Academe Today

Faculty

His University Asked Him to Build an Emoji-Themed Parade Float. Then It Fired Him.

At a small West Virginia college, confusion surrounds a tenured professor’s strange dismissal. And paranoid faculty members are worried that new policies effectively gut tenure.

Marketing

A Flagship’s Proposed Slogan — ‘The World Needs More Cowboys’ — Draws Fire Out West

The tag line is part of a campaign that the university says upends the definition of “cowboy.” Some professors have responded that the slogan is inherently exclusionary.

On Leadership

How to Sell the Value of the Liberal Arts

Carmen T. Ambar, president of Oberlin College, talks about the importance of explaining to parents that college is worth the price.

Re:Learning

Why a College Plans to Raze 2 Dorms — and What It Means for the Future of the Campus

If ever there were a metaphor for the impact of technology and demographic shifts on college spaces, it can be found at Fayetteville State University. Read why in our revamped Re:Learning newsletter.

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Sign up to receive Re:Learning, a weekly newsletter written by Goldie Blumenstyk. You’ll gain insights on the ideas, people, and trends that are changing the higher-education landscape.

Starter Kit: New to Tenure

Are you newly tenured and looking for advice on the next steps in your academic career? In our latest Starter Kit, we offer tips and lessons from experienced professors about how to avoid a midcareer slowdown and stay productive. Buy the new booklet in the Chronicle Store.

The Chronicle Review

All Things Ill-Considered: NPR’s Sexist Blunder

A public-radio segment on a book by two scholars omits any mention of the female co-author. Oops.

Advice

Do You ‘Really’ Want to Be a Dean?

A look at the pros and cons of moving from department chair into a senior leadership post.

Lingua Franca

The World Cup in What Language?

Ilan Stavans reflects on the accents of commentators, the butchering of athletes’ names, and the linguistic experience that takes place only once every four years.