The hottest Higher education Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Why This Berkeley Professor Is Sleeping in His Office

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1085 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Protests Antisemitism Higher education
  1. Ron Hassner staged a sit-in protest in his UC Berkeley office to address rising campus Jew-hatred due to inaction by the administration.
  2. There was a violent incident at UC Berkeley involving pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups, leading to campus tensions and fear among Jewish students.
  3. Hassner's demands to the university include keeping Sather Gate open, issuing apologies to disrupted speakers, and providing staff with Islamophobia and antisemitism training.

The Exquisite Irony of Claudine Gay's Downfall

Glenn Loury • 3596 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Identity Affirmative Action Race relations Higher education Leadership
  1. Defenders claim that ousting Claudine Gay was more about race and ideology than academic integrity, but it still doesn't excuse plagiarism.
  2. Being a university president may require more than being a noteworthy scholar; skills like administration and fundraising could take precedence.
  3. The debate on affirmative action and academic standards for black students is complex, with implications for diversity, standards, and systemic corruption.

"Striving For Upward Mobility Without Background"

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 3011 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Higher education Social Class Literature
  1. Some elite college professors have a habit of starting sentences with lowercase letters and abbreviating words randomly.
  2. The discussion about Harvard Extension School's legitimacy brings to mind the concept of clinging to social prestige.
  3. There is a recognizable psychological type of individuals who are intelligent enough to attend prestigious universities but not exceptionally bright.

Carole Hooven: Why I Left Harvard

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2504 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🚌 Education Free speech Academic Freedom Higher education
  1. Challenges to free speech on college campuses are exemplified by instances where individuals are penalized for opposing campus orthodoxy or stating scientific views that contradict prevailing beliefs.
  2. Higher education institutions often prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which, while aiming for inclusivity, may inadvertently stifle viewpoint diversity and open debate, hindering the essence of thriving educational environments.
  3. The importance of ensuring a balance between promoting diversity and maintaining free speech is highlighted through personal experiences, illustrating the impact of DEI culture on academic freedom and the need for universities to re-establish environments supportive of open dialogue and diverse perspectives.

University of San Diego Retracts Illegal Job Posting Following Karlstack Inquiry

Karlstack • 476 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Gender discrimination Legal issues Investigative Journalism
  1. A professor posted a job ad requiring the postdoc to be a woman but later retracted it, claiming it was open to everyone.
  2. The story highlights the importance of investigative journalism in exposing deceptive practices and holding people accountable.
  3. Transparency plays a crucial role in preventing illegal actions, and it is essential to call out such behavior to pressure institutions into more ethical practices.
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Claudine Gay's Dishonorable Discharge

Glenn Loury • 1867 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education DEI Plagiarism Race Leadership
  1. The charges of plagiarism against Claudine Gay were serious enough to merit her removal, despite other motivations behind the campaign against her.
  2. The appointment of high-ranking officials, especially in historical positions like Harvard President, should prioritize qualifications over symbolic representation.
  3. Habitual plagiarism can undermine a leader's credibility and position, regardless of race, and institutions should uphold standards of integrity and merit.

Affirmative Action Thoughts in an Inelegant List Format

Freddie deBoer • 12957 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Higher education Social justice
  1. Race-conscious admissions in universities are okay under reparations for slavery, not just for diversity.
  2. The existing system discriminates against Asian applicants and elite colleges are a small part of higher education.
  3. Affirmative action deepens inequality within the Black community and the purpose of education has contradictory goals.

Links to Consider, 3/18

In My Tribe • 197 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Industrial Policy Higher education
  1. The perspective that social media is responsible for the prevalence of disinformation is challenged. The era of the mid-twentieth century press was also insular and biased.
  2. There has been a shift in societal values, with the relative importance of a good job increasing in status over having a good family.
  3. The implementation of industrial policy, like the CHIPS Act, is criticized for being slow and laden with DEI-related issues that hinder progress.

Universiteten välkomnar en viss sorts politisk aktivism

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 707 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Academic Freedom Cancel Culture Political Activism Freedom of Speech Higher education
  1. Universities are selective in addressing challenges to academic freedom, with instances of cancel culture being omitted in responses.
  2. There is a discrepancy between how universities present academic freedom and the actual management of challenges and controversies within academic institutions.
  3. Some universities tend to prioritize certain ideologies and political activism, creating tensions around issues like cancel culture and academic freedom.

