Daily Lumina News 010924

Claudine Gay had a historic presidency at Harvard University. She was the first Black person, and the second woman, to lead the institution, and her tumultuous time at the top—roughly six months—marks the shortest presidency in Harvard’s 388-year history.
Now, in the aftermath of her exit, questions linger about how the Harvard Corporation handled matters.

Harvard University is looking for a new leader. So is the University of Pennsylvania. And Yale University. And Stanford University.
While plenty of college presidents retire or resign every year, it’s rare for so many prestigious research universities to be simultaneously hunting for replacements. And leading these schools is not the same job it was a generation ago. Bill Funk, founder of higher-education executive search firm R. William Funk & Associates, likens the position to being a professional fundraiser and public relations executive combined with the mayor of a city.

Idia Thurston came to Texas A&M University four years ago to work as an associate professor in health promotion and community health. She says a significant selling point for her recruitment was working in the Diversity Science Cluster.
But within years, she felt like her work was no longer valued. A new state ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and programs at Texas public universities only fueled those concerns.

The University of Maine at Augusta spent $15,225 last year for the right to market U.S. News & World Report “badges”—handsome seals with the U.S. News logo—commemorating three honors: the 61st-ranked online bachelor’s program for veterans, the 79th-ranked online bachelor’s in business and the 104th-ranked online bachelor’s.
Critics believe that the payments, from schools of any size and wealth, enable and incentivize a ranking system they see as harmful.

According to the 2023 Higher Education Return on Investment Report, Coloradans who hold bachelor’s degrees make significantly more money than residents with only high school diplomas.
But what other factors play into the cost vs. benefit formula? Jason Gonzales, a reporter with Chalkbeat Colorado, weighs in with his thoughts on what learners can do to maximize their earning potential and get a head start in the job market.

What can colleges and universities do to correct old habits and become the universities necessary to protect democracy in 2024?
For starters, higher education leaders should remember that education is a human enterprise dependent on mutual respect and excellent communication, writes long-time college president Elaine Maimon in this perspective piece.