiate history, retired today. The announcement comes amid an external review of the program following articles in [The Athletic]( and [The Boston Globe]( that included allegations of mistreatment of players as well as claims of hazing, required “naked skates,” and a “mental-health Hunger Games.” (The Athletic) RESEARCH [Postdoctoral System in Life Sciences Is Teetering, Imperiling Efforts to Diversify]( New life-science Ph.D.s who have started families or have big loans, or who are Black or female, say they plan to pursue postdoc positions — often seen as a sure path to a faculty job — at lower rates than their peers, according to an analysis of previously unreported national data. (STAT) INTERNATIONAL [Chinese Universities Raise Tuition Fees by as Much as 54%]( The fee increases have been spurred by a financial crunch among local governments and budget cuts for higher ed by the national government. The universities, almost all of them public, rely heavily on government support. (Reuters) 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 professional development seminars on the top issues in higher ed. Expert panelists will provide insights on national trends, managing conflict, fostering inclusive culture, and more. Our seminars are available in a bundle and for individual purchase. [Register today!]( SPONSOR CONTENT | The University at Buffalo [The University at Buffalo launches historic faculty-hiring initiative]( 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