The Canceling of the American Mind Explains the Silence of University Leaders Last Week

After Babel • 2868 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Cancel Culture Free speech
  1. The book 'The Canceling of the American Mind' by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott explores the impact of cancel culture in various fields.
  2. The silence of university leaders after recent events raises questions about fear and self-censorship.
  3. American higher education institutions need to address the challenges posed by cancel culture and prioritize free speech to regain trust.

Make America Hungary Again

Can We Still Govern? • 148 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Authoritarianism Media Control Higher education Bureaucracy
  1. The MAGA movement's admiration for Viktor Orban signifies a desire for authoritarianism over greatness, as demonstrated by Orban's undemocratic tactics in Hungary.
  2. Orban's success lies in his ability to consolidate power by controlling institutions like the media, judiciary, and higher education, mirroring patterns seen in the potential rise of American Orbanism.
  3. Orban's strategy includes increasing control over the bureaucracy to create a network of loyalists, leading to a corrupt system enabling his authoritarian rule, which American politicians are observing for potential application.

The Impact of DEI on College Campuses

Journal of Free Black Thought • 157 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics DEI Higher education Racism
  1. DEI in higher education is often influenced by Critical Social Justice ideology, which perpetuates racism by assuming it in every situation.
  2. Critical Social Justice can lead to the imposition of certain values, attitudes, and behaviors based on race, discouraging critical thinking and questioning of the narrative.
  3. People are pushing back on DEI approaches underpinned by Critical Social Justice ideology as they find it infantilizing, anti-intellectual, and not aligned with their beliefs.

Class War Behind Harvard’s Embrace Of DEI Race Pseudoscience

Public • 580 implied HN points • 03 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education Pseudoscience Plagiarism Academic standards Influence
  1. Harvard University is committed to attracting and retaining top scholars, offering high salaries and benefits.
  2. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned due to plagiarism accusations and a lackluster academic record.
  3. Harvard's influence and reputation make its scandals significant on a national and international scale.

Burn Down the Admissions System

Persuasion • 2358 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Higher education Supreme Court
  1. The end of affirmative action could lead to a crucial change in the flawed admissions system.
  2. Elite colleges might exploit loopholes to maintain unjust practices like legacy admissions, donor preferences, and subjective personal statements.
  3. The personal statement component of admissions can perpetuate privilege, as it is subjective and prone to manipulation, undermining the fairness of the system.

We Need to Do Better than Hum 1 & Soc Sci 2 in General Education

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 215 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🚌 Education Humanities Higher education Critical Thinking
  1. The purpose of humanities in education should be more than teaching a limited view of Western literature and thought.
  2. It is valuable to provide students with a broad liberal education that includes exposure to different perspectives, even critical ones.
  3. American universities should focus on teaching true facts and how to think critically rather than implanting specific values.

Affirmative Action's Demise and Higher Education

Glenn’s Substack • 2260 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Affirmative Action Higher education Supreme Court Diversity
  1. The Supreme Court ruling against Harvard and UNC impacts diversity and affirmative action practices in higher education.
  2. The Court previously deferred to universities on the compelling interest of diversity, but now requires limits within the constitution.
  3. Higher education's declining reputation may lead to less favorable treatment in the judiciary system.

On academic standards, fair play and Claudine Gay, or: Why principled liberal opposition is the wrong response to unprincipled malicious problem glasses-wearing charlatans

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 147 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Academic standards Plagiarism Antisemitism Higher education
  1. The Associated Press backtracked on their plagiarism allegations against Claudine Gay.
  2. Some readers question the reasons behind Gay's resignation.
  3. Gay's resignation symbolizes a defeat for diversity in American higher education.

The surveilled campus

Can We Still Govern? • 239 implied HN points • 18 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Higher education
  1. Story highlights how the professional outrage machine targets faculty and students on American campuses.
  2. Conservative campus groups use tactics like building plywood walls to provoke and surveil, leading to media scrutiny and consequences for individuals.
  3. Incidents like these reveal a trend of surveillance, recording, and media pressure for punishment that undermines trust and community on college campuses.

How do you define quality in higher education?

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🚌 Education Quality Higher education Curriculum
  1. Quality in higher education is not just about academic content; it also involves factors like faculty-student relationships and the overall health of the institution.
  2. General education requirements should be reimagined to focus on developing essential skills and qualities in students, rather than just breadth of knowledge.
  3. Institutions should consider aligning their educational offerings with what students actually value and seek in order to adapt to changing dynamics in higher education.

