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| | | | As 2024 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the year that was, and the year that will be. For higher education, it’s been a time of turbulence and transformation. As colleges navigate an array of new realities, we recognize that you, our readers, stand on the front lines of change.
Enrollment and financial headwinds intensified, as public institutions came to terms with budget cuts and a shrinking pipeline of high-school graduates. The rise of artificial intelligence accelerated, forcing professors to navigate classrooms in which cheating had become the norm. Following November's election, campus leaders are anticipating what a second Trump administration will mean for their institutions and the sector writ large.
Our newsroom worked diligently to help academic professionals understand these complex issues and prepare for what lies ahead. I’m writing today to share the Chronicle articles that resonated most with readers like you — our top reads of 2024.
These deep dives, data-driven perspectives, and provocative arguments painted a detailed portrait of what it means to live, work, and drive change on college campuses today. By looking back, you'll gain insight into the forces that shaped higher education this year and see more clearly what the future may hold.
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| | | | | | | Our most-read story of the year, by Emma Pettit, examined what happened when Pomona College’s English department imploded, and what it meant when a professor aired the unseen details online. You spent a collective 255,622 minutes, or about 25 weeks, reading her story. That’s almost half a year. | | |
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| | | | | | | Beth McMurtrie explored a vexing and underdiscussed phenomenon: Students are coming to college less willing, and less able, to read. As part of her reporting, Beth asked readers to share their experiences with student reading. More than 50 people wrote in.
The piece sparked countless conversations about the future of learning. You weren’t just reading it — you were sharing it, debating it, and living it. | | |
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| | | | | | | Stephanie M. Lee's investigation into the case of Joan Donovan, a world-famous misinformation researcher, was our third most-read story of the year. Did Donovan spread misinformation about the nature of her departure from Harvard University?
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| | | | | | | In March, readers turned to Steven Brint’s bracing analysis of what a second Trump administration could mean for colleges. Brint, a professor at the University of California at Riverside and a frequent contributor to our opinion section, The Review, argued that higher education was woefully ill-prepared to defend itself from Trump and his allies. | | |
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| | | | | | | Coming in at number five was our DEI Legislation Tracker, which uses exhaustive reporting and data collection to illustrate where college diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are under attack.
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| | | | Here are the rest of The Chronicle’s top stories of 2024. Read our year-end review for more on the trends that shaped your professional world. |
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| | | | There's much more to come early next year. Kicking off in January, Season 2 of the College Matters podcast will bring you more sharp conversations about higher ed’s role in contemporary society. Our February special issue on the academic work force will feature the results of an ambitious Chronicle survey highlighting readers’ experiences working in higher education. And we’ll share more of the critical news, opinion, and advice you need to succeed in 2025 and beyond.
Thank you for letting us accompany you on your professional journey in higher education. We’re grateful for your support, and we’re honored to provide insights that empower you to lead with confidence and clarity.
Brock Read
Editor |
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