College Matters from The Chronicle

The fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, whose political movement targeted liberal faculty and pushed the boundaries of free speech, immediately took on powerful symbolic resonance as a pivotal event in higher education’s long-running culture wars. Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, a provocative right-leaning group popular on college campuses, was killed on Wednesday during a campus speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. His death shocked the country, lending a dark gravity to already-contentious debates about political polarization, intolerance, and free expression on college campuses.Related Reading Making of a Martyr: Charlie Kirk’s Killing Silences a Conservative Voice. His Movement Could Grow Louder. (The Chronicle)  Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence (The Chronicle)  Was an Instructor's Firing a Violation Academic Freedom? Or an Example of 'Academic Responsibility' (The Chronicle) Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way (The New York Times)  GuestNell Gluckman, senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.

Higher education is at the center of the biggest stories in the country today, and College Matters is back to make sense of it all. Tune in for new weekly episodes starting on September 11. Catch up on previous popular episodes: Is Reading Over for Gen Z Students? Why Faculty Hate Teaching Evaluations Mr. Varsity Blues Claps Back For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.

For decades, Bruce Springsteen’s songs about fast cars, working-class dreamers, and loves lost and found have helped to define a quintessentially American notion of freedom and rebellion. But do the music and lyrics of “The Boss” speak to the college students of Gen Z? Louis P. Masur, a distinguished professor of American studies and history at Rutgers University, thinks they do. After years of teaching a course titled “Springsteen’s American Vision,” Masur says he is as convinced as ever that the rock icon’s songs are as timeless as Huck Finn and as durable as a “big old Buick.” Guest: Louis P. Masur, distinguished professor of American studies and history at Rutgers UniversityRelated reading Runaway Dream: Born to Run and Bruce Springsteen’s American Vision (Louis P. Masur) The Boss in the Classroom (Chronicle) For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.

After the loss of a pet, many people wonder whether they'll ever see their beloved companions again. In her course, "Do All Dogs Go to Heaven?", Chelsea Jordan King, an assistant professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University, presses her students to answers that provocative question. To do so, King encourages students — believers and nonbelievers alike — to use critical thinking and research to articulate and defend their positions. Along the way, students learn about the Roman Catholic Church's position on evolution, what makes human beings special, and how to better appreciate their natural surroundings. GuestChelsea Jordan King, assistant professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.

Food shapes our daily lives in profound ways, yet it's often taken for granted or misunderstood. In the course "Sociology of Food" at Texas Christian University, students learn how food functions as sustenance, commodity, and a sociocultural force. The course covers food from its starting point to its end — tracing its path as an agricultural product and a commodity to be traded, marketed, shopped for, prepared, and finally consumed. Edgar Jesus Campos, an assistant professor of sociology at TCU, says some of his students enroll in the course to better understand their own bodies and consumption patterns. While they gain that knowledge, they also leave with a deeper understanding of how global economic and political forces play into their personal diets. GuestEdgar Jesus Campos, assistant professor of sociology at Texas Christian University For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.

Conspiracy theories have played a role in American culture and politics for decades. In the course "Conspiracy Rhetoric: Power, Politics, and Pop Culture" at Bates College, students closely examine what propels those theories. Stephanie Kelley-Romano, a professor of rhetoric, film, and screen studies, says many students begin her course with a basic understanding of conspiratorial thinking. Often, she said, those students seek to understand how some people — sometimes people they love — can fall under its thrall. While students learn what to say to a true-believing friend or relative, the course also teaches them how to recognize narrative framing, conduct their own research, and identify trends in language, media, and storytelling that fuel conspiracy theories. Guest Stephanie Kelley-Romano, professor of rhetoric, film and screen studies at Bates College For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.

William (Rick) Singer, a college consultant infamous for orchestrating the Varsity Blues admissions scandal, reflects on his 16-month prison stint. He candidly discusses the ethics behind college admissions, sharing insights on the blurred lines between donations and admissions. Singer doesn't shy away from critiquing the FBI and the current admissions landscape while asserting his return to consulting. He also reveals his personal journey in prison, highlighting the importance of family connections and redefining purpose post-scandal.

Emma Pettit, a senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education, discusses the significant transformations at New College of Florida after a conservative takeover. She reveals how the college abandoned gender studies and embraced a Western-centric curriculum, changing its identity from ‘Barefoot U’ to a more traditional campus. Enrollment is on the rise, drawing a new type of student, while faculty express growing concern over diminished influence. The shifting landscape mirrors wider cultural battles in higher education, navigating complex narratives and political influences.

On paper, student teaching evaluations make a lot of sense. Who is better positioned to say whether a professor did a good job than the students who took the course? But dig a little deeper, and there’s good reason to question whether colleges should be relying on teaching evaluations to inform big decisions about an instructor’s promotion, pay, or even continued employment. So what’s wrong with this system? And why do colleges still cling to it, despite research that shows it’s flawed? Related Reading:  Sign up for The Chronicle’s Teaching Newsletter (The Chronicle)  Teaching Evaluations are Broken. Can They Be Fixed? (The Chronicle) A University Overhauled Its Course Evaluation to Get Better Feedback. Here’s What Changed. (The Chronicle)   Meta-analysis of faculty’s teaching effectiveness: Student evaluation of teaching ratings and student learning are not related. (ScienceDirect) Guest: Beckie Supiano, senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters.

In a live discussion at the ASU+GSV Summit, hosts dive into the shifting landscape of higher education amidst significant changes in federal policies. They highlight the severe cuts at the Department of Education and the challenges posed to international student enrollment. The looming withdrawal of federal research funding raises concerns about institutional sustainability. The conversation emphasizes the need for strong leadership to cultivate a positive campus culture during these uncertain times, reflecting on broader implications for top universities.