Afternoon Update: The FAFSA fix for mixed-status families is a work in progress

Revamped overtime rule heralds higher pay and costs; a small-college merger now raises suspicions; teaching dilemmas; sources of advice; 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](. FEDERAL STUDENT AID [The FAFSA Fix for Mixed-Status Families Is a Work in Progress]( By Eric Hoover [STORY IMAGE]( Some parents without Social Security numbers are still locked out of the federal-aid form. ADVERTISEMENT FINANCES [Revamped Overtime Rule Promises Higher Pay and Higher Costs]( By Lee Gardner [STORY IMAGE]( Increasing worker pay to comply with a new federal rule on who gets overtime will hurt colleges’ budgets and may be passed on to students through higher tuition. VALUABLE PROPERTY [For This Small College, a Merger Was a Lifeline. Now It’s the Focus of Suspicion.]( By David Jesse [STORY IMAGE]( A decade after being acquired by another Concordia University campus, the branch in Ann Arbor is facing closure, and some are wondering whether the union was worth it. TEACHING [Tackling Stale Discussion Posts, Poor Reading Skills, and Other Challenges]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( We dive into these dilemmas with readers’ help, and some questions for you. ADVICE [Ask the Chair: ‘Who Do I Turn To for Advice?’]( By Kevin Dettmar [STORY IMAGE]( Being a department head involves difficult and often-isolating work, but you don’t have to do it alone. READER VOICES [What Higher-Education Trends Are You Noticing?]( [STORY IMAGE]( This month we published our [2024 Trends Report]( a deep dive into the trends changing higher ed. Now we want to hear from you: What trends are you spotting? [Fill out this short form]( to tell us. CAMPUS TRAGEDY [College Staff Members Turned Off Carbon-Monoxide Alarms Before Student’s Death]( Jonathan Rodriguez, 21, [died of carbon-monoxide poisoning]( in December in an apartment at Evergreen State College, in Washington. According to an investigation, maintenance workers silenced the alarms under the mistaken assumption they were faulty. The leak, which injured three other people, stemmed from the improper installation of a water heater. (The Seattle Times, CNN) FACULTY CONCERNS [Indiana Governor Signs Bill Tying Tenure to Intellectual Diversity]( The measure, which increases legislative oversight of public colleges, bars faculty members from earning tenure or promotions if they are considered unlikely to foster free inquiry and expression, or unlikely to teach a variety of viewpoints. [Faculty critics]( said the law would [abrogate their academic freedom](. (Indiana Daily Student, The Chronicle) ATHLETICS [Oklahoma Senate Passes Bill That Would Allow Universities to Add Athletes to Payroll]( The legislation would drop the state’s ban on public colleges’ paying athletes directly, including with taxpayer funds, to compete on their teams. The bill’s sponsor said she aimed to protect sports recruiting by the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. (KOKI/KYMT) SHADOW OF THE PAST [Va. Lawmakers Approve Panel to Study Universities’ Displacement of Black Communities]( It is not known if Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, will sign the bill. The commission was [proposed]( after a series of articles by ProPublica, some published with The Chronicle, described how [public universities]( in Virginia [had grown]( at the [expense of their neighborhoods](. The panel would consider compensation for displaced property owners and their descendants. 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. Virtual Events: Tune In Live INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS [Innovative Interdisciplinary Programs]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: March 20, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. Join experts to learn how the programs have expanded to research how communities face earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. With Support From Southern Methodist University. [Register here.]( POST-GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT [Career Services at the Center]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: March 26, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. In a tough job market for recent graduates, colleges must better integrate career support into their programs. Join us for an expert panel on what they’re doing. With Support From University of Florida. [Register here.]( ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE [The Chatbot Student Experience: What Lies Ahead?]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: April 3, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. New AI tools expand chatbot capabilities, making them more helpful to students in navigating admissions and enrollment. This forum will explore best practices for chatbots on campus. With Support From AWS. [Register here.]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Athletics Advantage - The Chronicle Store]( [The Athletics Advantage]( For tuition-driven institutions, sports are often a key recruiting tool. [Order this report]( for insights on how small colleges are using athletics to drive student enrollment, engagement, and retention. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Search jobs on The Chronicle job board]( [Find Your Next Role Today]( Whether you are actively or passively searching for your next career opportunity, The Chronicle is here to support you throughout your job search. Get started now by [exploring 30,000+ openings]( or [signing up for job alerts](. 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. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037