Author Archives: E Wayne Ross

California Warns of Layoffs at Schools—26,000 teachers & 15,000 staff will lose jobs

The New York Times: California Warns of Layoffs at Schools

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Public school employees throughout California are being warned of extensive job cuts as local officials face a deadline for issuing layoff notices to educators.

The State Department of Education estimates that preliminary notices will be given to 26,500 teachers by the Sunday cutoff. An additional 15,000 bus drivers, janitors, secretaries and administrators are also expected to receive the written warnings.

Hong Kong professor denied entry into Macau

World University News: CHINA: Hong Kong professor denied entry into Macau

A Hong Kong professor and two pro-democracy politicians have been barred from Macau, raising serious concerns about academic freedom. AFP News reported that Johannes Chan, Dean of the University of Hong Kong’s law faculty, was turned away by immigration officers on 28 February when he went to give a speech at the University of Macau.

FRANCE: Concessions but strike continues

World University News: FRANCE: Concessions but strike continues

Government ministers have made a further concession to striking lecturers and researchers, postponing introduction of contentious teacher-training reforms by a year. But by the weekend, the six-week strike showed no sign of abating with ongoing university closures and protest actions, including nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday in the tens of thousands. Meanwhile, President Nicolas Sarkozy came under attack by education unions for “tackling the problem” during a lunch with senior academics and researchers.

Nursing Student Sues After U. of Louisville Expels Her for Online Posts About Patients

The Chronicle News Blog: Nursing Student Sues After U. of Louisville Expels Her for Online Posts About Patients

A former nursing student at the University of Louisville sued the institution in federal court yesterday, alleging that it had violated her free-speech and due-process rights by expelling her for her posts on MySpace, where she wrote about her patients, gun rights, and abortion, among other issues.

Explosive Problem for the University of Louisville – Nursing Student Expelled for MySpace Blog

PageOneKentucky.com: Explosive Problem for the University of Louisville – Nursing Student Expelled for MySpace Blog

On Thursday, March 5th we learned that a nursing student at the University of Louisville was expelled because of a post on her MySpace account.

And it’s official. A law suit was filed today alleging the University has violated rights to free speech.

New Mexico Regent Who Was Criticized by Faculty Will Step Aside From Board’s Presidency

The Chronicle News Blog: New Mexico Regent Who Was Criticized by Faculty Will Step Aside From Board’s Presidency

The president of the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico has agreed to step aside from his leadership role “to avoid being a distraction” as the state’s governor works to improve relations between faculty members and the institution’s leaders, Gov. Bill Richardson announced today.

Tenure Flashpoint in Kentucky

Inside Higher Ed: Tenure Flashpoint in Kentucky

After three months of debate, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s Board of Regents is scheduled to vote today on whether or not to get rid of tenure for all new faculty hires.

The proposed revision of the system’s employment policy would grandfather in individuals who have already been granted tenure and those who are in tenure track positions before July 1, 2009. If the revision passes, all full-time faculty members hired on or after this date would be offered term contracts that lengthen as instructors work for the system.

Newfoundland & Labrador: Memorial University lacks independence, report says

Globe and Mail: Memorial University lacks independence, report says

The tug-of-war between the Newfoundland and Labrador government and Memorial University over the selection of the school’s next president continued yesterday with a new report that calls for an end to provincial involvement in appointing university leaders.

Washington: Spokane college sued for blocking anti-abortion display

Seattle Times: Spokane college sued for blocking anti-abortion display

The Alliance Defense Fund filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Spokane Falls Community College student after she and other students were denied permission to put on an anti-abortion event on campus and were told they might be expelled if they proceeded.

Spokane Falls Community College student Beth Sheeran and several fellow Christian students wanted to put up an anti-abortion display and distribute fliers on campus in January to mark the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.

Peking Uni transfers outspoken prof to west China

AP:  Peking Uni transfers outspoken prof to west China

BEIJING (AP) — University authorities reassigned an outspoken Beijing law professor to teach in remote western China — a move he said Thursday may be retaliation for his signing a landmark petition calling for political reform.

