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The Committee on College and University Governance's report for 2023-24 focused on judicial business related to sanctions and other activities. The report highlighted two cases: New College of Florida, where a politically motivated takeover led to violations of shared governance principles, and Spartanburg Community College, where the abrupt dissolution of the faculty senate restricted faculty involvement in institutional decisions. The report also addressed the removal of sanction from Medaille University, which closed in 2023, and outlined other committee activities, including the approval of a statement on political interference in higher education and discussions on the AAUP's affiliation with the American Federation of Teachers. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses political interference in Florida's public higher education system under Governor DeSantis, leading to threats to academic freedom. Actions such as appointing conservative trustees and passing legislation restricting academic freedom have resulted in faculty resignations and denial of tenure. Concerns about complicity among administrators and the need for adherence to governance standards to protect academic freedom are highlighted. The report warns of a significant threat to higher education due to the state government's interference in curricula and discriminatory attacks on diversity initiatives, urging stakeholders to resist such assaults on academic freedom and democracy. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the mismatch between Robert's Rules of Order and academic cultures, highlighting how the rules can be inaccessible, rigid, and hierarchical. It explores the historical context of Robert's Rules and how they may not align with the values of academia today, especially for faculty members from underrepresented groups. The text suggests alternatives to Robert's Rules, such as Democratic Rules of Order or consensus-based decision-making, as more flexible and inclusive options for faculty meetings. [Extracted from the article]

The article in Academe discusses the benefits of using Robert's Rules for faculty meetings, emphasizing the importance of structured communication and decision-making processes. Through a satirical lens, the text highlights how adhering to these rules can prevent chaos and ensure productive discussions. The article humorously portrays a faculty meeting where the application of Robert's Rules leads to orderly debate and decision-making, ultimately showcasing the value of such structured procedures in democratic settings. [Extracted from the article]

Faculty members informed this committee of having been left in the dark as to what was happening after the tenure and promotion committee had deliberated and made its recommendations to appoint Professor Hannah-Jones with tenure. The task of this committee was not to evaluate the merits of her work or critiques of it, but to ask what went wrong after the positive tenure recommendations of the school of journalism's review committee, the school's faculty, the university review committee, and the campus administration. When his nomination was submitted to the UNC board of governors' university governance committee along with two others, however, the committee chair asked Chancellor Guskiewicz to submit a name other than Professor Muller's, which the chancellor declined to do. The AAUP statement Faculty Participation in the Selection, Evaluation, and Retention of Administrators further stipulates that "the board, with which the legal power of appointment rests, should either select a name from among those submitted by the faculty committee or should agree that no person will be chosen over the objections of the faculty committee." To date, the board has not communicated to anyone, including the faculty committee, any reasons, let alone "compelling" ones, for its initial failure to take action on that committee's favorable recommendation on Professor Hannah-Jones's tenure candidacy. [Extracted from the article]