Weekly Briefing: White student enrollment is down, way down

Plus, a former college president spent $38,000 on a hand-roll sushi bar. ADVERTISEMENT [Weekly Briefing Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. Where are the white students? Undergraduate enrollment of white students has dropped more than that of any other racial group over the last decade, according to federal data, a Chronicle analysis, and several experts. It’s a decline that has caught many demographers by surprise, our Katherine Mangan reports. The declining enrollment presents a unique challenge for colleges. They must figure out how to recruit more white students while also trying to rectify racial inequalities for a population that will soon make up the majority of students. [Read Katie’s report and check out the enrollment numbers](. His request to teach a course about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was rejected. Now the intra-department dispute is on public view. Michel DeGraff, a professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, submitted a request to teach a course about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in December. The request was rejected, and DeGraff believes the decision was rooted in his pro-Palestinian advocacy. His colleagues disagree. [Our Amanda Friedman has the story](. This week on College Matters from The Chronicle: The story behind Ben Sasse’s spending. When Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator, was president of the University of Florida, he directed millions of dollars — [much more than his predecessor]( — toward consultants and for his Republican allies to serve in cush jobs. This week’s podcast episode interviews the reporter, Garrett Shanley, a Chronicle intern and a reporter for The Independent Florida Alligator, who cracked the story. [Listen here](. Last week’s most clicked on story from the newsletter:[Just Another Piece of Quit Lit](. In this advice piece from 2018, Joseph Conley writes about leaving his Ph.D. program. Subscribe to The Chronicle Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. ADVERTISEMENT Lagniappe - Read. We make up stories about our home all the time, but what happens when those narratives are false? That and an unexpected romance is the premise of the novel The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. The novel is on the [2024 Booker Prize shortlist](. (The Booker Prizes) - Read, again. Former President Trump has pledged to deport undocumented immigrants if he’s reelected. [Here’s what that would mean]( for dairy farmers and the milk in grocery refrigerators. (The New York Times Magazine) —Fernanda Professional Development Programs Our professional-development programs are designed to combine critical information from The Chronicle's journalism with practical skill-building workshops, seminars, and tools that will help you succeed in higher ed. We partner with leading experts and experienced practitioners to provide robust programs tailored to the evolving needs of professionals navigating an ever-changing academic landscape. [Learn more]( about our upcoming programs and reach out to workshops@chronicle.com with any questions. Chronicle Top Reads 'PEOPLE ARE WATCHING' [Do These Courses Contain Antisemitic Content?]( By Emma Pettit [STORY IMAGE]( Florida’s public universities have submitted scores of courses to potentially be reviewed for “antisemitism or anti-Israeli bias.” SHIFTING RHETORIC [A Student Group’s Endorsement of Violence Splits Columbia’s Faculty]( By Kate Hidalgo Bellows and Jasper Smith [STORY IMAGE]( Faculty members at Columbia University say they disagree with a pro-Palestinian student group’s recent endorsement of violence, but some support the group’s right to express that sentiment. 'UP IN THE AIR' [How a Few Forfeits Landed These Colleges at the Center of a Political Fight]( By Christa Dutton [STORY IMAGE]( Women’s volleyball programs are forfeiting matches against a team that reportedly has a transgender player. The decisions triggered political commentary and legal uncertainty. ADVERTISEMENT From the Chronicle Store [Campus Housing for Tomorrow]( [Campus Housing for Tomorrow]( Student housing has undergone substantial shifts in recent years, due to inflation, the high cost of building, and drops in enrollment. [Order this report]( for insights on how to navigate these challenges and meet students’ evolving needs. 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](. 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