Beyond the Quad

Your weekly newsletter from Insight Into Diversity, the Leader in Advancing Best Practices in Inclusive Excellence and Belonging

Thursday, January 16, 2025

---

You spoke, and we listened. The Insight Into Diversity newsletter has undergone some exciting changes!

It’s still the weekly news roundup you’ve come to know and love, plus much more. Think of it as your gateway to Higher Ed excellence: best practices in higher education, inclusion, and belonging, relevant polls straight from the headlines, and insightful op-eds from industry voices.

The best part? As in the past, it comes straight to your inbox every week and is free as a bird. However, for less than the price of a latte, you can now upgrade to receive new bonus content, including a chat feature that will allow you to directly connect with colleagues and others in Higher Ed.

Survey Highlights Faculty Concerns on Academic Freedom

A national survey conducted by the American Association of Colleges and Universities has revealed strong faculty support for free speech, diverse viewpoints, and civil discourse in higher education classrooms. Despite this commitment, the survey highlights a troubling decline in academic freedom, with significant implications for teaching and learning across in the U.S.

Potential Implications:

• Continued legislative restrictions targeting the teaching of “divisive concepts” may lead to faculty retention issues and student enrollment concerns.

• The personal toll on educators (over half of respondents worry that their scholarly activities could result in online harassment), including increased stress levels, can result in reduced mental health outcomes. Read more»

Tell us what you think…

Freshman Enrollment Rises After Data Correction

The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center revealed Monday that a methodology error had led to incorrect preliminary enrollment figures for fall 2024. Contrary to earlier reports of a 5% decline in first-year enrollment, the center now reports an actual increase, although updated figures won’t be released until January 23.

“We deeply regret this error and are conducting a thorough review to understand the root cause and implement measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.” -Executive Director Doug Shapiro

The error stemmed from misclassifying first-year college students as dual enrollees—high school students taking college courses. This mislabeling inflated dual enrollment counts while underestimating freshman enrollment. Read more»

Texas A&M Challenged on DEI Policies

This week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to remove Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III over the institution’s participation in an upcoming conference hosted by The PhD Project, which Abbott alleged violates the state’s ban on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.

Senate Bill 17, enacted last year, prohibits public universities in Texas from maintaining DEI offices, mandating DEI statements, or giving preferential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity. However, the Texas A&M email, sent by Mays Business School’s Associate Dean Michael C. Withers, cited the university’s legal counsel, asserting that the conference adhered to the law’s exemptions for recruitment efforts. Read more»

Ohio Invests in Safer Campuses

On Monday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the allocation of $7.5 million in grants to bolster security measures at 28 colleges and universities across the state. The funding, part of the Campus Safety Grant Program, will support physical safety enhancements such as security cameras, improved lighting, fencing, door locks, and surveillance equipment.

In an official release, Gov. Mike DeWine said, “Ohio remains committed to ensuring our colleges and universities have the resources they need to make their campuses as safe as possible. These grants will allow us to continue this important work so students can focus on thriving in their studies, chasing their career goals, and reaching their full potential.” Read more»

The prestigious Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award annually recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity, inclusive excellence, and belonging. Any public or private not-for-profit college or university in the U.S. and Canada may apply.

Is this your first time applying? Check out the top 10 reasons to work collaboratively with your colleagues.

Start your application today! >

The March issue will focus on Human Resources—including a special Job Fair section—and celebrate the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award winners.

Deadline to Advertise: February 2nd
Reserve Your Space >

Our April issue will highlight the 2025 Inspiring Programs in Business Award winners.

Deadline to Advertise: March 3rd
Reserve Your Space >

Thinking about a career change? Visit our bustling online Career Center to search for your next position with sought-after employers who understand the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Looking for fresh talent? Post your available position(s) with confidence, knowing our reach spans across all categories of highly-educated and underrepresented groups in higher education, government, and corporate America.

This Week’s Featured Careers

Director, Perkins Career and Technical Education, Hudson County Community College

Research Technician, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University

Policy & Special Projects Research Specialist, Johns Hopkins University

Residential Student Support Specialist, Office of Residence Life, Kean University

Assistant Director, Honors College, Louisiana Tech University

Director, Feminist Resource Center and Chellis House, Middlebury College

Director, Center for Urban and Coastline Climate Science Research, Morgan State University

Director, Accounting, Seton Hall University

Director, Moreau Center for Service & Justice, University of Portland

Assistant Director, Archaeology Institute, University of West Florida

---

Unlock exclusive bonus content designed to provide actionable insights and connect you with other higher ed professionals.

Our unique subscriber-only Chat Feature will connect you directly with your peers nationwide—no need to wait for an introduction at the next conference!

We’ll also give you access to episodes of Beyond the Quadcast, our brand-new podcast dedicated to open conversations about what’s happening in higher ed with professionals, leaders, and experts … launching in February!