This week's selection from the #Academics Devils Dictionary -- Free Lunch. #AcademicDevilsDictionary #Academia .... You can't take the starving grad student out of the academic. That trauma stays with you.

A fair number of the #honors students and their families showed up at the bar right after me so I feel less bad 😂 (yes you can be good at #academics and also throw back a #beer and burger with Dusty May)

However i do disagree that #academics are being 'poached' by #ai companies. We are begging for jobs, and academia has been cutting back on jobs & hiring since 2020.

Seeking #neuroscience #academics willing to seriously consider active theory currently under testing as my capabilities allow.

I've looked for over 40 years. So if you know someone, please send them my way.

Theory here:
blb.works/wp-content/u...

Today's nice news:

My article (with a 2nd and 3rd author) "Optimizing AI Integration: A Framework for Evaluating AI Use in Language Education" has been approved for publication in a International Journal of Digital Learning Technology special issue.

#Academics #Publishing #Research #Writing

ChatGPT & DEI: NC Central Grant Cut After AI Review | HBCU Funding Concerns The Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), a federal agency, utilized ChatGPT to assess the alignment of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant recipients with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, leading to the termination of an $89,110 grant awarded to North Carolina Central University (NCCU). This decision, revealed through lawsuit discovery, raises critical questions about the ethical and practical implications of deploying large language models (LLMs) in high-stakes public funding decisions, particularly concerning potential biases and the lack of transparency in algorithmic governance. ## The Algorithmic Redline: How ChatGPT Became a Funding Gatekeeper The case isn’t simply about a grant being revoked; it’s a stark illustration of the accelerating trend of automating subjective judgment with tools demonstrably prone to error and bias. DOGE’s reliance on ChatGPT, without a clearly defined DEI framework for the model to interpret, effectively outsourced a complex policy decision to a probabilistic text predictor. The prompt – “Does this project relate at all to DEI?” – is fundamentally flawed. DEI is a multifaceted concept, and reducing it to a binary assessment by an LLM trained on a dataset reflecting existing societal biases is a recipe for discriminatory outcomes. The NCCU project, focused on utilizing archival materials to create teaching resources, was deemed DEI-related, triggering the funding cut. This highlights a critical vulnerability: LLMs can identify *correlation*, but lack the contextual understanding to discern *causation* or legitimate academic purpose. ### The 30-Second Verdict: AI as a Proxy for Ideological Purges This isn’t a bug; it’s a feature, for those seeking to dismantle DEI initiatives. ChatGPT, became a proxy for ideological enforcement, allowing DOGE to circumvent established NEH review processes and target programs perceived as promoting “disfavored viewpoints.” The lawsuit filed by the American Council of Learned Societies, the Authors’ Guild, the American Historical Association, and the Modern Language Association correctly identifies this as a potential violation of constitutional protections, including free speech and equal protection. The core issue isn’t the *use* of AI, but the *unaccountable* use of AI to make decisions with significant real-world consequences. ## Beyond DEI: The Broader Implications for HBCU Funding and Public History The NCCU case isn’t isolated. DOGE staffers reportedly queried ChatGPT about over 1,100 NEH grants, flagging projects like a PBS documentary about the 1898 Wilmington coup and massacre – a pivotal event in American history – and even a museum’s HVAC system replacement. This indiscriminate application of the AI filter reveals a disturbing pattern: any project tangentially related to marginalized communities or historical reckoning is vulnerable to scrutiny. For Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), this is particularly damaging. Their missions are inherently tied to preserving and promoting the history and culture of Black Americans, making them disproportionately susceptible to being caught in this algorithmic crosshairs. The reliance on a model like ChatGPT, which operates on statistical probabilities derived from a biased dataset, risks erasing the very narratives HBCUs are dedicated to preserving. The underlying LLM architecture – likely a variant of OpenAI’s GPT series – is crucial to understanding the problem. These models, even with billions of parameters, are fundamentally pattern-matching engines. They excel at generating human-like text, but lack genuine understanding. GPT-4, for