Governance

University boards have the primary responsibility for ensuring fidelity to the institution’s mission, managing university finances, and setting personnel policies. The following articles expose poor governance practices and identify policies that keep boards accountable to the taxpayers, students, parents, alumni, and donors whom they serve.

Mar 24, 2023 · Rob Jenkins

The Way Forward for Religious Institutions

Traditional religion in this country has never been more under attack than it is today, with the recent passage of the 2022 “Respect for Marriage Act.” Despite its half-hearted nod…

Mar 23, 2023 · Graham Hillard

North Carolina Strikes a Blow Against Credentialism

Last week, following an executive order by Gov. Roy Cooper, North Carolina joined a growing movement to pull down unnecessary barriers to public employment. Bearing the modest title “Recognizing the…

Mar 22, 2023 · Todd J. Williams

How a Private College Mandated Civics Instruction

In the fall of 2020, Cairn University in southeastern Pennsylvania implemented a revised core curriculum that introduced, among other things, a new required course in civics and government. Reactions to…

Mar 20, 2023 · Jenna A. Robinson

The Media Take On the UNC Board

When news broke that UNC-Chapel Hill had plans to create a new School of Civic Life and Leadership, it was inevitable that there would be some confusion. But nearly two…

Mar 17, 2023 · Gordon Bare

ROTC and the Ivies

Ivy League universities have a distinguished history of their students serving the country in the armed forces. Yale can claim Captain Nathan Hale, class of 1773, executed by the British…

Mar 16, 2023 · Jenna A. Robinson

Davidson College Affirms Free Speech

Last week, faculty at Davidson College affirmed their commitment to free expression on campus by approving their own version of the Chicago Principles. It’s a step that the pro-free-speech organization…

Mar 15, 2023 · Richard Sander

Law-School “Mismatch” Is Worse Than We Thought

Eighteen years ago, I published an article in the Stanford Law Review which documented for the first time the enormous breadth and scale of race-based admissions preferences in law schools.…

Mar 6, 2023 · Michael C. Behrent

“Forbidden-Word” Lists Are a Symptom of Administrative Bloat

On its “Inclusive Language” website, UNC-Chapel Hill reminds readers that words have consequences: “To fully represent the diversity of our students, faculty, staff and everyone in our community,” UNC states,…

Mar 2, 2023 · Kristin MacArthur

Colleges Are Gambling with Students’ Lives

In 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which prohibited states from allowing legal gambling. Since then, 36 states have legalized sports betting, and 26…

Feb 27, 2023 · Shannon Watkins

Why Can’t UNC-System Education Programs Fix Literacy Instruction?

Members of the UNC Board of Governors are not happy. A years-long effort to align teacher training with the best scientifically proven methods to teach reading has fallen flat on…