In this week's roundup:
The final round of federal COVID-19 relief arrives, abortion laws impact university health centers and some Title IX provisions are blocked temporarily.
July 14-20
- The U.S. Department of Education released a list of the institutions that will receive the final round of COVID-19 funding. The $198 million total marks the fourth and final round of funding being distributed.
- The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill will pay Nikole Hannah-Jones over $70,000 to not sue the institution. Hannah-Jones had been offered a job at UNC-Chapel Hill without tenure, which led to controversy since the position traditionally offered tenure.
- Higher education positions are going unfilled, according to a survey conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Over 80% of respondents say that they have more open positions this year than last.
- In light of almost 40 million adults who have dropped out of college and only 2.4% reenrolling, colleges are developing strategies to increase reenrollment. Institutions are finding ways to be flexible with students’ schedules, make it affordable to reenroll and offer credit for prior learning.
- New abortion laws are cause for concern at university health centers, as abortion providers may be at risk for prosecution.
- Title IX protections for gay and transgender students in 20 states face a temporary block. U.S. District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. granted the request which prevents the enforcement of policy that protects gay and transgender students from discrimination.
- Little progress has been made in diversity in higher education according to the analysis “Racial and Ethnic Equity in US Higher Education.” Authors note it could take another 70 years for demographics in higher education to represent those of the United States.
- Otterbein and Antioch Universities have created an affiliation comparable to a business alliance aimed at graduate education and adult learners. The program is projected to launch in Fall 2023.
- Two augmented reality courses are being developed by EdX, a massive open online course platform, with help from Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Founder Anant Agarwal says, “The metaverse has vast potential to change how we experience and access education, much like how various technologies came together ten years ago to increase access to high-quality education at scale with massive open online courses.”
- Public colleges in New York will receive $5 million in grants to create courses for the cannabis industry. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says that, “New York’s new cannabis industry is creating exciting opportunities, and we will ensure that New Yorkers who want careers in this growing sector have the quality training they need to be successful.”
