***HIGHER ED
Northeast Minnesota colleges plan to merge http://www.timberjay.com/stories/northeast-minnesota-colleges-plan-to-merge,15954
The 10 most politically conservative colleges in the country https://www.al.com/news/2020/02/alabama-college-named-one-of-the-most-conservative-in-the-country.html
Proposed Ed Dept rule has Higher Ed lobbyists worried about possible loss of federal grants for public colleges over barring recognition of religious groups with membership restrictions https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/07/colleges-worry-about-implications-religious-freedom-rule
After a complaint that many white students were using the University of Virginia's Multicultural Student Center, the administration emphasizes that all are allowed in the space. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/14/university-virginia-clarifies-all-students-allowed-multicultural-center
Indiana University cuts short student-planned SexFest after paddling controversy https://www.thefire.org/indiana-university-cuts-short-student-planned-sexfest-after-paddling-controversy/
This college was accredited by a DeVos-sanctioned group--We couldn’t find evidence of students or faculty https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/02/15/college-accreditation-department-education-betsy-devos-south-dakota-sioux-falls/4746906002/
UC finds problems with how it admits some students, including athletes and artistshttps://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-14/uc-audit-finds-problems-in-how-it-admits-special-students-including-athletes-and-artists
How one university is teaching through the coronavirus outbreak https://www.educationdive.com/news/how-one-university-is-teaching-through-the-coronavirus-outbreak/572385/
Education Department Unveils Fix For Troubled Student Loan Forgiveness Program https://www.npr.org/2020/01/31/801367031/education-dept-unveils-fix-for-student-loan-programs-bureaucratic-nightmare
***HIGHER ED & FINANCE
Loyola Chicago faculty group is pushing back against major cuts to its English language learning program https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/05/loyola-faculty-group-pushing-back-against-major-cuts-its-english-language-learning
Proposed Education Department rule has higher ed lobbyists worried about possible loss of federal grants for public colleges over barring recognition of religious groups with membership restrictions. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/07/colleges-worry-about-implications-religious-freedom-rule
Cal State San Marcos audit shows cross-country road trip, Guns N’ Roses show and phantom dinner guests https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-13/cal-state-san-marcos-audit
***HIGHER ED IN COURT
Religious Bias Lawsuit Against Louisiana College Settled https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/02/14/religious-bias-lawsuit-against-louisiana-college-settled
***TEACHING
New research finds male college students are more likely to ask for grade changes https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/05/study-male-students-ask-grade-changes-far-more-frequently-female-students
Research Shows Teaching Kids Digital Literacy Beats Limiting Screen Time: 5 Ways to Do It https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/research-shows-teaching-kids-digital-literacy-beats-limiting-screen-time-5-ways-to-do-it.html
***ACADEMIC LIFE
University professor compares 'OK, boomer' to 'n-word,' students say https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/us/oklahoma-professor-n-word-ok-boomer/
MIT puts professor on leave over new revelations about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein as it issues anticipated report https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/01/13/mit-puts-professor-leave-over-new-revelations-about-his-ties-jeffrey-epstein
MLA members discuss professors' ethical responsibilities for training graduate students, as some propose shifts in admissions practices. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/01/13/mla-discusses-professors-ethical-responsibilities-training-graduate-students
A former Montana State assistant professor is appealing to the State Supreme Court https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/ex-msu-professor-appeals-firing-to-supreme-court/article_a40e90f7-4ae3-5bc3-abf3-13bc123c5f5b.html
Faculty members at Lee College object to new annual contracts https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/02/10/faculty-members-lee-college-object-new-one-year-contracts
Federal court dismisses lawsuit from evangelical professor disciplined for misgendering trans student https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/02/federal-court-dismisses-lawsuit-from-shawnee-state-professor-disciplined-for-misgendering-trans-student/
Ball State University professor suspended after calling cops on Black student https://thegrio.com/2020/02/14/ball-state-university-professor-suspended-after-calling-cops-on-black-student/
