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What’s Hot in Higher Ed – March 1, 2019

March 1, 2019 by Erik Gross

Top trending news on the college and university front: Michael Crow's triumphant leadership at ASU; the Chronicle of Higher Education's latest panoramic survey; Harvard's new dean faces down criticism for providing legal counsel to Harvey Weinstein.



Meet America’s Most Innovative College President         

Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University, has earned high praise for his transformation of the University. Once known as a party school, under President Crow’s leadership, ASU has risen to new heights. His tenure began with a radical vision outlined in his 2002 inaugural address: He pledged to create a university that is “measured not by who the university excludes, but by who the university includes.” He has achieved this goal through creative cost-cutting techniques, investments into education technology, and inspiring corporate partnerships, including a deal to provide Uber drivers with a free online education.

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Tomorrow’s Trends in Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education has produced an excellent survey of the most pressing trends in higher education. On the list: more schools will abandon standardized testing, college rankings will take social mobility into account, urban colleges will expand their footprint, disputes over Title IX will continue, financial crunches will force more college mergers, and the traditional textbook will become a symbol of the past.  

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Harvard Dean in Hot Water with Student Body

Robert S. Sullivan, Jr., the first black faculty dean at Harvard University and a professor at Harvard Law School, has received harsh criticism for his decision to provide legal counsel to Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood producer who is facing multiple sexual assault allegations. This criticism has culminated in Harvard’s student newspaper, The Crimson, officially condemning his actions. Unknown persons have vandalized the door of Winthrop House, where Professor Sullivan is dean, with the words, “Down [with] Sullivan.” In this piece, fellow Harvard Law School professor Randall Kennedy argues that students should learn from Professor Sullivan’s decision and think more critically about the legal profession and what it means to be a defense counsel.   

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