Afternoon Update: Professors wonder if they're just grading robots

What it means to care for students; an updated look at divestment protests; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. THE CHANGING CLASSROOM [Professors Ask: Are We Just Grading Robots?]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( Some are riding the AI wave. Others feel like they’re drowning. ADVERTISEMENT [Professors Ask: Are We Just Grading Robots?]( TEACHING [What Does It Really Mean to Care for Students?]( By Beckie Supiano [STORY IMAGE]( Creating a caring classroom is not the same as being involved in students’ personal lives. It might even make it less likely. NEWLY UPDATED [More Than 100 Colleges Saw Protests Demanding Divestment From Israel This Spring]( By Sonel Cutler, Alecia Taylor, and Amelia Benavides-Colón [STORY IMAGE]( Encampments and sit-ins proliferated across the country in April, May, and June. Our map has been updated to include recent encampments at Wayne State University, the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a handful of other institutions. CAMPUS UNREST [Administrators at Cal State-Los Angeles Were Stranded Overnight After Protest Escalated]( Protesters, who have been demanding for weeks that the university cut financial ties with Israel, said they had grown frustrated with what they alleged was silence from campus leaders. On Wednesday, activists took over the student-services building and blocked the exits for several hours. University officials said Thursday that the protesters [left behind damage]( and graffiti. (Los Angeles Times, KTLA) VOTES TALLIED [Occidental College’s Board Declines to Divest from Israel]( Students at the California institution had called for the college to divest from Israel last month. But the trustees said this week they felt it was inappropriate for Occidental to take a position on a complex geopolitical matter. They also said the college’s endowment did not include direct investments in four companies that have provided weapons to Israel’s military. (Los Angeles Times) LEADERSHIP [After a Decade at the Helm, U. of Washington’s Ana Mari Cauce Will Retire]( Cauce, one of the few women of color leading a research university, will step down from the presidency in 2025, the end of her second five-year contract. She managed the university through numerous controversies, including several cycles of campus protests and its move to a new athletic conference. Cauce plans to return to the psychology faculty. (The Seattle Times) LEGAL TROUBLE [Doctoral Students at Grand Canyon U. Were Defrauded, Lawsuit Alleges]( The class-action suit, filed on Wednesday, is the latest legal battle for the Christian institution in Arizona. The U.S. Department of Education fined the university $37.7 million last fall over claims that GCU had deceptively marketed its doctoral degrees. The Federal Trade Commission has also sued the university over alleged false advertising. Grand Canyon leaders have denied the allegations. (The Arizona Republic) UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Library and Institutional Success Program | July 2024] The Chronicle is partnering with Ithaka S+R to host a brand new [professional development program for librarians]( in July. This innovative two-week program will help library leaders understand the many roles they might take on, boost the success of the campus library, and better align with their institution’s goals. Learn more about our seminars and workshops, and [register today]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Future of Diversity Training - The Chronicle Store]( [The Future of Diversity Training]( Diversity training for faculty and staff members is widely used across higher education. Yet there’s little agreement on whether such training is effective. [Order this report]( for insights to improve your college’s approach to building a culture that supports diversity. JOB OPPORTUNITIES [Search jobs on The Chronicle job board]( [Find Your Next Role Today]( Whether you are actively or passively searching for your next career opportunity, The Chronicle is here to support you throughout your job search. Get started now by [exploring 30,000+ openings]( or [signing up for job alerts](. NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037