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Posts by Paul Umbach

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Who Gets Guggenheims? - Public Books Unfortunately, 100 years of data show that those whom such fellowships might represent the greatest departure from their everyday experience—that is, those not at elite institutions—are least likely t...

Woohoo, here's my essay with my fav co-author on 30,000 fellowship wins across the Guggenheim, Stanford CASBS, NAEd, National Humanities Center, RSF visiting scholar, and Harvard Radcliffe.

Spoiler: it's the people working at prestigious universities

www.publicbooks.org/who-gets-gug...

1 week ago 778 335 26 83
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UNC System moves to define academic freedom • NC Newsline The UNC Systems' Committee on University Governance gave an initial nod Wednesday to a formal definition for academic freedom.

The UNC System has moved forward with a new definition of academic freedom meant to clarify what faculty can do in teaching and research. Faculty groups warn the policy adds vague limits that could weaken protections, discourage open discussion, and make it harder to recruit professors. #NCed

2 months ago 0 2 0 0

Vague policy language is troubling but likely intentional. I wonder if this post is an activity that doesn't "support the university's mission". Note: Posting on personal laptop to avoid using "university resources for political or ideological advocacy". I guess this might be advocacy but not sure.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0

When higher ed leaders/policymakers demand institutional neutrality (IN), they really mean 3 related things: (1) IN doesn't apply to higher ed leaders; (2) IN doesn't apply to conservative ideology/speech; and (3) IN doesn't prohibit readily caving to the conservative groups' whims.

4 months ago 0 0 0 0

[Looks up from coding]

[Sees updates]

[Goes back to coding]

7 months ago 68 9 1 0

My lovely gerrymandered-to-hell Republican-controlled state government cannot manage to produce a budget. We still do not have one. So that’s nice.

7 months ago 195 7 8 1

the USA built a system of higher education so good that smart/rich people from across the world came here, spending billions to learn here, subsidizing education for Americans while spending money to live in our cities and towns. our government arbitrarily decided we should stop doing that

8 months ago 4052 1350 65 55
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The US Department of Education is far behind on producing key statistics | Brookings Federal education data releases have slowed dramatically, with major gaps in the 2024 Digest and Condition of Education report.

For those who care about quality education, @bakerdphd.bsky.social describes the Department of Ed's deeply troubling drop in reporting ed statistics. www.brookings.edu/articles/the...

9 months ago 9 6 1 0

Door is wide open for Roy Cooper to walk right through. C'mon Governor!

9 months ago 1 0 0 0

After ruling the NIH grant terminations illegal, Judge Young ended the hearing with an eye-opening speech.

“This represents racial discrimination, and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so.”

10 months ago 3558 983 11 35
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“Strength Comes From Us”: Thousands Gather in Durham to Protest Trump The rally was one of about 2,000 protests held under the “No Kings” banner across the country Saturday to coincide with Trump’s birthday and Flag Day.

The rally was one of about 2,000 protests held under the “No Kings” banner across the country Saturday to coincide with Trump’s birthday and Flag Day.

10 months ago 3 2 0 0
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Immigration Raids Add to Absence Crisis for Schools

The current wave of federal immigration raids began in January with a “rogue” operation in California’s Central Valley.

My new study finds these raids increased school absences by 22%—a leading indicator of the resulting family stress & lost learning opportunities👇

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/u...

10 months ago 96 45 2 5

Moved to Durham from Raleigh a couple of years ago. Love Durham!

10 months ago 1 0 1 0

I couldn't find me in the picture either. Great crowd.

10 months ago 6 1 1 0

I found me!

(I did not find me, there were so many people)

10 months ago 79 6 0 1
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At Chapel Hill, Only Health-Sciences Professors Have Been Getting Tenure The UNC Chapel Hill board hasn’t tenured a single professor in fields outside the health sciences since January. The inaction has prompted confusion and alarm among faculty.

This is the first media coverage that I have seen of the UNC board's quiet decision to largely pause granting tenure outside of the health sciences. This is worth watching over the coming weeks.

10 months ago 460 240 7 39

This framing is all wrong

Our international students are not a “crucial funding source”

They are our STUDENTS

They are the reason we EXIST

We teach STUDENTS

10 months ago 1479 356 37 29
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Trump Administration Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students Foreign students make up almost 28 percent of its total student body. The unprecedented move would also force existing students to transfer or lose their legal status.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has terminated Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, ratcheting up the conflict between the Trump administration and the institution. chroni.cl/3YZHUTf

10 months ago 19 11 1 5

Well done ‪@drshaunharper.bsky.social‬! Encourage all to watch his testimony starting at 22:45.

10 months ago 0 0 0 0
Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI
Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI YouTube video by House Committee on Education & Workforce

I am testifying to Congress at 10:15am EDT today. The hearing, “Restoring Excellence: The Case Against DEI,” will be live streamed via YouTube. Watch at the link below.

11 months ago 2 1 1 0
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What a great piece.

“Not every leader can or should publicly challenge politicians. … But at some point, you have let your community know what you are doing and what you stand for.”

11 months ago 8 0 1 0
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'Please take care of us:' Federal cuts close PCB evaluation at NC State building NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson says the Health Hazard Evaluation of Poe Hall has been closed due to federal cuts. Poe Hall was closed when toxic chemicals were discovered in the fall of 2023.

I worked in this bldg. for 3 years. I brought my child to this bldg. I knew there was dust & asbestos abasement, but I trusted the university to keep us safe. I was fortunate to leave with no known negative health effects. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for others. www.wral.com/news/investi...

11 months ago 0 2 0 0
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NCME sues to protect measurement data and research. "The law requires not only data access but data quality. For 88 years, our organization has upheld standards for valid measurements and measurement research. We do so again today.” @ncme38.bsky.social #NCME25 www.naacpldf.org/press-releas...

11 months ago 18 9 0 0
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N.C. Community Colleges Want $100 Million to Remake Program Offerings North Carolina's 58 community colleges are seeking $100 million to reshape how the state prepares workers for high-demand jobs.

This is a great piece about the North Carolina community college system's proposed new funding model that goes all-in on workforce development. Between this and the Next NC scholarship, that state is trying some big new things in higher education.

11 months ago 7 4 1 2
ToBeClear
 It is important for researchers to be clear,
 factual, and transparent about how federal
 priorities are affecting research. We therefore
 want to acknowledge that this work has been
 impacted by recent United States federal
 executive actions.
 This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions.
 Data removed that was used for this study
 • Example #1
 • Example #2
 • Example #3
 Image
 Image
 This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions.
 Data at risk from lack of updating or maintenance due to cuts
 in personnel or funding used in this study
 • Example #1
 • Example #2
 • Example #3
 • Example #4
 • Sub example
 • Sub Example
 • Sub example
 • Example #5

ToBeClear It is important for researchers to be clear, factual, and transparent about how federal priorities are affecting research. We therefore want to acknowledge that this work has been impacted by recent United States federal executive actions. This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions. Data removed that was used for this study • Example #1 • Example #2 • Example #3 Image Image This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions. Data at risk from lack of updating or maintenance due to cuts in personnel or funding used in this study • Example #1 • Example #2 • Example #3 • Example #4 • Sub example • Sub Example • Sub example • Example #5

Resistance with slides:

when presenting scientific evidence created by federal data and/or $

tell your audience what they won’t be seeing more of

Slides templates here

https://sites.google.com/view/tobeclear/

1 year ago 286 108 4 15

I get the fear of speaking up, but I believe there’s room for clear, principled opposition to unjust policies that harm our students. At some point, we have to do what’s right before we completely lose who we are as educators.

1 year ago 0 0 1 0