The hottest Higher education Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

Why I Support the AFPI Civil Rights Complaint Against Cornell University

Heterodox STEM • 135 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Cornell University is accused of discrimination in faculty hiring based on identity traits, which could violate US laws.
  2. There are concerns that Cornell's admissions and hiring practices do not align with the Supreme Court's ruling on fair admissions and may favor certain groups unfairly.
  3. The current approach to diversity at Cornell seems to prioritize equality of outcomes over merit, straying from the university's founding principles.

The End of Academic Freedom (w/ Maura Finkelstein) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 151 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Academic freedom is under threat, especially for those who speak out against powerful political narratives, like the situation in Gaza. Even tenured professors can lose their jobs for expressing dissent.
  2. Universities are becoming more focused on business interests and donor influence instead of education. This shift affects how open and free discussions can be on campus.
  3. Many students and faculty are feeling scared and pressured to self-censor. The environment is becoming hostile to diverse opinions, especially those that support Palestinian rights.

The Gonzo Syndrome

Disaffected Newsletter • 719 implied HN points • 02 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Higher education
  1. Many pedestrians act like they own the road, stepping into traffic without care. This behavior creates a feeling that they are challenging drivers, similar to Gonzo's reckless taxi-hailing.
  2. Some people ignore social norms and expect others to accommodate them. They seem to purposefully disregard basic courtesies and often act like their actions don't even matter.
  3. Adopting a confident stance can change the dynamic in these encounters. Instead of yielding, standing firm may surprise those who seek to intimidate and assert dominance.

Why I Signed On To the Manhattan Institute Call to Reform Academia

Unsafe Science • 143 implied HN points • 23 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. The Manhattan Institute is calling for big changes in universities, saying they should focus more on truth rather than politics. They think colleges have lost their original purpose and have embraced a narrow political agenda.
  2. The proposed reforms include banning political activism in schools, ensuring equal treatment for all races, and promoting free speech. They want universities to be places where a variety of ideas can be discussed openly.
  3. There is concern that academia is not able to reform itself effectively. Many believe that strong external measures are needed to encourage change, as previous internal calls for reform have largely been ignored.

Why This Berkeley Professor Is Sleeping in His Office

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1085 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.
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College leaders should say what they stand for

Science Forever • 298 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🚌 Education Higher education
  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.

On Plagiarism and Related Issues

Imperfect Information • 157 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Plagiarism detection tools are widespread and incentives are strong to uncover copied content.
  2. Different types of plagiarism exist, from accidental use of others' work to theft of novel ideas.
  3. Plagiarism war may lead to accusations of minor transgressions, but may not detect serious intellectual misconduct.

With Indigeneity, Universities Aren’t Following the Science

Heterodox STEM • 334 implied HN points • 12 Jan 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Universities should promote free inquiry and have open discussions about all ideas, including Indigenous ways of knowing. Avoiding these conversations can lead to a lack of understanding and legitimate critique.
  2. If an idea cannot be tested or questioned, it cannot be considered scientific. This means that theories presented without detailed evidence fall outside of scientific discourse.
  3. The push for indigenization and decolonization in universities may replace established scientific methods with other belief systems. This could undermine the core mission of universities to pursue truth and knowledge.

How do you define quality in higher education?

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
🚌 Education Higher education
  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.

Changes in the Demand for College

In My Tribe • 394 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. More women are going to college, but many young men feel it's not a masculine environment. This creates a gap where some boys are looking for other paths instead.
  2. There's a belief that too many people are attending college, especially those who may not need a degree for their career goals. It might be better for those individuals to seek alternative options.
  3. The way colleges handle dating and social interactions may be discouraging relationships, leading some to think less about the college experience as a place to meet partners.

An Alternative University

David Friedman’s Substack • 287 implied HN points • 18 Jan 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. The modern university system often struggles with being neutral on controversial issues while needing to take positions. A new model could focus more on individual choices and interests.
  2. A market-based education system would allow students to directly choose and pay for classes with teachers, which might lead to more diverse subjects being taught, based on what students want.
  3. Starting this new university model could be easier by partnering with existing institutions for degrees, and setting up near current universities could attract students and teachers looking for more affordable options.

From Heterodox to Helpless

Unsafe Science • 88 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Universities often resist change from within because insiders have little motivation to admit their problems and reform themselves. They need external pressure to push for actual improvements.
  2. Internal efforts to reform academia have largely failed, with free speech increasingly restricted and ideological homogeneity growing. There's evidence showing that academic environments have become less open and more tribal over time.
  3. Younger generations of students appear even less supportive of free speech and more eager to self-censor, which suggests that without outside accountability, the situation in universities could worsen even further.