‘Catching Kids Up’ Requires Insisting On, Embedding Mastery

The Future of Education • 98 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
🚌 Education Higher education Admissions
  1. Address the inherent flaws in the education system by embedding learning success for all students.
  2. Community colleges have challenges in balancing academic transfer, job training, and community development.
  3. Acknowledging and addressing urgent issues within college campuses is crucial for fostering inclusivity and understanding.

College leaders should say what they stand for

Science Forever • 298 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🚌 Education Leadership Higher education Politics Institutions Challenges
  1. College leaders should clearly communicate their values and beliefs, even in the face of political pressure. Staying true to one's values can lead to respect and support from the community.
  2. Presidents who stand up for their beliefs may face challenges, but they often land in new fulfilling positions. Those who prioritize the board's wishes over campus values may not fare as well.
  3. Institutions benefit from leaders who stick to their principles. Even if presidents are let go, they usually find other positive opportunities as long as they remain aligned with their beliefs.

How College Presidents Can Last In The Job To Create Lasting Change

The Future of Education • 196 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
🚌 Education Leadership Higher education Innovation Management
  1. Creating lasting change in colleges and universities takes time and effort, not a quick fix.
  2. College presidents face challenges with shorter tenures despite increasing institution crises.
  3. Successful long-term college presidents leveraged Tools of Cooperation and Change theory to lead significant transformations.

Biden’s Latest Regulatory Overreach Hits Colleges

The Future of Education • 196 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Regulation Higher education Innovation Government Policy
  1. Biden administration's new regulations for colleges will increase costs and stifle innovation for students.
  2. Thousands of contracts between colleges and third-party organizations will be under scrutiny and may be nullified.
  3. The regulatory approach favors large incumbents over startups, passing compliance costs to universities and ultimately to students.

Why University Matters Beyond Jobs and Skills

Theory Matters • 16 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🚌 Education University Academia Teaching Higher education
  1. Universities are facing financial struggles due to a decline in student numbers, both domestic and international.
  2. There is a shift in the perception of universities, moving away from being seen as places of intellectual exploration to mere stepping stones for jobs.
  3. There is a call for universities to prioritize intellectual experiences over skill-building, avoid becoming 'skills factories,' and uphold honesty and standards.

Diversity in college admissions devoid of meaning

Bruce Fein's Pioneering Lyceum • 117 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Race Higher education Diversity Civil Rights Discrimination
  1. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is unsure about the meaning of 'diversity' in college admissions favoring racial minorities.
  2. Race is not a unique proxy for a diverse perspective, as viewpoints are not inherited characteristics, and people of all races have overlapping ideologies.
  3. Using diversity in college admissions to justify racial preferences is based on a flawed assumption that all members of minority races think alike, lacking evidence of superior academic outcomes.

The Optimistic Bulldog

The Recovering Academic • 79 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Career transition Academia Higher education Self-employment
  1. Dr. Lauren McClain found fulfillment in entrepreneurship after leaving academia, where she realized she could be in control of her own destiny and income.
  2. The transition from academia to entrepreneurship involved self-reflection, learning new skills, and embracing challenges, proving that one can adapt and succeed in unfamiliar territories.
  3. Entering entrepreneurship allowed Dr. Lauren McClain to utilize her strengths and optimism to make a meaningful impact, demonstrating that one can still make a difference in different ways outside of traditional academic settings.

Why faculty of color are leaving academe

The Recovering Academic • 98 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Diversity Academia Higher education Teaching
  1. Many faculty of color in academe feel disenfranchised, exhausted, and isolated due to issues like work/life balance and inadequate compensation.
  2. These scholars experience unique challenges like isolation in rural communities, hostile work environments, and guilt over prioritizing self-care over student needs.
  3. There is a growing trend of faculty of color reevaluating their place in academia and questioning the sacrifices required, suggesting a need for change.

The US News rankings are evil

Science Forever • 119 implied HN points • 27 Jan 23
🚌 Education Rankings Higher education
  1. A sharp Columbia professor revealed manipulation in US News ranking, leading to significant drops in rankings.
  2. Law schools like Yale and Harvard are standing up against the system gaming in the rankings, challenging the norm of 'T-14'.
  3. Top medical schools, such as Washington University, are following suit to withdraw from rankings, signaling a shift in focus towards more meaningful aspects of education and research.