Academe Today

Faculty

Blasted as Predators, Professors Are Fighting Back With Lawsuits

A defamation case against a student and a professor at McGill University raises worries that accusations are being silenced.

Legal

Feuding Letters at Yale Law Expose Divisions Over Supreme Court Nomination

Competing letters of support and opposition to Brett Kavanaugh, an alumnus, have circulated among the school’s faculty members, students, and alumni.

Research

Medieval Scholars Call for Transparency and Anti-Racism at Conference

A letter raising concerns about proposed sessions that were rejected for the International Congress on Medieval Studies has drawn hundreds of signatures.

From the Archives

Medievalists, Recoiling From White Supremacy, Try to Diversify the Field

The use of medieval references by the alt-right, along with the traditional insularity of the field, prompts some scholars to argue for more diversity among scholars and scholarship.

Teaching

How One College Used Student Comments to Identify Its Best Professors

When students are candid and specific, their comments can help determine who should be teaching gateway courses, one administrator found.

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Leadership Insights: Innovation

Our latest booklet aims to help college leaders build a culture of innovation on their campuses. It includes examples of how colleges are developing and implementing new approaches; tips on what it takes to be an innovative president; and ways to look for ideas outside of higher ed. Buy your copy in the new Chronicle Store.

Commentary

A Dangerous Precedent: Court’s Ruling at Marquette

By disregarding the findings of the university’s faculty-hearing committee, the Wisconsin Supreme Court dealt a blow to shared governance.

Lingua Franca

Friendly Communication Across Supposed Language Barriers

A conversation in a neighborhood shop reminds Geoff Pullum that despite the hostility between India and Pakistan, spoken Hindi and Urdu are almost identical.