Afternoon Update: Most public flagships are booming. Why are a handful flailing?

UNC's interim leader lacks academic experience; Michigan State to release Nassar documents; Florida Atlantic to redo presidential search; 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](. COMPLEX FACTORS [Most Public Flagships Are Booming. Why Are a Handful Flailing?]( By Lee Gardner [STORY IMAGE]( Drastic budget cuts at flagship universities in Nebraska and West Virginia point to economic, cultural, and demographic shifts that could have wider implications. LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE [Chapel Hill Gets an Interim Chancellor With Political Connections and No Academic Experience]( By David Jesse [STORY IMAGE]( The appointment of Lee Roberts, a former state budget chief, reinforced fears that the permanent chancellor would be chosen without the campus’s input. CAMPUS ACCOUNTABILITY [Michigan State U. Board Unanimously Approves Release of Nassar Documents]( The university had cited attorney-client privilege in refusing to release the documents. which stem from the [sexual-abuse scandal]( involving Larry Nassar, a former MSU physician who is serving a long prison sentence. Survivors of his abuse have sought the documents to promote healing, and the state’s attorney general has said she could not investigate without them. (The Detroit News, The Chronicle) A SECOND SEARCH [State-System Leaders Order Florida Atlantic U. to Redo Presidential Search]( A week after the inspector general of the State University System’s Board of Governors found that the initial search had violated state laws and rules, the board said the choice of a new leader would depend on a wholly new search. The [first search was halted]( in July, days after three finalists had been announced, over what the system’s chancellor described as “anomalies.” (WFSU, The Chronicle) CAMPUS SAFETY [Michigan State U. Settles Lawsuits With Families Whose Members Died in Shooting]( At a meeting of the university’s Board of Trustees on Friday, officials announced settlements with three families that [lost a child]( in the [February 13]( campus [shooting]( in which five other students were injured. One settlement was for $5 million. (The Detroit News, The Chronicle) SPORTS [NCAA Survey of Athletes Finds Fewer Mental-Health Concerns Since Pandemic]( The survey of more than 23,000 athletes suggests they are experiencing fewer mental-health concerns than they did at the height of the pandemic, but men reported more improvement than [women did](. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) COLLEGE ON THE EDGE [Bacone College Is Spared From Auction, but Future Remains Uncertain]( The Oklahoma college had faced a sheriff’s auction this week over an unpaid $1.5-million bill from a contractor that had done work on the campus. But the company asked to halt the auction, perhaps allowing Bacone to resolve the debt. Meantime, many professors have been laid off and students are struggling to complete their degrees. (KJRH) 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. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. SPONSOR CONTENT | Santa Clara University [How Santa Clara University Raised $250 Million for Scholarships]( FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Unionized Campus - The Chronicle Store]( [The Unionized Campus]( The number of graduate-student unions has increased more than four-fold since 2019. [Order your copy]( to learn what’s at stake as union membership grows, and explore effective strategies for colleges to build relationships with new and existing unions. 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