Academe Today

Leadership

Janet Napolitano, the ‘Political Heavyweight,’ Now Finds Herself Under Fire

The University of California president is on the defensive after a state audit accused her office of hiding reserve funds and tampering with campuses’ responses to a survey. She denies those allegations but promises better procedures going forward.

Institutional Ethics

Can Universities Foster a Culture of Ethics? Some Are Trying

Penn State, Rutgers, and others are taking a cue from the corporate world by making a concerted effort to establish campuswide ethical standards.

Admissions

Common Application Says New Transfer App Will Better Serve Nontraditional Students

The current app has long been used primarily by teenagers who plan to enroll in college full time right after high school. The new app is intended to help groups such as veterans, adults returning to complete degrees, and community-college students.

Administration

A Black College Campus Prepares for Betsy DeVos

Tensions have been high at Bethune-Cookman University as commencement day nears. The education secretary, part of an administration that keeps fumbling its message about HBCUs, will deliver the keynote address.

On Leadership

Busting the Art-School Myths

Graduates of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design often buck the perception that an art-school degree is a disadvantage in the job market.

Chronicle Focus

In a new feature, available to individual subscribers only, The Chronicle offers carefully curated collections of articles on important issues in higher education. So far, there are nearly 25. Here are a couple of examples:

Pitfalls That Can End a Presidency

Missteps of all kinds can derail a presidency, among them an inadequate response to protesters’ complaints, conflicts over shared governance, and incautious remarks. Collected here are 11 articles describing how presidencies have failed.

A Survival Guide for Small Colleges

As they struggle to hold onto their share of the student market, small liberal-arts colleges face many challenges. The 12 articles in this guide look at the strategies they use to thrive.

Commentary

Educating the Public on the Value of a College Degree

The perception of higher education’s worth has dimmed, and it’s up to people within the industry to do some enlightening.

The Chronicle Review

Why the Yale Hunger Strike Is Misguided

It is historically and intellectually inappropriate for Ph.D.’s to use this protest tactic.

The Chronicle Review

Instagrim: Why Social Media Makes Students Miserable

It’s not a digital gathering place so much as a marketing forum.

Lingua Franca

News, False and Fake

"False news" has a longer history than you think, and has become "fake" only recently, says Allan Metcalf.

Vitae

Handling Your Imperfect Adviser

How to “manage up” and get what you need from your graduate supervisor.