The Changing Face of Antisemitism in the US

Heterodox STEM • 128 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Antisemitism in the US is changing, with a notable rise in left-wing and Islamist perspectives often aimed at Israel. Many incidents are now more closely linked to social justice movements rather than traditional right-wing extremism.
  2. The ADL's reports may overstate right-wing antisemitism while underreporting incidents from leftist or Islamist sources. This can distort public perception about who is actually perpetuating antisemitism today.
  3. Recent data suggests that a significant majority of antisemitic incidents are linked to leftist or Islamist narratives, especially related to Israel, challenging the belief that right-wing white supremacy is the main source of antisemitism.

No, University Endowments Can’t Replace Federal Science Funding

Can We Still Govern? • 205 implied HN points • 24 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. University endowments are not a single pool of money. They are made up of many funds that come with specific rules about how they can be used.
  2. Only a few universities have very large endowments, while most institutions struggle financially. So, using these endowments to compensate for federal funding cuts wouldn’t work.
  3. The idea of taxing large endowments might seem fair, but it could harm universities. It's important to use those funds for broader access and support for smaller schools instead.

The Great Dismantling

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 12 implied HN points • 22 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. A powerful political and corporate campaign is aiming to dismantle the professional-managerial class by attacking institutions and purging professions, threatening their authority and jobs.
  2. The PMC weakened itself by alienating the working class and turning politics into virtue signaling and managerialism, leaving it politically isolated and lacking strong leadership.
  3. Advances in AI and concentrated corporate power risk making many PMC roles redundant. Unless the PMC organizes with the working class for redistribution and humane AI policies, democratic institutions could be replaced by more dangerous authoritarian movements.

derangement syndrome as symptom of paradigm shift

bad cattitude • 212 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Many people are becoming overly fixated on specific leaders or figures, leading to a broader lack of understanding and critical thinking about the issues at hand.
  2. The current education system often does not encourage true critical thinking, resulting in people who are more focused on memorizing slogans than engaging in meaningful discourse.
  3. There's a shift happening where social media is becoming a new space for open discussion and debate, moving away from traditional education institutions.

Educated rage

Wrong Side of History • 256 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Higher education has grown a lot since the post-war period, leading to more people getting college degrees. This change has shifted how people vote, especially since the 1970s.
  2. In the past, college graduates tended to support right-wing politics. However, as cultural issues gained importance, more educated people began to lean left.
  3. The rise of higher education is compared to major historical changes, like the end of the priesthood. It has intensified cultural conflicts and made views on both sides more extreme.

University of San Diego Retracts Illegal Job Posting Following Karlstack Inquiry

Karlstack • 476 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  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.

In Sanctioning Amy Wax, Penn Targets Truth

Heterodox STEM • 234 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. There's a clash in universities between those who believe in objective truth and those who focus on social justice. This disagreement is affecting how knowledge is produced and shared.
  2. Universities are increasingly favoring identity-based policies over merit in admissions and hiring. This means some qualified candidates may be overlooked because of their race or background.
  3. The case of Amy Wax highlights the tensions of this debate. She faced sanctions for her views while other controversial opinions on campus seem to be ignored.

✅ Rethinking public relations education: bridging theory and practice

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 08 Apr 24
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Public relations education needs to connect real-world practice with academic learning. Right now, many students enter the field without the skills they need.
  2. Only a few UK universities offer public relations as a specialist degree, and the industry doesn't always value formal education. This is a problem for both students and employers.
  3. There's a big demand for new public relations professionals, but current education and training systems aren't meeting that need. A change in how we teach and prepare these future practitioners is necessary.

Universities are falling short again

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 150 implied HN points • 23 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Universities didn't hold important debates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics like school closures and mask mandates were never discussed, leading to a loss of trust from the public.
  2. There's a call for universities to address issues around NIH funding reform. Instead of promoting fear about funding cuts, they should engage in constructive discussions to improve the system.
  3. The general public feels disconnected from universities, especially regarding how taxpayer money is spent. Universities need to listen to these concerns and actively involve diverse opinions to regain public support.

NIH reduced indirects from 60+% to 15%: 10 things you should know

Vinay Prasad's Observations and Thoughts • 148 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🏥 Health Politics Higher education
  1. The NIH has lowered the amount of money it gives to universities from over 60% to 15%. This means more money can go to actual researchers instead of administrative costs.
  2. This change will make universities operate differently, encouraging them to reduce unnecessary costs and possibly hold faculty more accountable for their behavior.
  3. Lowering these indirect costs could lead to more funding for research projects. Researchers might actually benefit from this change, as it could increase the number of grants available.