example, boasts 1.76 trillion parameters, but parameter scaling alone doesn’t guarantee accuracy or fairness. The quality and representativeness of the training data are paramount. If the training data underrepresents or misrepresents the experiences of marginalized communities, the model will inevitably perpetuate those biases. ## The Technical Debt of Algorithmic Governance The lack of transparency surrounding DOGE’s implementation of ChatGPT is deeply concerning. Were any adversarial testing protocols employed to identify potential biases? Was the model fine-tuned on a dataset specifically curated to address DEI considerations? The absence of such safeguards suggests a reckless disregard for the potential harms of algorithmic decision-making. The reliance on a closed-source LLM like ChatGPT exacerbates the problem. Open-source alternatives, such as Hugging Face’s model hub, offer greater transparency and allow for independent auditing and modification. The inability to inspect the model’s internal workings makes it impossible to determine *why* it flagged the NCCU project as DEI-related. > “The use of proprietary AI models in government decision-making without adequate transparency and accountability is a dangerous precedent. We need to demand open-source solutions and rigorous auditing to ensure fairness and prevent algorithmic discrimination.” > > – Dr. Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal Foundation, speaking at the AI Safety Summit, November 2025. The situation likewise highlights the limitations of current natural language processing (NLP) techniques. ChatGPT struggles with nuance and context. It can easily misinterpret complex concepts like DEI, leading to inaccurate and unfair assessments. The model’s inability to distinguish between legitimate academic inquiry and ideological advocacy is a fundamental flaw. The API access to ChatGPT (and similar LLMs) is governed by usage-based pricing, creating a financial incentive to automate decision-making, even when human judgment is more appropriate. OpenAI’s pricing structure, for example, charges per token, making large-scale automated analysis expensive but potentially cheaper than employing human reviewers. ### What Which means for Enterprise IT: The Rise of “AI Compliance” This case serves as a warning to organizations across all sectors. The rush to adopt AI-powered solutions must be tempered by a commitment to ethical and responsible AI practices. Companies need to invest in “AI compliance” frameworks that address issues of bias, transparency, and accountability. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing robust data governance policies, and establishing clear lines of responsibility for algorithmic decision-making. The legal landscape surrounding AI is rapidly evolving, and organizations that fail to prioritize AI compliance risk facing significant legal and reputational consequences. ## The Ecosystem Impact: Platform Lock-In and the Open-Source Imperative DOGE’s reliance on a proprietary LLM like ChatGPT reinforces the trend of platform lock-in. By choosing a closed-source solution, the agency ceded control over the underlying technology and limited its ability to customize the model to meet its specific needs. This dependence on a single vendor creates a vulnerability and hinders innovation. The open-source community offers a viable alternative. Projects like Llama 2, developed by Meta, provide researchers and developers with access to powerful LLMs that can be freely modified and distributed. Llama 2’s open-source license encourages collaboration and allows for greater transparency and accountability. The NCCU case underscores the importance of fostering a vibrant open-source ecosystem to counter the dominance of a few powerful tech companies. > “The centralization of AI power in the hands of a few large corporations is a major threat to innovation and democratic values. We need to invest in open-source AI and promote a more decentralized and equitable AI ecosystem.” > > – Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, in a recent interview with Wired Magazine. The incident with DOGE and NCCU isn’t just a story about a funding cut; it’s a canary in the coal mine. It’s a harbinger of a future where algorithmic bias and opaque decision-making threaten to undermine fundamental principles of fairness and equity. The solution isn’t to abandon AI, but to deploy it responsibly, transparently, and with a unwavering commitment to human oversight. The stakes are simply too high to do otherwise. ### Share this: * Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Share on X (Opens in new window) X *

ChatGPT & DEI: NC Central Grant Cut After AI Review | HBCU Funding Concerns Archyde The Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), a federal agency, utilized ChatGPT to assess the alignment ...

