California community college enrollment falls sharply amid pandemic
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The California Community College system had a 12 percent enrollment decline from fall 2019 to fall 2020 — a loss of 186,688 students — a staggering figure for the largest college system in the country and a likely harbinger of the demographic and fiscal challenges that lie ahead for the sector nationally.
Read More about California community college enrollment falls sharply amid pandemicSaint Louis University Law adopts faculty diversity hiring plan
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY — In recognition of the value and critical importance of having a faculty body that is diverse, including specifically with respect to racial and ethnic diversity, the Saint Louis University School of Law faculty and Dean William P. Johnson have adopted a five-point plan for achieving a diverse faculty body.
Read More about Saint Louis University Law adopts faculty diversity hiring planSouthern University Law, University of New Mexico Law, and USC Gould Law programs address racism and law enforcement reform
DIVERSE ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION — The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, the violent death of George Floyd and the global protests that ensued have triggered a reckoning in many institutional spaces. Law professors and deans have examined their curricula to address issues of racism and bias.
Read More about Southern University Law, University of New Mexico Law, and USC Gould Law programs address racism and law enforcement reformPenn Law professor Eric Feldman discusses the challenges colleges face in mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students
CNBC — Every year, colleges across the country require students to get vaccinations for diseases such as Measles and Tetanus. Now, one year into the coronavirus pandemic, vaccines against the virus are becoming available for college-age students. Rutgers University announced that the school would update its typical vaccine requirements.
Read More about Penn Law professor Eric Feldman discusses the challenges colleges face in mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for studentsFaculty salaries and benefits decline during the pandemic
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Average faculty pay fell by 0.4 percent this year, adjusting for inflation, the first such decrease since 2011-12, according to preliminary data from the American Association of University Professors’ annual Faculty Compensation Survey. This top-line figure doesn’t tell the full story of how academic salaries have fared during COVID-19.
Read More about Faculty salaries and benefits decline during the pandemicColleges split on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students
ABC NEWS — U.S. colleges hoping for a return to normalcy next fall are weighing how far they should go in urging students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, including whether they should – or legally can – require it. Universities including Rutgers, Brown, Cornell and Northeastern recently told students they must get vaccinated before returning.
Read More about Colleges split on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for studentsFlorida bill will allow students to record classes for personal use
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Florida is poised to pass a bill allowing students to record classes for personal use — and to complain about professors who violate students’ free expression. Idaho’s higher ed budget is also on hold over lawmakers’ concerns about diversity programs. This bill allows serves the purpose of lodging free speech.
Read More about Florida bill will allow students to record classes for personal useApplications for law and graduate programs up compared to prior year
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Typically, graduate school admissions are countercyclical, meaning that when the economy is down, enrollment is up. Despite the unique nature of 2020’s economic downturn, it appears that this year is no exception. Applications are up in professional programs such as business and law, but also in some humanities programs.
Read More about Applications for law and graduate programs up compared to prior yearNotre Dame Law closes deposit form amid rush of acceptances from admitted students
INSIDE HIGHER ED — It was a banner year for law school applications. The number of applicants this year was up about 21 percent compared to last year, according to the Law School Admissions Council. Total applications were up 32 percent. An increase that big can be tricky for an admissions department.
Read More about Notre Dame Law closes deposit form amid rush of acceptances from admitted studentsUtah and Texas prohibit public colleges from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students
THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION — As a small but growing number of colleges announce that they’ll require students to get a Covid-19 vaccine, two state governments have prohibited their public colleges from doing so. Utah legislators enacted a law forbidding government agencies to require people to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
Read More about Utah and Texas prohibit public colleges from mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students