Afternoon Update: Stanford Conference on Academic Freedom Is Endangering It, Critics Say

Collin College restores professor; the cost of an online campus's outsourcing; cruelty of faculty churn; prof who yelled at student is fired; and more ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. ACADEMIC FREEDOM [A Conference Says Academic Freedom Is in Danger. Critics Say the Event Is Part of the Problem.]( By Stephanie M. Lee [STORY IMAGE]( To some at Stanford, the event — starring Peter Thiel, Scott Atlas, Jordan Peterson, and Amy Wax — is alarming evidence that the elite university is fueling threats to democracy and public health. ADVERTISEMENT FACULTY RIGHTS [Collin College Professor Gets 6-Figure Salary and Reinstatement After Free-Speech Lawsuit]( By Michael Vasquez [STORY IMAGE]( Amid a string of legal challenges to faculty dismissals, the Texas community college agreed to reinstate Suzanne Jones and pay her $115,000 a year. RAPID RESTRUCTURING [U. of Maryland’s Online Campus Turned to Outsourcing for Speed. That Came at a Cost.]( By Taylor Swaak [STORY IMAGE]( Employees say the decision to restructure led to layoffs, diminished morale, and glitches. THE REVIEW | REPORTING [The Cruelty of Faculty Churn]( By James Rushing Daniel [STORY IMAGE]( Term-limited lectureships give scholars a taste of academic life — then yank it away. TEACHING [Still Struggling With Engagement? You’re Not Alone.]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( In a recent forum, teaching experts shared ideas on how to deal with this continuing challenge. IN THE CLASSROOM [Tennessee State U. Fires Professor After Video Shows Him Screaming at Student]( In the video, Robert Evins Pickard, a history professor, yells in a student’s face: “What is your name? Out! Get out! You have failed this course, whatever your name is.” Students said it wasn’t the first time he had shouted at them in this way. He later issued an apology saying he had resigned and was now retired. (WSMV) SEXUAL ABUSE [Judge Dismisses Sexual-Assault Lawsuit Against Former U. of Michigan Professor]( The suit, filed by eight women against the university, its Board of Regents, and Bruce Conforth, a music professor who retired in 2017, was thrown out because the plaintiffs missed a filing deadline; they vowed to appeal. Conforth, who has denied the accusations, still faces another suit from the women, who include former students. (The Ann Arbor News) FINANCES [Judge Rules Against Harvard in Case on Fumbled Insurance Filing]( The university’s blunder means it cannot use a $15-million policy to pay legal expenses connected with a [lawsuit against its consideration]( of [race in admissions]( a case that the [U.S. Supreme Court heard]( on Monday. (The New York Times, The Chronicle) STUDENT AID [New Calif. Law Bars Colleges From Yanking Aid From Students With Private Scholarships]( The state is one of five with laws preventing what’s known as scholarship displacement, and it’s only the second to ban the practice at both public and private institutions. The law covers low-income students and takes effect in the 2023-24 academic year. (CalMatters) ACCREDITATION [Accreditor Asks Cabrini U. for Information on Cuts in Senior Leadership]( The Middle States Commission on Higher Education said it had requested a report from the Pennsylvania university about its decision to eliminate, among other positions, its provost. The financially troubled institution said it was [exploring a merger](. (The Philadelphia Inquirer) WARNINGS [FCC Issues Consumer Alert on Student-Loan-Debt Scam Robocalls]( The Federal Communications Commission also issued an [enforcement advisory]( calling on voice-service providers to look out for such robocalls and help block them. (Agency news releases) EVENTS [Browse Upcoming and On-Demand Virtual Events]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join a discussion with national experts and leading practitioners on how to navigate an uncertain future and what new ideas your institution can pursue. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. SPONSOR CONTENT | Utrecht University [‘Standing back to watch staff being tormented simply isn’t an option’]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Reimagining the Student Experience - The Chronicle Store]( [Reimagining the Student Experience]( Many colleges are intentionally rethinking and reshaping what has broadly become known as the student experience. [Order your copy today]( to explore the many forces affecting the student experience with the goal of making students’ time on campus more engaging. 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. © 2022 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037