The College Affordability Crisis is Real, but the Media is Looking at the Wrong Schools Sturges Hall (Photo by Keith Walters ’11) Opinion By Costas Solomou, Vice President, Enrollment Management Published by the Office of Enrollment Management When Yale University released its Committee ...

Skip the article about/from the employees of the Yale corporation and read this from SUNY Geneseo

www.geneseo.edu/enrollment-m...

Still wild to see my name among this group of incredible scholars! Excited to get to work!

Honored to be part of this dedicated crew of scholars

Opinion | Beware conservatives promoting “intellectual freedom” Victor Ray: This conservative lie about schools like mine is furthering authoritarianism

Important read by @victorerikray.bsky.social about the anti-intellectualism centers popping up at universities across the US. Also critical to point out universities are hypocritically & simultaneously shutting down departments born from ‘movements for broader inclusion in mainstream American life.’

Public universities and community colleges across Texas are being used as toys for political games. We're here to tell them: the futures of our students are not things to be played with.

@utaustinaaup.bsky.social @texasaaup.bsky.social @handsoffcentraltx.bsky.social

On Thursday, Florida's Board of Governors removed sociology from the general education curriculum of every university in the state. Chancellor Ray Rodrigues attacked the @asanews.bsky.social as illegitimate.

On behalf of sociologists everywhere, I respond to them in today's @miamiherald.com:

Dog sitting on a black couch wearing a Boston Red Sox bandana around its neck

Thrilled to share that we are moving to Boston! I will be joining the University of Massachusetts Boston as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership in Education. This accomplishment is truly a reflection of all my friends, mentors, and colleagues who poured into me 💕

Opinion: There’s a ‘cascade effect’ from the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious admissions, and it’s hurting Black and Latino students More will attend schools where they are more likely to experience adverse outcomes.

In this @hechingerreport.org op-ed, Julie Park (University of Maryland) says the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling has created a "cascade effect" where more Black & Latino students will end up at schools where they are more likely to experience adverse outcomes

Read the full op-ed:

Film on the conservative takeover of New College premieres at SXSW, draws pushback from college A film tracking the conservative takeover of New College of Florida, titled “First They Came For Our College”, has hit the big screens.

“Ground zero in an unprecedented nationwide assault on academic freedom & diversity.”

A film tracking the conservative takeover of New College of Florida, titled “First They Came For Our College” premiered at SXSW.

The Danger of Silence When Academic Freedom Is Under Threat Inaction from rank-and-file workers enabled government censorship during the Red Scares.

You ever write something and there are so many parts you hope people engage with that you can't figure out which ones to quote?

I'll do a wee thread on the 3rd, and final, essay from my Red Scares series

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

What Will Be Left After the University of Texas Destroys Itself? UT-Austin has collapsed its race, ethnic, and gender studies into a single program while a new policy asks faculty to avoid “controversial” topics. But the attacks won’t end there.

AAUP UT Austin Chapter Pres. Karma Chávez: “It’s going to be bad in every possible way, and students are going to be the biggest losers.” 👇👇

www.thenation.com/article/soci...

It is unclear that these classes will continue to be taught given the state is trying to ban many of them. If they were concerned about costs and return on investment, they wouldn’t be funding a right wing propaganda factory that can’t get any students to take their classes.

The UT System's New 'Controversial Topics' Policy Is About Policing Knowledge When politically appointed regents and administrators determine which topics are “germane,” academic freedom quietly shifts into political compliance.

New from María Del Carmen Unda: For generations, women of color have shown that “neutrality” is often a way to police whose stories matter and whose expertise counts. Knowledge rooted in lived experience is repeatedly framed as political, while dominant perspectives are treated as universal.

Flyer for a Feb. 23, 2026 book talk with Kelly Hayes at the Texas Union (UNB 4.206), 4–5:30pm. It features a portrait of Kelly Hayes, the cover of Read This When Things Fall Apart: Letters to Activists in Crisis, a short description calling it “a survival guide for the heart,” logos for UT Austin programs, and a QR code to learn more and RSVP.

I'll be joining folks from UT Austin's Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) and Mexican American and Latina/o Studies programs for a convo about Read This When Things Fall Apart on February 23 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm. RSVP to join us: utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

UT Austin Closing Ethnic, Gender and Area Studies Departments Social: X @TexasAaup and Bluesky @texasaaup.bsky.social

Texas AAUP press release:

aaup-texas.org/blog/f/ut-au...

UT to consolidate gender and ethnic studies programs into one new department Affected departments include those that focus on African and African Diaspora Studies, Mexican American Studies, Women and Gender Studies and American Studies.

"Having an official designation as a UT department matters — it allows programs to receive funding for events, faculty and a greater voice in tenure and promotion decisions." www.statesman.com/news/educati...

Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...

Re the February Dear Colleagues letter that threatened funding for schools & universities over DEI-related efforts:

‘[Ed Dept]…moved to dismiss its appeal. It leaves in place a federal judge’s August decision finding that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment & federal procedural rules.’

