Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 1h

Special shoutout to the former instructor who wrote me to say that the experience is transformative for staff members too. Says he met his wife while both were teaching at CTY. #nerdlove

What Nerd Camp Can Tell Us About the SAT

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 1h

Unrelated to breaking news: I appreciate that of my recent stories, I've gotten the most feedback on this one. All the emails are from alumni of various nerd camps. I should say that not all CTY alumni who have messaged me support the test-based admissions criterion, but all loved the experience.

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 6d

Want something fun (I hope) to read that's not about huge government interventions in higher ed? I wrote about nerd camp! The story has some higher-ed connections, I promise, and it was a pleasure to report: www.chronicle.com/article/what...

No selective college relies on standardized tests alone to admit students, but the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth does. That makes it an interesting test case.

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 1h

A hat tip to @liamknox.bsky.social, who first reported this for Bloomberg last night

Trump Welcomes ‘Any Institution’ to Sign Onto Compact Outlining His Priorities

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 1h

Breaking: Trump's higher-ed compact is open to all, I confirmed for @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr...

“We welcome any institution that wants to adopt these principles to sign the compact,” a source told me.

An administration source told The Chronicle that “any institution that wants to adopt these principles” could sign onto the document, which offers a purported edge in grant funding.

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you! And what a lovely thing to say about CTY

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 6d

Bonus: I put a little first person in there, near the bottom! You can learn a little about my parents and the longitudinal study I was a part of from birth until I was 18.

What Nerd Camp Can Tell Us About the SAT

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 6d

Want something fun (I hope) to read that's not about huge government interventions in higher ed? I wrote about nerd camp! The story has some higher-ed connections, I promise, and it was a pleasure to report: www.chronicle.com/article/what...

No selective college relies on standardized tests alone to admit students, but the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth does. That makes it an interesting test case.

The White House’s New ‘Compact’ Would Offer Universities an Edge in Grant Funding. What’s In It?

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 11d

My colleagues broke down in detail the contents of the "compact" the Trump administration reportedly sent to nine colleges. Hope this helps your discussions: www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

We’ve seen what the Trump administration’s stick looks like. Let’s look at its carrot.

Columbia Confronts Life After Its Deal With Trump

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · 29d

What do teaching, research, and student life look like after a college reaches a deal with the Trump administration? I visited Columbia during the first week of classes to find out: www.chronicle.com/article/life...

The university endured two years of unprecedented upheaval. Will its wide-ranging settlement with the government allow it to turn the page?

Charlie Kirk’s Killing Silences a Conservative Voice. His Movement May Grow Louder.

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Sep 11

So proud of my colleagues' fast and in-depth work covering the killing of Charlie Kirk, and what it means for higher ed: www.chronicle.com/article/maki...

The founder of Turning Point USA was shot at a campus speaking event, injecting urgency and solemnity into a broader debate about political intolerance in higher education.

Why the Unlikely Leader of Trump’s Antisemitism Task Force May Be the Perfect Man for the Job

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Aug 28

Fab story by @peterelkind.bsky.social and @katiemangan.bsky.social about Leo Terrell, head of the White House antisemitism task force investigating colleges. Terrell's been sued for malpractice, owes almost $400K taxes, yells at coworkers. And that's just the start: www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

As a Black, Christian, former Democrat with little previous engagement with Jewish causes, Leo Terrell seemed an improbable pick to eradicate antisemitic harassment in higher ed. But his zeal and foot...

What a Harvard Deal Would Mean for Higher Ed

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Aug 18

I asked all my expert interviewees: "What if readers read this story and think: 'Yeah, welcome to our world, IVIES'?" and everyone basically responded: "Yeah, they probably will think that."

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Aug 18

Thank you, everyone, for not pointing this out, but I have fixed "of at Harvard Law School." And thank you for reading the story.

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Reposted by Francie Diep

Megan Zahneis @mzahneis.bsky.social · Jun 30

In light of this morning's letter from the White House antisemitism task force to Harvard — which found Harvard "in violent violation of Title VI" — here's @franciediep.bsky.social and @erickelderman.bsky.social on what a deal between the parties might mean for #HigherEd. #AcademicSky

Some faculty and outside observers fear there are no good deals to be made with the federal government. Others hope for a path forward that safeguards university research and teaching.

Raising Your College's Profile | The Chronicle of Higher Education

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 23

When I wrote a long report on college reputations, the big thing I realized was that everything that colleges traditionally chase — selectivity, high research productivity — appeals to traditional college students. But that may not be what future students want: store.chronicle.com/products/rai...

At institutions of varying size and reach, college marketers and leaders are innovating in how they reach their audience. This report explores how.

store.chronicle.com

‘U.S. News’ Rankings Guru, Soon to Retire, Reflects on the Role He’s Played in Higher Ed

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 23

The headline quote from the interview? U.S. News rankers "haven't really contemplated" what the demographic cliff means for their formula:

Screenshot from the Q&A that says: "When you started with the rankings, colleges were looking at a period of growth in traditional college-aged students. After the '80s, the demographic group of 18-to-24-year-olds would continue getting larger for another 20, 25 years. Now it's getting smaller. Have you and your team thought about how you need to change the rankings to deal with the fact that it's a different kind of student going to college these days?" "We haven't thought about your exact question. We haven't really contemplated that."

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 23

Bob Morse, who's led the methodology for U.S. News' college rankings for 37 years, is retiring at the end of this month. Here's my exit interview with him: www.chronicle.com/article/u-s-...

Bob Morse helmed “Best Colleges” for almost 40 years, and has been at <i>U.S. News</i> for almost 50. Higher ed has changed a lot in his time.

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 11

I'm sure it's just convergent evolution. But also ours is better-looking.

Michael Theis @mjtheis.bsky.social · May 27

On the left: The Harvard seal, pierced by darts, as photographed by me for @chronicle.com, published January 14, 2024. On the right, a Harvard shield, pierced by darts, illustrated by Lisa Sheehan, published on May, 23, 205 by @nytimes.com. Draw your own conclusions. #design #journalism #photography

Reposted by Francie Diep

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · Jun 9

Scoop from @franciediep.bsky.social: In Public, Harvard Is Fighting Trump. Quietly, It’s Dismantling a Program the White House Doesn’t Like. www.chronicle.com/article/in-p...

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 2

Finally, a caveat: Not all the big-money Wall Street donors who have been vocal critics of their alma maters are trustees. In fact I'd say the biggest names that spring to mind aren't.

Private-Equity Wealth Is Growing on the Most Prestigious University Boards, Study Finds

Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 2

One of the paper's authors, @charlieeaton.bsky.social, has been in demand lately as a speaker as a result of his research and of his willingness to proscribe solutions, which can be rare among academics. My Q&A with him both discusses his work and is thoughts on how it's all played out politically.

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Francie Diep @franciediep.bsky.social · Jun 2

Does it feel like private-equity guys are suddenly everywhere talking about higher ed? Perhaps because they are: A paper out earlier this year found a big rise in the percentage of top-ranked university trustees who are private-equity and hedge-fund managers: www.chronicle.com/article/priv...

“That’s become a political vulnerability,” one researcher said.