Afternoon Update: Former students face defamation lawsuits for talking about sexual assault

The new AI tools; gauging good teaching; Rutgers won’t renew Newark chancellor’s contract; new adjuncts won't be employees at one college; and more. [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. LEGAL JEOPARDY [2 Former Students Face Defamation Lawsuits for Talking About Sexual Assault]( By Sarah Brown [STORY IMAGE]( In one case, a former vice president for student affairs at St. Norbert College alleged that a recent graduate had made false statements accusing him of silencing sexual-assault victims. ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [You’ve Checked Out the New AI Tools. Now What?]( By Michelle D. Miller [STORY IMAGE]( Three steps to help you envision the role of ChatGPT — first in your academic discipline and then in your classroom. TEACHING [The Right Measure for Good Teaching]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( Changing the way good teaching is defined and measured is key for elevating teaching, readers say. LEADERSHIP [Rutgers Won’t Renew Newark Chancellor’s Contract. Mayor and Other Leaders Object.]( The public-university system in New Jersey said Wednesday that Nancy Cantor — who previously led Syracuse University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — would step down next year. Rutgers’s president praised Cantor, but people close to her said she was not leaving voluntarily. Criticism came from the faculty, Newark’s mayor, and state legislators. (NorthJersey.com) FACULTY HIRING [New Adjunct Faculty Members Will No Longer Be College Employees on Michigan Campus]( The new instructors at Northwestern Michigan College will now be employees of Edustaff, an educational staffing company, while adjuncts who are already employed by the college (and have no union) can switch. Edustaff, which also supplies substitute teachers to local schools, now has deals with 12 community colleges statewide. (Traverse City Record-Eagle) CURRICULUM [U. of Arkansas Flagship to Accept Credit for AP Course in African American Studies]( Days after the state informed high-school educators that it [would not recognize]( the Advanced Placement course, the university’s Fayetteville campus said it would accept the course credit for students who earn a 3 or higher on the final exam, as with other AP courses. The controversy follows a [similar dispute]( over the [new course]( in Florida. (KNWA/KFTA, Arkansas Times, The Chronicle) CAMPUS LABOR [Cornell U. to End Partnership With Starbucks Over Company’s Anti-Union Actions]( The university’s decision to stop serving Starbucks products on campus followed a National Labor Relations Board ruling that found, among other things, that the company had punished pro-union Cornell students who were Starbucks employees by denying them leave over academic breaks during the unionization process at three local stores. (The Cornell Daily Sun) TECHNOLOGY [Thousands of Scientists Cut Back on Twitter, Seeding Angst and Uncertainty]( A survey by Nature reveals scientists’ reasons for leaving the social-media platform now known as X, and what they are doing to build and maintain a sense of community. In the survey, which drew responses from some 9,200 scientists, or about 5 percent of those solicited, more than half said they had reduced their time spent on X and nearly half said they’d joined other platforms. ATHLETICS [67% of Americans Favor Paying College Athletes, Poll Finds]( Two years after the athletes were enabled to earn money from their name, image, and likeness, most Americans say they would abolish the NCAA’s remaining amateurism rules. A survey by Sportico and the Harris Poll found that two-thirds of adults believe the athletes should be paid by their college. Smaller majorities support their rights to employee status and to collectively bargain as a labor union. 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. 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