#Technology #academics #Featured

Origin | Interest | Match

Would love advice from #academics.

My friend is legit the only MA person we know. Like… I literally was the first person to finish college in my family.

We have no connections, nor knowledge that those connections would provide.

What jobs might we not know about for #library sciences, #archival?

ACHE Approves New Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics Coaching - Athens State University Athens State is pleased to announce that the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) has approved a new Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics Coaching. The program will begin in Fall […]

ACHE Approves New Graduate Certificate in Elementary Mathematics Coaching Athens State is pleased to announce that the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) has approved a new Graduate Cert...

#Academics #Athens #State #News #News

Origin | Interest | Match

AI for Teachers: Create Inclusive Materials with Gen AI Learn how to use ChatGPT and Claude to create inclusive lesson activities quickly and effectively with Gen AI. ⏱️ Length: 1.7 total hours...

#StudyBullet-24 #Free #Courses #StudyBullet #Teacher […]

[Original post on studybullet.com]

AI for Teachers: Create Inclusive Materials with Gen AI Learn how to use ChatGPT and Claude to create inclusive lesson activities quickly and effectively with Gen AI. ⏱️ Length: 1.7 total hours...

#StudyBullet-24 #Free #Courses #StudyBullet #Teacher […]

[Original post on studybullet.com]

Working Across the Pond: Applying to Academic Positions in Europe. Wednesday, Mar 25, 2026. 10:30 am - 12:15 pm (ET). Union A. Hyatt Regency. ISA logo. Background: Vintage map of the North Atlantic.

Thinking about an #AcademicCareer abroad? This #Roundtable explores how US #Academics have built careers overseas and navigated different research cultures, professional expectations, and application processes. Add this roundtable to your schedule here: buff.ly/erenhiO

Failing Calif. School District Spends $610K for Black Kids to Learn Rap Rather than emphasizing discipline and the three R's, the Merced City School District is teaching its black students how to rap.

thenewamerican.com/us/education...

The Merced City School District isn’t exactly killing it — unless, that is, what it’s killing are its students’ academic fortunes. Only about 22% of its pupils are proficient at math, just 35% at reading.
#education #rap #woke #California #race #school #academics

Co-authorship as a traded commodity: the experiences of early career education academics in Hong Kong, Canada and the UK It is estimated that almost a half of all authors listed in co-authored papers do not satisfy widely adopted international guidelines with respect to legitimate co-authorship. In order to better un...

From @tandfresearch.bsky.social #Studies in #Higher #Education | Co-authorship as a traded commodity: the experiences of early career #education #academics in #HongKong, #Canada and the #UK | #OpenScience #Ethics #Publications |🧪🔓 via @retractionwatch.com
⬇️
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Im going to be moving away from #academics over the next few months to focus on #family and chase new career goals. If you have some challenging single particle #cryoEM data and want some free #consulting or shoot it my way, I have a dual GPU workstation and wouldn't mind dabbling a bit on a puzzle.

These bingos #academics.
Oh these bingos. Epic post @equitableforall.com 👏👏

#conflict #israel #palestine #workplace #resolution #healing #academics #forgiveness #BeyondResolution #future #technology #EVAShow #uk #US #nigeria #zimbabwe #washingtondc #highereducation #pittsburgh #southamerica #latinamerica #caribbean #africa #europe #australia #world

Professors Are Changing What They Teach, Even Far From Trump’s Gaze

This is what #Soviet #academics did for 70 years under a #totalitarian regime. #Tyranny at work. #Democracy on a fast slide to #authoritarianism! We should all be frightened. And angry!

Professors Are Changing What They Teach, Even Far From Trump’s Gaze www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/u...