UCF professors implicated in alleged cheating scandal say investigation was ‘sloppy and flawed’ https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/ucf-professors-implicated-alleged-cheating-scandal-say-investigation-was-sloppy-flawed/TARNDEKFRNCEXCDBOWMKLTSVPU/
Professors oppose use of peer review reports in tenure case https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/professors-oppose-use-peer-review-reports-tenure-case
***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS
Christian Colleges Should Interact With World, Not Oppose It (opinion) https://sojo.net/articles/christian-colleges-should-interact-world-not-oppose-it
Abuse survivor and activist Rachael Denhollande urges Christian colleges to condemn sex abuse https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/faith-culture/denhollander-urges-christian-colleges-to-condemn-sex-abuse/
Christian colleges oppose Title IX due process reforms as ‘barrier’ to the truth https://www.thecollegefix.com/christian-academic-organization-president-calls-new-title-ix-regulations-a-barrier-to-truth/
After Taking Over Art School, Belmont U. Will Fire Non-Christian Faculty Members https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/2020/02/03/after-taking-over-art-school-belmont-u-will-fire-non-christian-faculty-members/
Christian College Grads Care More About Helping, Less About Money https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/february/cardus-study-christian-college-university-difference.html
Researchers study tattoos on Christian campus https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/faith-culture/researchers-study-tattoos-on-christian-campus/
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.: ‘We Treat Students Like Customers’ https://www.mediaite.com/tv/liberty-university-president-jerry-falwell-jr-we-treat-students-like-customers/
Baylor speaker’s prayer sparks campus controversy: offers prayer to "Mother Mystery" https://www.kwtx.com/content/news/BU-speakers-prayer-to-Mother-Mystery-sparks-campus-controversy-567855401.html
Alice Walker brings warmth and wisdom to the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea in Point Loma https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/columnists/story/2020-02-15/column-alice-walker-brings-warmth-and-wisdom-to-the-writers-symposium-by-the-sea-in-point-loma
PLNU women’s basketball team signs 15-year-old battling rare disorder https://fox5sandiego.com/sports/plnu-womens-basketball-team-signs-15-year-old-battling-rare-disorder/
***RESEARCH
If articles about a Schrödinger equation are retracted, do they still exist? https://retractionwatch.com/2020/02/03/if-articles-about-a-schrodinger-equation-are-retracted-do-they-still-exist/
What Research Institutions Can Do to Foster Research Integrity https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11948-020-00178-5
Preprints can fill a void in times of rapidly changing science https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/31/preprints-fill-void-rapidly-changing-science/
Impact Factor vs Integrity Factor: Which Siren Should Be Our Guide? https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lipd.12214
The Research Literature Looks Too Good to Be True https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meta-uncertainty/202002/the-research-literature-looks-too-good-be-true
***PLAGIARISM
Primer on plagiarism: Top tips for Editors when facing plagiarism issues https://www.wiley.com/network/journaleditors/editors/primer-on-plagiarism-top-tips-for-editors-when-facing-plagiarism-issues
A feudal approach to intellectual property has turned the academy into a modern police state https://www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/plagiarism-hunters-please-lay-down-your-weapons
10 types of plagiarism in research https://www.wiley.com/network/researchers/submission-and-navigating-peer-review/10-types-of-plagiarism-in-research
***STUDENT LIFE
University of California report says UC should keep SATs https://apnews.com/c8513f954032cf4465c5b383ff9b36de
2020’s Best & Worst States for Singles https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-singles/31667/
BuzzFeed News is recruiting teenagers to make election-themed TikTok and Instagram videos https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/02/teen-ambassadors-buzzfeed/
Student Loan Company Accidentally Sends Ohio Man 55,000 Copies of Same Letter About Daughter's Tuition https://people.com/human-interest/student-loan-company-sends-ohio-man-thousands-copies-of-same-letter/
Editor in chief criticizes Radford’s newspaper theft investigation https://splc.org/2020/02/radford-university-student-paper-newspaper-theft-proposed-prior-review/
***SEXUAL HARASSMENT & ASSAULT
A federal appeals court's decision in California puts pressure on institutions to ensure Title IX policies and procedures effectively prevent sexual misconduct https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/01/31/appeals-court-holds-university-liable-ineffective-title-ix-policies
Dozens of woman now accuse prominent Columbia University Ob-Gyn of sexual assault https://boingboing.net/2020/02/14/dozens-of-woman-now-accuse-pro.html