Diversity in college admissions devoid of meaning

Bruce Fein's Pioneering Lyceum • 117 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  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 College Crisis

The Sunday Morning Post • 58 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Demographics are impacting college enrollment, there are fewer young people to fill classrooms
  2. College tuition has been rapidly increasing, leading to a decline in student enrollment
  3. Trade schools are seeing enrollment growth as an alternative to traditional colleges

Unbundling the University, Part 1

The Good Science Project • 66 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Universities have become overloaded with many roles, like teaching, research, and technology development. This bundling can lead to problems in performing any one role well.
  2. Unbundling universities into specialized institutions can help focus on specific missions, like technology research and education. This means creating new types of organizations that are good at just one thing.
  3. The current system slows down innovation and research. By allowing new institutions to emerge, we can better harness ideas and technologies that don't fit into traditional university structures.

Texas vs. Ohio State: Auditors Pick a...Loser

OpenTheBooks Substack • 148 implied HN points • 10 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Ohio State and UT Austin are both spending large amounts of money on DEI initiatives. Ohio State's spending is higher at $13.3 million compared to UT Austin's $9.8 million.
  2. Both universities have received significant federal funding, around $3.5 billion since 2020, but they are using some funds for research on topics that many might find unusual, like promoting bug eating and studying gender identity.
  3. UT Austin has been critiqued for accepting considerable foreign funding, especially from China and Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about influence on campus.

Rufo is Reason

Bet On It • 462 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. The best education policy is austerity with significant spending cuts
  2. Reallocate funding to vocational education for higher social return
  3. Chris Rufo's education reform agenda aligns with libertarian principles

Why faculty of color are leaving academe

The Recovering Academic • 98 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Higher education
  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 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.

Abolish Grades

Yascha Mounk • 2 HN points • 29 Aug 24
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Grade inflation is a big problem. At top universities, students are getting higher grades, making it hard to tell who is really doing great work.
  2. A grading system should help students understand how they're doing, but if everyone's getting A's, they may think they are doing better than they really are.
  3. To fix this, universities could make grades pass-fail, which would stop misleading people about student achievements and encourage students to take harder courses.

Links to Consider

In My Tribe • 364 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Click on the links provided to explore more in-depth content
  2. Consider the difference between dominance and prestige hierarchies in society
  3. Maintain high standards and integrity to uphold the prestige of academic institutions

HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES: Again, This Year, I Lament I Have No Opportunity to Give My "How to Think Like an Economist" Lecture

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 99 implied HN points • 20 Feb 25
🚌 Education Higher education
  1. Learning economics requires new ways of thinking, similar to learning a new language. It helps people see the economy more clearly but may also overlook things that are not easily measured.
  2. There's an ideal time in college to teach how to think like an economist. Teaching it too early or too late may not be effective.
  3. Economics is viewed differently based on background; some see it as a science, while others view it as outdated psychology. Both views have some truth to them.

Entrepreneurship, entre nous

Heterodox STEM • 128 implied HN points • 08 Dec 24
💼 Business Higher education
  1. Entrepreneurship is complex and can't be easily taught in schools. It's not just about making money; it involves creativity, risk-taking, and personal traits.
  2. Intellectual property rights are crucial for protecting new business ideas. Entrepreneurs need these rights to ensure their innovations are safe from theft.
  3. Current approaches to teaching entrepreneurship often mix social issues with business principles, which may confuse the true goals of innovation and success in the marketplace.

Biden’s Latest Regulatory Overreach Hits Colleges

The Future of Education • 198 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  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.

The Optimistic Bulldog

The Recovering Academic • 79 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Higher education
  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.

For more lifeboats: The only just academic job market is a tight academic job market

Philosophy bear • 135 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Higher education
  1. Lifeboat ethics talks about how to share limited resources when not everyone can have what they want. It's an important conversation in academia to think about who gets what.
  2. Many discussions in philosophy focus on how to share jobs and recognition, but we need to pay attention to creating more opportunities rather than just dividing what's there.
  3. Increasing the number of academic positions can help reduce inequality and give people a better chance, especially those who face challenges in their careers.

Higher Ed is a Woke Seminary

Bet On It • 110 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Higher education
  1. Many people believe that American universities have a strong left-leaning bias in their teachings. This perspective has been noticeable for a long time.
  2. There’s a concern that so-called 'woke' ideas and beliefs from colleges may influence society and culture more than previously thought.
  3. The discussion around education and its political leanings is ongoing and important to understand the impact on students and the wider community.