Afternoon Update: The endangered small college, on the brink but never more vital

Community groups and academic hiring; publishing a timely scholarly book; tenured professor is fired; cuts and closures on four campuses; 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](. STRESSED BUT RESILIENT [The Endangered Small College]( By Scott Carlson [STORY IMAGE]( Many are on the brink, but they’ve never been more vital. ADVERTISEMENT [The Endangered Small College]( THE REVIEW | OPINION [Community Groups Shouldn’t Dictate Academic Hiring]( By Alexander Jabbari [STORY IMAGE]( Recently, the University of Minnesota tarnished its reputation by caving to community pressure over the hiring of a director for its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. LATITUDES [In a Reversal, Trump Promises Green Cards to Foreign Graduates of U.S. Colleges]( By Karin Fischer [STORY IMAGE]( But the presidential candidate’s campaign comments differ from his record. And international students may be tuning out the election. ADVICE [How to Publish a ‘Timely’ Scholarly Book]( By Rebecca Colesworthy [STORY IMAGE]( Dos and don’ts for making your writing project relevant as it moves from proposal to manuscript to promotion. PHOTO ESSAY [Lost and Found: A Once-Troubled Student Pulls Himself Together]( [STORY IMAGE]( Vasily Keytiyev has overcome a troubled past and is back on track, thanks in part to the Marine Corps Reserve and a nonprofit called Service to School. FACULTY RIGHTS [Tenured Professor at Louisiana State U.-Shreveport Is Fired for ‘Disruptive Behavior’]( Brian Salvatore, a chemistry and physics professor, former department chair, and outspoken critic of local polluters, was dismissed on Friday for what he said was the exercise of his free-speech rights. In April a panel of his colleagues recommended Salvatore’s dismissal for, among other things, his disruption of Faculty Senate meetings. (Louisiana Illuminator) ANTI-LGBTQ ACTIVIST [U. of California at Davis Responds to Viral Video of an Employee Accosting Drag Queens]( [Beth Bourne]( who works at the university’s Institute for Transportation Studies, took time out of a vacation in Hawaii to film herself ranting at people in drag who were shooting their own video. The university condemned her behavior but said it was constitutionally protected. Bourne, who was briefly detained by the local police, said she was not afraid of “cancel culture.” (The Sacramento Bee) CAMPUS CUTS I [West Virginia U. Plans to Cut Programs at Branch Campuses]( [Cuts]( on the flagship university’s [main campus]( over the past year have drawn [sharp criticism]( of [decisions]( and [assumptions over the last decade]( by WVU’s board and its veteran president, [E. Gordon Gee](. The latest cuts will close a total of six programs at the university’s Institute of Technology in Beckley and its Potomac State College in Keyser. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) CAMPUS CUTS II [Keystone College, in Pennsylvania, Cuts 29 Faculty and Staff Positions]( The financially beleaguered college also will close three academic programs. The moves are expected to save $3.5 million a year. Keystone’s accreditor has asked it to produce a teach-out plan for students in case it closes. (WVIA) CLOSING TIME [Eastern Nazarene College, in Massachusetts, Plans to Close]( The college’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday to begin the process of shutting down the 124-year-old college. The board, which cited “[significant financial headwinds]( said students scheduled to graduate by year’s end will be able to do so. Other students can transfer to one of three other colleges. (The Patriot Ledger) FINANCIAL AID [Former Lehigh Student Faked His Father’s Death to Get Full Scholarship, Officials Say]( The onetime freshman at the university in Pennsylvania was arrested after his alleged deception was disclosed online. The former student has been charged with forgery, tampering with records, theft by deception, and theft of services. (WCAU) 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 [Overcoming Student Loneliness - The Chronicle Store]( [Overcoming Student Loneliness]( Students are especially vulnerable to loneliness, which can be difficult to measure and hard to combat. 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