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Cover of the October 18, 2024, print issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education
Oct. 18, 2024
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Volume 71, Issue 4

Cover Story

Review Exported Images/Review 1-1-2014 to 6-30-2014/6037 diversity cover krause.jpg
The Review | Forum
The College Presidency Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.
13 leaders on the challenges of the role, and the opportunities worth pursuing.

Highlights

On Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, Ann Cudd, President of Portland State University, poses for a portrait in her office in downtown Portland, OR.
Diminished Debut
How a New President’s First Year Slipped Away
By David Jesse
The leader of Portland State University had bold plans for her first year in office. But searing tumult has left the success of her presidency in limbo.
Photo illustration showing a tiny leader standing at a huge oversized podium
The Review | Opinion
The Post-Presidential Era
By Holden Thorp
Academic visionaries have been replaced by narrow technocrats.
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Leadership
What Can You Learn From a College President’s Bio?
By Eric Kelderman
Leaders’ profiles run the gamut from a brief abstract to an encyclopedia entry. But most tell little about the person behind the title.
Susan Herbst retired as the president of the University of Connecticut in 2019. She's now a professor of political science on the Stamford campus.
A Step Aside
‘You Become a Mere Mortal’: What Happens When Presidents Go Back to the Faculty
By David Jesse
For those who’ve had enough of the top job, returning to the faculty can be energizing — and disorienting. “I’ve heard a lot of horror stories,” one former president said.

Also in the Issue

Ruha Benjamin
A Muted Celebration
Princeton Touted a Professor’s MacArthur Award While Also Investigating Her Pro-Palestinian Advocacy
By Amanda Friedman
Ruha Benjamin says the university wouldn’t use the quotes she gave for an announcement about the award, so she posted them on social media.
Illustration showing a hollywood clap board with a FAFSA label with "Take 2" written in chalk.
College Access
A New Chapter in the FAFSA Saga Is Beginning. Here Are 5 Things to Know.
By Eric Hoover
Nobody wants to see a sequel to the devastating federal-aid crisis of 2024. But will we get one anyway?
Drake University's live mascot Griff poses for a photo during the Des Moines Public Schools and Drake University Community Stadium kick-off ceremony, a rainy day groundbreaking alternative, on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, on Drake's campus in Des Moines.
Dispute with a Capital ‘D’
Why a University Tried to Bring Its Live Bulldog Mascot to Court
By Jasper Smith
Drake University is suing Des Moines Area Community College for trademark infringement over a “D” logo. Last week, it made an unusual request.
Illustration showing hands looking into an empty wallet shaped like a college building.
The Review | Essay
Is Your College About to Close?
By Robert Kelchen
Here are the telltale signs of financial distress.
Photo-based illustration of a football field, overlayed with a chalkboard representation of a football play
The Review | Opinion
The Demise of College Sports as We Know Them
By E. Gordon Gee, Kent Syverud
College presidents should consider a radical change to the conference model.
Columbia University students participate in a rally and vigil in support of Israel in response to a neighboring student rally in support of Palestine at the university on October 12, 2023 in New York City.
The Review | Opinion
October 7 Is Not the Time for Institutional Neutrality
By Michael S. Roth
Silence from college presidents is an abdication of leadership.
illustration of aerial view of a desk/office
Advice
Ask the Chair: ‘It Turns Out I Hate the Job’
By Kevin Dettmar
An unhappy department head wonders about the repercussions of quitting before the three-year appointment is up.