SAR's January 2026 newsletter, available now! See key news updates, opportunities, and resources from across the SAR network this month. Read and subscribe: https://ow.ly/I8cr50XWpNT

On official UC letterhead: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA James B. Milliken President Office of the President 1111 Franklin Street Oakland, CA 94607 universityofcalifornia.edu CAMPUSES Berkeley Davis Irvine UCLA Merced Riverside San Diego San Francisco Santa Barbara Santa Cruz MEDICAL CENTERS Davis Irvine UCLA San Diego San Francisco NATIONAL LABORATORIES Lawrence Berkeley Lawrence Livermore Los Alamos DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES November 18, 2025 Dear Chancellors: I'm writing with regard to the President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the program's associated faculty hiring incentive. As you know, for more than 40 years, PPFP has provided postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development, and faculty mentoring to scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service advance the academic and research missions of the University of California. Since 2003, UC campuses that hire current and former PPFP fellows into ladder-rank positions have been eligible for a hiring incentive funded by the University that provides support for newly hired fellows for five years. Since the creation of the incentive, more than $162 million has been invested by the University to support PPFP faculty hires. This commitment has enabled our campuses to successfully recruit and retain outstanding faculty across a range of disciplines. Given the myriad challenges currently facing UC - including disruptions to billions of dollars in annual federal support, as well as uncertainty around the state budget- reasonable questions were raised in recent months about whether the University could maintain the commitment to current levels of incentive funding. After considering a recommendation to sunset the incentive program due to these significant fiscal constraints, I consulted with all of you as well as faculty and campus academic administrators and systemwide Academic Senate leadership. [continued on next image]

After learning more about the history and success of the program and weighing the thoughtful perspectives that have been shared, I have concluded that barring extraordinary financial setbacks, the PPFP faculty hiring incentive program will continue while the University continues to assess the program's structure as well as its long-term financial sustainability. As a result of our continuing consultation and review, there may be consideration of some changes to elements of the program including the total number of incentives supported, a number that has fluctuated significantly over the years, and how the awards are distributed among campuses. In the meantime, the University will continue to fund the PPFP faculty hiring incentive program and campuses may continue to take advantage of these incentives. We will have an opportunity to discuss any potential changes prior to adoption. As we look to the future, I will continue to engage with faculty leaders, program stakeholders, and UC community members about this important program. I especially appreciate the thoughtful perspectives shared in recent weeks by Academic Council Chair Palazoglu and Vice Chair Scott, the Council of Graduate Deans, UC faculty members, and you as our campus leaders. Sincerely, James B. Milliken President

WE JUST KEEP WINNING. (UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program RESTORED!!!!)

BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!

We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org

University of Texas: Reject the federal government’s “Compact” The federal government’s “Compact” will put the University of Texas at Austin under political control. Join with Longhorns for Liberty before the Board of Regents meeting on November 19-20 and tell Pr...

UT alumni, sign: Longhorns for Liberty: alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org/petitions/un...

I also ordered two others for my co-strugglers to enjoy 🥰

Picture of a dog on a couch behind a person holding a book titled “Read this when things fall apart: letters to activists in crisis” edited by Kelly Hayes

Much-needed reading in these times

UVA, Dartmouth Reject Trump Compact The University of Virginia is the first public, and Southern, institution to publicly turn down the administration's “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”

Dartmouth makes it six colleges and universities to publicly reject Trump's higher ed compact.

Three (of original 9) to go!
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

We reject the compact.

Large crowd gathered in protest

Big crowd with signs reading “Don’t Fold” “Don’t Surrender”

BOOM!

After over a thousand students, faculty, & workers gathered on campus to demand a rejection of Trump’s bribe,

UVA SAYS NO LOYALTY OATH!

✊🏼✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾

M.I.T. ☑️
BROWN ☑️
PENN ☑️
USC☑️
UVA ☑️

This is People Power in Action.

#DefendHigherEd

USC rejects Trump education compact aimed at shifting the university to the right USC interim President Beong-Soo Kim said in a statement that he had sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education turning down the Trump offer.

USC Interim Pres. Kim: “Other countries whose governments lack America’s commitment to freedom and democracy have shown how academic excellence can suffer when shifting external priorities tilt the research playing field away from free, meritocratic competition.” ✊👊👏

www.latimes.com/california/s...

Penn rejects White House proposal for special funding treatment With the decision, Penn becomes the third university to decline the offer.

🚨🚨🚨

And THREE stood up!

Penn has joined MIT & Brown in rejecting Trump’s loyalty oath compact.

When we join together and fight back, WE WIN!

No amount of federal bribery is worth surrendering the freedom to question, explore, and dissent.

LET’S GO!

#DefendHigherEd
@aaup-penn.bsky.social

Asking again, if you're a UT-Austin grad, to add your name to this open letter. You can also forward it to President James Davis (president@utexas.edu) and the UT Board of Regents (bor@utsystem.edu).

Brown is out! They had to do more dancing in their letter because they previously capitulated and needed to reference their previous agreement but, at its core, this reiterates MIT's letter.

The clock is now on for all other institutions.

www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...

The “compact” does not make higher education better. It is a coercive ideological effort to undermine open and robust inquiry, innovation, and the very conditions that make US higher education an engine of social mobility. We must urge all universities to reject it. www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...