Wednesday, January 24, 2024

UI AAUP chapter concerned with proposed College of Liberal Arts and Sciences policy

 

Guest Opinion | UI AAUP chapter concerned with proposed College of Liberal Arts and Sciences policy

Some faculty are concerned about the administration’s proposed changes to the CLAS Manual of Policy and Procedure.

https://dailyiowan.com/2024/01/23/guest-opinion-university-of-iowa-aaup-chapter-concerned-with-proposed-college-of-liberal-arts-and-sciences-policy/


Tuesday, January 02, 2024

AAUP Report of a Special Committee: Political Interference and Academic Freedom in Florida’s Public Higher Education System

What we are witnessing in Florida is an intellectual reign of terror. There is a tremendous sense of dread right now, not just among faculty; it’s tangible among students and staff as well. People are intellectually and physically scared. We are being named an enemy of the State. The events at Jacksonville too, feel real, and people feel it could happen to them. 

—LeRoy Pernell, professor of law, Florida A&M (interview with the special committee)



Report of a Special Committee: Political Interference and Academic Freedom in Florida’s Public Higher Education System

   



     

Friday, December 15, 2023

How the U. of Arizona Found Itself in a ‘Financial Crisis’ of Its Own Making

A flawed budget model and excess spending are among the reasons given by administrators for “draconian cuts.” Read article.




Wednesday, December 13, 2023

In Publishing, Don’t Make the Perfect the Enemy of the Good

For decades, researchers have complained that the publication and evaluation systems in academia are broken or need urgent reform. There have been calls for a more equitable system where scientists are evaluated based on the rigor, quality, significance, and impact of their work instead of their institutional affiliation and the impact factors of the journals where their research is published. On October 20, eLife, a peer-reviewed journal, announced new changes in their publishing policies that they claim will make this possible...


Tuesday, December 12, 2023

UI shared governance, and policies and procedures that protect it, are essential to academic freedom

 Academic freedom is the pillar of a free society. When it is compromised, public trust in scientific knowledge is eroded; biased teaching invades classrooms; and knowledge is politicized. The first line of protection for academic freedom is policy provisions against undue interference in the work of those involved in research and teaching. For these reasons, the university community at large must actively engage in the process of developing and revising policy documents to promote the principles of shared governance.

The University of Iowa establishes rules in its Policy Manual (PM). The UI requires each college to write their own manuals of policy and procedures, but the college’s manuals may not contradict the PM. Similarly, each college requires units within it to produce their own policy documents... DI editorial.


The original (longer) version of "Shared governance—and the policy and procedure that protects it—are essential to academic freedom


   

As Harvard’s Governing Boards Meet, More than 700 Faculty Urge Against Gay’s Removal, Citing University Independence

The letter dated, December 10, 2023 and addressed to the President and Fellows of Harvard College said:

We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvard’s commitment to academic freedom, including calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay. The critical work of defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces.

As of December 10, 2023, at 4:46 p.m., the letter was signed by 726 Harvard faculty members.

 https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/12/11/faculty-oppose-removal/

Monday, December 11, 2023

As Harvard President Faces Pressure to Resign, Some Faculty Show Support

As Harvard President Faces Pressure to Resign, Some Faculty Show Support


https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/us/harvard-president-claudine-gay.html

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Culture wars on campus start to affect students’ choices for college


Students have long picked schools based on their academic reputations and social life. But with campuses in the crosshairs of the culture wars, many students are now also taking stock of attacks on diversity, course content, and speech and speakers from both ends of the political spectrum...

Monday, October 09, 2023

UNC Chapel Hill and Jacksonville shootings shed light on campus security : NPR

Ban or Embrace? Colleges Wrestle With A.I.-Generated Admissions Essays. - The New York Times

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Separate And Unequal

  Abstract:   On May 11, 2019, the US federal government indicted 50 individuals, charging them with bribery and fraud in a widespread colle...