Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Aug 11

Stopped by the @ucpress.bsky.social
table at @asanews.bsky.social
#asa2025 and discovered my book was a Choice Outstanding Academic Titles 2024 for Work and Labor

www.choice360.org/choice-pick/...

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 4

I thought my dossier was about getting tenure 🥳

Apparently it was a temper tantrum over cookies 🤯

“Not good governance to give your child a cookie every time they lay on the floor and scream that they want one...”
tinyurl.com/UNC25tenure

(Also, who governs their kids?)

After Delay, Chapel Hill Board Votes to Award Tenure

After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed tenure.

www.insidehighered.com

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Reposted by Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · Jun 4

The child in this trustee’s scenario? Faculty. Who submitted their tenure files for consideration in accordance with the terms of their employment. Both sides have a responsibility in that contract, one to submit and one to review.

I hope everyone really hears this.

Miriam Posner @miriamposner.com · Jun 4

UNC's board has belatedly confirmed faculty's tenure awards, but made some incredibly alarming remarks along the way. On public outcry to the board's silence, one trustee wrote, "It is not good governance to give your child a cookie every time they lay on the floor and scream that they want one."

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · Jun 4

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 4

Update: UNC has now granted tenure to these 30+ faculty.

Thank you to everyone for their supportive messages and re-posting. It has been a rollercoaster.
bot.unc.edu/approved-per...

Approved Personnel Actions - Board of Trustees

Faculty and Non-Faculty Appointment Personnel Actions Approved by the Board of Trustees on 06/04/2025 Promotions Conferring Tenure Brad Barlow College of Arts and Sciences Physics and Astronomy Kemal ...

bot.unc.edu

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 4

UNC has now granted tenure to the 30+ faculty who were deferred.

Thank you to everyone who reached out or reposted.
bot.unc.edu/approved-per...

Approved Personnel Actions - Board of Trustees

Faculty and Non-Faculty Appointment Personnel Actions Approved by the Board of Trustees on 06/04/2025 Promotions Conferring Tenure Brad Barlow College of Arts and Sciences Physics and Astronomy Kemal ...

bot.unc.edu

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 1

Thank you. This was definitely not a situation that any of us expected.

Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 1

Thank you.

It’s a challenging time.

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Jun 1

Thanks David! We’re starting to hear rumblings of potential action…🤞

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 31

Thanks Brendan.

Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 30

As one of the deferred faculty, I am very concerned.

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Reposted by Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

The Assembly @theassemblync.bsky.social · May 29

Some UNC-Chapel Hill faculty say they are concerned about a recent Board of Trustees decision—or, rather, non-decision—on faculty tenure and promotion cases.

www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...

UNC-Chapel Hill Has Delayed Tenure Votes in Most Departments This Spring

UNC-Chapel Hill trustees didn't approve tenure cases outside of health-related schools at the last two meetings.

www.theassemblync.com

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 30

Thank you Karen.

There’s a strong sense of shock & disbelief & uncertainty among the asst professors.

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 30

I’m one of 20 assistant professors in A&S at UNC who has had their tenure decision deferred.

I was planning to spend my summer editing my third book. Now? 🤷🏻‍♀️

www.wral.com/video/unc-fa...

UNC faculty concerned over lack of tenure for professors

WRAL has obtained a letter from the faculty chair to the dean and chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill expressing concern about a lack of tenure for certain professors.

www.wral.com

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Reposted by Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · May 29

Hiring season is over for this year, but UNC will be completely unable to hire tenured scholars from other universities (with the possible exception of Texas and Florida) until they resolve this.

Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · May 29

New terror level just dropped for if I ever do another move

Screenshot of article that reads: In the meantime, new faculty positions that were expected to be appointed with tenure have two options, Dean wrote. They can begin on a non-tenured, one-year appointment that can be converted to a tenured appointment at a later date, or they can delay their start date until January 1 or July 1, 2026.

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 29

Thank you Kim. I appreciate it.

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Reposted by Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

Mark Sample @samplereality.bsky.social · May 28

UNC-Chapel Hill hasn't granted tenure to any faculty outside Health Sciences all year. Faculty are in limbo. The BoT is simply refusing to consider the cases put forward.

It's clear the board is testing the waters to see if they can get away with what is essentially a pocket veto on faculty tenure.

archive.today

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · May 24

I’m one of these faculty members.

Eric Muller @elmunc.bsky.social · May 24

Something's up (down?) at #UNC.

The Bd of Trustees, which has authority over tenure decisions, tabled all at its March mtg & re-tabled all from the College of Arts & Sciences & the non-health professional schools (Law, Biz, etc) at its next mtg. All w/o explanation.

#AcademicSky #academicfreedom

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Reposted by Alexandrea J. Ravenelle

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Apr 19

Massive march in New York today to protect migrants and protect the planet #april19

Massive march outside New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 19

We went to this today as a whole family activity.

Traffic management was handled by volunteers/organizers and the march was peaceful.

Next time I need the @riseandresist.bsky.social song book!

Rise and Resist @riseandresist.bsky.social · Apr 19

Tens of thousands of Anti-Trump protesters met at Bryant Park and are marching in Midtown Manhattan.

"Protect Migrants, Protect the Planet - Marcha por los migrantes y por el planeta"

Our City, Our Fight! Nuestra ciudad, Nuestra lucha!

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

AmeriCorps is where I wrote my first funding proposal — which helped me to get a job after MA graduation as a grants manager. It’s how I paid down the first $4800 of my student loans.

My career today draws a direct line from my AmeriCorps Promise Fellows service.

AmeriCorps Alumni @americorpsalumni.bsky.social · Apr 16

For over 30 years, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) has enabled tens of thousands of young people to start careers of service to their country with a year of service in local communities. Yesterday, the richest man in the world ended it with zero warning.
americorps.gov/evidence-exc...

AmeriCorps NCCC Impact Studies

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, team-based program for young adults aged 18-24.* They maintain four programs, Traditional Corps, FEMA Corps, Summer of Service, and Forest Corps.In Traditi...

americorps.gov

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

Two weeks ago protests in NYC filled 20 blocks. Other cities and states counted tens of thousands. Find out about your local marches here: www.fiftyfifty.one

I hope you join us.
@americorps.bsky.social
@asanews.bsky.social @americorpsalumni.bsky.social

50501 — 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement

Join the movement to uphold the Constitution and end executive overreach. 50 protests, 50 states, 1 day: #50501.

www.fiftyfifty.one

Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

We’re protesting the pointless opportunity-killing cruelty of this administration. We’re protesting the treatment of immigrants and civil servants and the scapegoating of anyone who dares to be different.

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

There are marches this Saturday across the country. And I’m bringing my kids and we’re marching. It’ll be our first march. But I can’t sit this out any longer.

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

My branch, Promise Fellows, was charged in bringing the five promises to America’s youth: 1 caring adults to guide and encourage them; 2 safe places; 3 a healthy start in the form of proper nutrition and exercise; 4 effective education and 5 opportunities to help others

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Alexandrea J. Ravenelle @ajravenelle.bsky.social · Apr 18

This is a program that was a major component of President Bush’s call to national service and volunteerism. My branch was chaired by Colin Powell. It’s bipartisan. And it’s being dismantled.

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