Afternoon Update: UNC-Chapel Hill all but bans asking applicants about racial experiences

Occidental drops legacy preferences; U. of Hawaii pays ransomware gang; Virginia Commonwealth cuts 14 faculty jobs; Dormzilla may be dead; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. ADMISSIONS [New UNC-Chapel Hill Policy All but Bans Asking Applicants About Racial Experiences]( The University of North Carolina campus’s Board of Trustees approved changes in the flagship’s nondiscrimination policy that critics said exceeded last month’s [Supreme Court decision striking down race-conscious admissions](. The new policy would make it nearly impossible to craft questions — or consider answers — about how race has affected an applicant’s life. (NC Newsline, The Chronicle) ADVERTISEMENT ENROLLMENT [Occidental College Joins Wave of Campuses Dropping Legacy Preferences]( The small liberal-arts college in California, where Barack Obama started his undergraduate studies, will no longer give special treatment to the children of alumni. Occidental is the [latest college]( to do so since last month’s [Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious admissions]( drew [attention]( — and [criticism]( — to [legacy preferences]( and who benefits from them. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) TECHNOLOGY [U. of Hawaii Pays Ransomware Gang to Prevent Data Leak From Cyberattack]( In a [written statement]( the university said it had resolved an attack on the Hawaii Community College network by making “the difficult decision to negotiate with the threat actors” to protect 28,000 people “whose sensitive information might have been compromised.” The statement strongly implies but does not explicitly state that a ransom was paid. The network is being restored. (Bleeping Computer) [‘My Heart Has Been Yearning for Home’: An Indigenous Student’s Journey]( [STORY IMAGE]( Alicia Gangone, a master’s-degree student at Wichita State University, has overcome many challenges and hopes to help other Native American students. CAMPUS CUTS [Virginia Commonwealth U. Cuts at Least 14 Faculty Jobs to Deal With Budget Shortfall]( The termination of faculty contracts followed the university’s announcement last month that it would need to slash as much as $25 million from its budget and 100 to 150 jobs. (Richmond Times-Dispatch) DEATH OF DORMZILLA? [UC-Santa Barbara Seeks Alternative Designs for Munger Hall Mega-Dorm]( The University of California campus has asked architects to propose a new dormitory at the campus location reserved for a [controversial residence hall]( to be designed by, funded by, and named for a [billionaire donor]( Charlie Munger. UCSB has not officially dropped plans for [Munger Hall]( which [drew criticism]( for its size, lack of windows, and other features. (Santa Barbara Independent, The Chronicle) FACILITIES [System Plans to Sell U. of Georgia President’s House, Citing Cost of Maintenance]( The University System of Georgia, which has already sold such residences on other campuses, said the proceeds would be used for student-success initiatives. It said the 9,000-square-foot mansion, on five acres of land, needed millions of dollars in repairs and upgrades. (Athens Banner-Herald) 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. 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