Full video description posted in thread 2

#Denmark #Schools #Education #Learning #Development #Students #Children #Holistics #Academics

Segmenting academic audiences for effective internal communication The diversity of university academics and the complexity of their roles make effective internal communication difficult. Here, David Brown and Katie Trachtenberg explore ways in which communications professionals can segment messaging to reach different audiences

The diversity of university #academics and the complexity of their roles make effective internal communication difficult. David Brown and Katie Trachtenberg offer solutions: https://ow.ly/TRtT50YuMBS #Academia #HigherEd #AcademicSky

And then you might also just be saying something like, 'a tiny group of elite academics doesn't think like the working classes.' Ummmm, yeah, but when have elites ever? Plus, that’s a totally different argument.

#HigherEd #Woke #WorkingClass #academics

What it’s like to have an AI bot as your job interviewer AI-led job interviews are on the rise and AI reporter Hayden Field speaks to three different kinds to see how they work.

#Outsourcing #oversight of #job applications to #AI does not sound like a good idea www.theverge.com/featured-vid... Let alone surrender #writing to AI my take here nkozphoto.com/index.php/20... #chatgpt #chatbots #history #journalism #education #academics #academic #thought

Grammarly Is Facing a Class Action Lawsuit Over Its AI ‘Expert Review’ Feature The feature, which Grammarly shut down Wednesday, presented editing suggestions as if they came from established authors and academics—without their consent.

No ripping off #authors and #academics! www.wired.com/story/gramma... My take on critical #thought, #writing and #AI here nkozphoto.com/index.php/20... #grammarly #tech #chatbots #philosophy #education #academia #university #artificialintelligence

More and more US students and researchers in Germany The German federal government’s Global Minds programme specifically promotes the recruitment of foreign academics.

🎓 International #researchers are increasingly drawn to #Germany – particularly from the US, say research organisations and the @daadworldwide.bsky.social.

🔬 The federal government’s Global Minds programme promotes the recruitment of foreign #academics.

#NewsDE

Meme from Eric Adres show. Top frame, man in gray suit labelled as "University Trustees and Politicians" shoots a sitting man behind him labelled "Educators". Bottom frame, sitting man is dead, suit man turns to the audience and says, "Young people dumb, where are all the teachers?"

#Academics are on #strike around the world due to unconscionable mismanagement of #Education, from policy to classroom
#SolidarityForever #FAGE @snesupfsu.bsky.social #Asuu #UCU #strike #UnionStrong #unionize #Vote

#Academics: file naming conventions final version-1.dox …..oh wait, final version-1v2…

The Fight to Defend Pro-Palestine Speech on Campus Isn’t Over Targeted for pro-Palestine speech, these academics are refusing to back down.

The #Fight to #Defend #ProPalestine #Speech on #Campus Isn’t Over

#Targeted for pro-Palestine speech, these #academics are #refusing to back down.

truthout.org/articles/the...

#OTD #TIDH #March11, 1890: #BOTD: #HBD #VannevarBush! #Academics #Engineers #Inventors #ScienceAdministrators #USOfficeOfScientifiResearchAndDevelopment #OSRD #WWII #Majestic12 #MJ12 #RoswellUFOIncident #UFOs #Extraterrestrials #UFOSkies @crisp91.bsky.social
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanneva...

The dangers posed when academics go outside their area of expertise People who are highly credentialed academically tend to have their views given a great deal of weight because of the perception that they are generally smart and knowledgeable. While it is true tha…

The dangers posed when #academics go outside their area of expertise

People who are highly credentialed #academically tend to have their views given a great deal of weight because of the perception that they are generally #smart and #knowledgeable.

freethoughtblogs.com/singham/2026...

All book publishers — especially University Presses for whom accurate Metadata is an essential but expensive sales tool should have discounted access to this service even though none can afford to make all their books are Open Access.

#Academics
#AUP
#nonprofits
#Metadata
#libraries

A Feminist Scholar Suggests Ten Ways to be a Nonsexist Guy in Academe You don't want to be like those professors in Epstein's circle, do you?

For International Women's Day: How to be a non-sexist guy in academe. You don't want to be like Epstein's academic pals, do you? #Academics
open.substack.com/pub/barbarak...