Afternoon Update: Higher ed’s hybrid workplace looks as if it’s here to stay

How colleges expect to manage Covid this fall; West Virginia U. and Dickinson State U. plan sweeping program cuts and faculty layoffs; 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](. 'MORALE BOOSTER' [Higher Ed’s Hybrid Workplace Looks as if It’s Here to Stay — With Some Misgivings]( By Megan Zahneis [STORY IMAGE]( Many administrators and faculty members support a hybrid-work option, according to a new Chronicle survey. But they’re ambivalent about whether it is best for workers and students. ADVERTISEMENT CAMPUS HEALTH [How Are Colleges Planning to Manage Covid This Fall?]( By Sarah Brown [STORY IMAGE]( A survey by the American College Health Association says a majority of respondents are recommending that students be vaccinated, even as the federal public-health emergency has ended. CAMPUS CUTS I [Proposed Program Cuts at West Virginia U. Are Disclosed in Advance of Announcement]( The university, which seeks an “academic transformation” [to deal with]( a projected $45-million deficit, planned to notify the campus of it on Monday. But in posts on Thursday, faculty members reported that the departments of public administration and of world languages, literatures, and linguistics would be eliminated, and English and math would be sharply cut. (The Daily Athenaeum, The Chronicle) CAMPUS CUTS II [Dickinson State U. Looks to Cut Tenured Professors in Vast Academic Restructuring]( The president of the university in North Dakota wants to distill its nine academic departments into four schools in part to close a projected $1-million deficit. The plan’s rapid timeline — with layoffs to be announced within seven weeks — is raising hackles on campus. (Higher Ed Dive) STUDENT DEBT [San Francisco Will Forgive Overdue City College Fees to Lure Students Back to Campus]( More than 13,000 people who are prevented from taking classes at the community college because they owe past fees will benefit from the plan, in which the city will pay $2.1 million to clear their debts. (San Francisco 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 Bootcamp for Future Faculty Leaders] [Join us in September]( for a professional development program tailored to the needs of midcareer faculty. Experienced academic leaders and faculty members will provide insights on the diverse professional paths that might be taken by faculty members in this one-day virtual program. [Register today!]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [College as a Public Good - The Chronicle Store]( [College as a Public Good]( 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