He Weifang said administrators at elite Peking University in Beijing approached him earlier this year about transferring to the Central Asian border region of Xinjiang. Though the school frequently sends professors to remote schools for stints, He said he was given no explicit reason for the move.

Editor of Turkish Scientific Journal Reportedly Is Sacked for Darwin Cover Story

Hurriyet: 200 years after Darwin, 83 years after Scopes

ANKARA – A last-minute decision to pull Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, off the cover of a top Turkish scientific journal and the chief editor off the job has fueled criticism that Turkey’s national research council is too politicized.

Colorado State U. Skips Search Firm in Hunt for Nontraditional Chancellor

The Chronicle: Colorado State U. Skips Search Firm in Hunt for Nontraditional Chancellor

Officials at the Colorado State University system want a different kind of chancellor, and they think they can find one without the help of a search firm

UK: University departments ‘facing closure’

The Telegraph: University departments ‘facing closure’

University departments are facing closure over a lack of funding. Liverpool University is considering shutting its politics and communications studies, philosophy, and statistics departments.

Texas: UTMB hospital to remain on Galveston Island

Houston Chronicle: UTMB hospital to remain on Galveston Island

AUSTIN — The University of Texas Medical Branch hospital and medical school, devastated last year by Hurricane Ike, will remain on Galveston Island, according to a plan approved Tuesday.

But the plan by the University of Texas Board of Regents depends on significant funding from the state and federal governments, philanthropic sources and perhaps even a taxpayer-funded hospital district to succeed, officials said.

Ward Churchill’s Day in Court Arrives

The Chronicle: Ward Churchill’s Day in Court Arrives

The trial in Ward Churchill’s lawsuit against the University of Colorado got under way here on Tuesday with lawyers for the opposing sides painting starkly different pictures of both the controversial ethnic-studies professor and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal by the university in 2007.

Animal-Rights Activists Claim Responsibility for Arson of UCLA Professor’s Car

The Chronicle News Blog: Animal-Rights Activists Claim Responsibility for Arson of UCLA Professor’s Car

The FBI is investigating yet another attack on a university researcher involved in animal experimentation.

A car was burned on Saturday outside the home of the researcher, an associate professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of California at Los Angeles, an FBI spokesman said. No one was physically injured in the attack, the spokesman said.

A group called the Animal Liberation Front posted a message on its Web site from an entity calling itself the Animal Liberation Brigade claiming responsibility for the arson attack. The statement said the professor “addicts monkeys to methamphetamines and other street drugs” and promised future attacks that cause “a lot more damage than to your property” if the experimentation continues.

Neoliberalism and Higher Education

The New York Times: Neoliberalism and Higher Education

By Stanley Fish

I’ve been asking colleagues in several departments and disciplines whether they’ve ever come across the term “neoliberalism” and whether they know what it means. A small number acknowledged having heard the word; a very much smaller number ventured a tentative definition.

Doctoral Candidates Anticipate Hard Times

The New York Times: Doctoral Candidates Anticipate Hard Times

Chris Pieper began looking for an academic job in sociology about six months ago, sending off about two dozen application packets. The results so far? Two telephone interviews, and no employment offers.

UDC Chief Wants to Cut Undergrad Major in Education

Washington Post: UDC Chief Wants to Cut Undergrad Major in Education
Low Graduation Rates Prompt Change as Sessoms Proceeds With an Institutional Overhaul

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The University of the District of Columbia plans to shut down its struggling undergraduate education department, which, officials say, is out of touch with current thinking on how to train teachers and fails to graduate the vast majority of its students.

Pasadena-based plan for online university draws interest, skepticism

Los Angeles Times: Pasadena-based plan for online university draws interest, skepticism

An Israeli entrepreneur hopes to start a global, very-low-cost institution soon. But by dispensing with professors, it’s already a tough sell for some.