Canary: Higher Ed Issues Landscape Report 07/29
July 29th, 2024
What we’re watching
Kamala Harris and higher education
Last week, we looked at JD Vance’s record on higher education. This week, we look at the record of likely Democratic candidate for president, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“There are things some of the protesters are saying that I absolutely reject, so I don’t mean to wholesale endorse their points. But . . . I understand the emotion behind it.” - Kamala Harris (The Hill)
University of Arizona drops “UArizona”
The University of Arizona is ditching “UArizona” the abbreviation it adopted in 2019. Rather than go back to its former “UA” moniker, the university will officially adopt “Arizona” and “U of A” instead.
According to the Arizona Republic, going back to “UA” would run the risk of confusion with other brands such as Under Armour and United Airlines.
The Republic also noted that the change would “help the university improve its online search engine optimization.” While the change makes sense from a brand clarity perspective, it has not been universally welcomed.
“Continued optimization efforts have revealed that the university is best known to students, alums and fans as Arizona and the U of A.” - Mitch Zak, U of A spokesperson (Inside Higher Ed)
AI and the value of a college degree
Cengage Group has published its?2024 Graduate Employability Report, concluding that despite anxiety around AI, recent graduates exhibit greater confidence in the value of their degrees than previous cohorts.
Based on surveys of 1,000 U.S. employers and 974 recent graduates, Cengage found that:
“As student demands and employer expectations continue to shift, this report shows that education institutions and skill providers have an opportunity to expand their offerings and continue delivering value to learners” (Cengage)
UA DEI offices to close
University of Alabama system campuses announced this week they would close DEI offices in compliance with a new state law that comes into effect on October 1.
“It’s important to note we will continue to provide resources and support to every member of our campus community, as our commitment to each individual’s success remains steadfast.” - UA President Stuart Bell (The Hill)
Reactions to the news were similar to those we observed with closures in Texas and Florida, with accusations of over-compliance and under-compliance stalking UA.
Free speech on campus
The failed assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump earlier this month brought free speech on campus back into the spotlight. In several cases, professors and staff were disciplined for making derogatory remarks on social media.
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Free speech was perhaps the most pressing repuation-related topic in higher education during AY 23-24.
Shifts in the free speech debate
During the Israel-Hamas conflict,?the free speech debate on campus has morphed?from a discussion around classroom climate (chilling effects, diversity of viewpoints, cancel culture, etc.) to a debate around the limits of the First Amendment — and how disruption, harassment, encampments, and police responses delineate those limits.
“If someone is chanting ‘From the river to the sea’ at 4 p.m. on a Friday in the middle of a quad where protests are allowed, that’s protected speech. If they’re chanting it at 4 a.m. outside a Jewish student’s room, that’s harassment.” - David Wippman former president, Hamilton College (IHE)
In addition to these newer aspects of the free speech debate, protestors and counter-protesters evolved new tactics that demand the attention of communicators and administrators:
The need for clarity
“If these past months have taught us anything, it is that we need greater clarity than ever before on what types of speech and protest are permitted, which are disallowed, and why, as well as greater transparency about how our institutions deal with the many boundary cases that inevitably arise.” - Louis E. Newman (IHE)
Not only is it likely that campus protests related to Gaza will continue into the Fall Semester, the general election will also weigh heavily on campus policies, practices and discussion around free speech. Last week, Legend Labs founder Jeff Hunt outlined a number of actions universities can take to prepare for the Fall.
?? What we’re reading
Inside Higher Ed: How I Failed My First Presidency
The Chronicle of Higher Education: The ROI of a History Degree
#?? Trending on Social This Week
Sources:
Legend Labs is a brand and communications consulting firm for the digital age. We help ambitious leaders create, grow, and protect their Legends. This analysis of reputation-related trends in higher education features insights from Meltwater and direct social media & web analysis.
For more information, email us at [email protected].