The Chronicle of Higher Education | Higher Ed News, Opinion, & Advice

photo collage of Kathleen McElroy,Joy Alonzo, M. Katherine Banks, and Gen. Mark A. Welsh all of Texas A&M University

'A Tender and Rough Spot'

How a ‘Top Down’ Leadership Culture Set the Stage for Texas A&M’s Summer of Scandal

Years of weakened shared governance have exacerbated fears about the institution’s vulnerability to outside pressure. A new leader wants to turn the page.

The Latest

Climate Counts

Are Racial-Affinity Groups a Form of Segregation or Student Support?
Rebukes

Why Higher Ed Is Seeing a Spate of High-Profile No-Confidence Votes
'Little Confidence'

Students and Administrators Say Colleges Should Embrace Racial Justice. They Don’t Always Agree on How.
The Review | Conversation

A New Theory of Race in America
Advice

Should You Start a Newsletter?
An Uncertain Future

Federal Scrutiny and Plunging Revenue Plague a Private College’s Attempt at a Turnaround
Federal Policy

Ineffective Career Programs Might Be in Trouble. What Does That Mean for Colleges?

More Stories

The Public-Perception Puzzle

Americans Value Good Teaching. Do Colleges?

The evidence doesn’t look good.
Who Should Shape What Colleges Teach? Not the Government, Most Americans Say.

A new Chronicle poll shows bipartisan support for giving internal actors the most influence on the curriculum. But it also reveals deep political divides on other questions about higher ed.
What the Public Really Thinks About Higher Education

Americans still believe in the value of a college credential, but they aren’t convinced higher education is fulfilling its promise to society, The Chronicle’s national survey shows.
The Insular World of Academic Research

More community-focused scholarship could build public trust. What’s standing in the way?

Featured Newsletters

The Review

Hamline’s Leadership Triples Down Against Academic Freedom

By Len Gutkin

On the corruption of the secular ideals of the academy by religious orthodoxy.

September 25, 2023

Teaching

Want Your Students to Be Skeptical of ChatGPT? Try This.

By Beth McMurtrie

An instructor describes how his writing students reacted after he had them use AI to write an essay.

September 21, 2023

Latitudes

In Russia, the Liberal Arts Are the Latest Casualty

By Karin Fischer

One of Russia’s most prominent liberal-arts programs is shutting down. Plus, what’s next after West Virginia University cut foreign languages?

September 20, 2023

Virtual Events

The Faculty Experience With Incarcerated Students

UPCOMING: October 4, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: With more academics likely to teach incarcerated or formerly incarcerated students in the years ahead, what should faculty members know? With Support From Ascendium. Register here.
Supporting Student Success: Tools and Strategies

UPCOMING: October 5, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: What systems and tools are colleges using to improve student success — and how are they doing so across campus roles? With Support From Mongoose Research. Register here.
Making International Agents Work for You

UPCOMING: October 12, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: Colleges increasingly work with agencies on international enrollment. In this forum, experts will discuss the partnerships’ benefits and challenges. With Support From ICEF. Register here.
New Strategic Directions for Student Success

ON DEMAND: Ensuring positive student outcomes is a challenge for colleges. Join us to learn more about strategies for achieving that goal. With Support From Ellucian. Watch on demand.

Professional-Development Resources

Professional-Development Resources

Visit The Chronicle’s professional-development resources page to read stories from Chronicle journalists and contributors, and to explore videos and research briefs on a variety of topics.
The Chair’s Role in the Continuing Pandemic

George Justice discusses how department chairs are continuing to deal with Covid on campus, and how they’re dealing with the added pressures of leading through the pandemic. Video provided by Dever Justice LLC.
Managing Up

Carolyn Dever tackles how managing up is a challenge for all department chairs, and how to navigate these difficulties, providing pro tips on how to approach your dean or provost. Video provided by Dever Justice LLC.
Seven Practices for Building Community and Student Belonging Virtually

Most colleges have traditionally provided in-person programming and supports to strengthen bonds between students and build community. This research brief was originally published by Ithaka S+R.

The Review

Higher Ed’s Ruinous Resistance to Change

By Brian Rosenberg

The academy excels at preserving the status quo. It’s time to evolve.
Want Social Mobility? Reforming Elite College Admissions Won’t Get Us There.

By Alison Badgett

A few hundred more spots for the non-ultra-rich won’t transform society. Here’s what will.
Hamline President Goes on the Offensive

By Mark Berkson

Despite the AAUP’s concerns about academic freedom, Fayneese Miller is doubling down.
Letters to the Editor

Read the latest letters to the editor about our articles and about topics we have covered.

Data

Here Are 4 Things to Know About the ‘Classic’ Entrance Exam That’s Now Accepted in Florida

The Classic Learning Test is accepted chiefly by small private religious institutions. Now 12 public universities in Florida do, too.
Which College Groups Have the Highest Enrollment?

Statistical snapshots of bachelor’s degrees conferred by colleges in 32 disciplines over time, from 2018 to 2020.
Higher Ed’s Work-Force-Retention Problems Aren’t Going Away

More than half of staff members said they’re at least somewhat likely to look for a new job in the coming year, a new survey finds.

Advice

‘It’s 300 Words — How Long Could It Take?’ and Other Writing Traps

By Rebecca Schuman

Advice from a productivity expert on shortcuts for drafting conference papers and abstracts.
Why I’m Wary of Publishing Advice, but Will Offer It Anyway

By Rebecca Colesworthy

An acquisitions editor debunks four common myths and misconceptions about this central aspect of academic life.
Gen Z Is Ready to Talk. Are Professors Ready to Listen?

By Melinda S. Zook

How a successful gen-ed program is using the humanities to reach this very different generation of students.
How to Tailor Your Cover Letters for Faculty Jobs

By Jennifer S. Furlong and Stacy M. Hartman

It’s not easy to customize application letters. You’ll spend a lot of time asking yourself, “Am I doing this right?”
Ask the Chair: Brokering a Generational Stalemate

By Kevin Dettmar

How to deal with one of the top sources of departmental conflict.
What Do You Need in Your Next President?

By Suzanne Teer

Too many leadership searches cut short the planning phase, which can be a missed opportunity and a time-consuming mistake.

Special Report

Package

The Trends Report 2023

If anyone still thought we could gaze, soothsayer-like, into the future in order to meet it fully prepared, Covid-19 humbled us.

But we can try to understand the forces shaping higher ed, what’s behind them, and how we can meet this moment effectively.

We hope this annual issue will help you do just that.

You Didn’t Apply, but We Admitted You Anyway

New experiments are short-circuiting admissions. Here’s why they matter.
Students Demand Endless Flexibility

But is it what they need? There are limits to how much faculty members can bend.
Flagships Prosper While Regionals Wither

The gap is widening. Who wants to attend a hollowed-out college or university?
Everyone Is Talking About ‘Belonging’

But what does it really mean? A sense of belonging is elusive.
The Climate-Conscious College

Curricula are being updated to inspire action, not just fear.
Other Developments to Watch

Here are some other higher-ed trends we’re tracking.