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Sarah Brown

@brownepoints.bsky.social

1.8K followers 710 following 180 posts

News editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education. Marathon runner, horse girl, fantasy baseball amateur, UNC alum.

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Nov 22

Hey Bluesky!

I'm an editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education and have been a journalist there for a decade. I also oversee our internship program and am passionate about uplifting early-career journos. I post about higher ed news, views, and trends.

Got a story? newseditor at chronicle dot com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 11m

Full story: www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

How a Trump-Supporting Congressman Turned College President Disarmed His Critics

Bill Johnson has found success at Youngstown State University by floating above the fray — or seeming to.

www.chronicle.com

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 11m

Johnson declined to take a public position on Ohio's Republican-backed higher-ed reform law and downplayed his involvement. But the lawmaker who spearheaded the bill told Megan that Johnson influenced its development.

How a Trump-Supporting Congressman Turned College President Disarmed His Critics

Bill Johnson has found success at Youngstown State University by floating above the fray — or seeming to.

www.chronicle.com

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 13m

Youngstown State faculty, who had been outraged at Johnson's selection, calmed down pretty quickly — because his leadership has been pretty low key. "It’s hard to say that he’s done something to be super unfavorable," one professor said.

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 14m

Interesting tidbits in my ace colleague @mzahneis.bsky.social's latest piece on Bill Johnson, Youngstown State University's leader and a Trump-supporting ex-congressman:

He said he quickly got up to speed on higher ed by attending the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents.

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 57m

If you, like me, having struggled to keep straight how different universities are responding to Trump's proposed "compact," we've got you covered.

The roundup demonstrates 1) varied leadership philosophies 2) a broad spectrum re: faculty engagement (or, perhaps, willingness to speak publicly).

The White House Sent Its Compact to 9 Universities. Here’s What Their Administrators and Faculty Are Saying.

Presidents have been guarded in their remarks on the Trump administration’s offer. But professors have expressed grave concerns.

www.chronicle.com

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 5h

Great piece.

"...a central and long-running rupture over the foundational mission of civics schools... Should they reform how universities teach by prioritizing civil discourse, or should they add viewpoint diversity by hiring more conservatives?"

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Lesson in Civics

The School of Civic Life and Leadership’s public fighting is part of a long-running rupture about the mission of civics schools around the country.

www.theassemblync.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 18h

Come for a catch-up on the latest big higher ed news, stay for the Sean Penn cameo at the end (yes, really)

Trump’s ‘Compact’ Is Freaking People Out

Podcast Episode · College Matters from The Chronicle · 10/08/2025 · 40m

podcasts.apple.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · 1d

A college president in a red state says his university is thriving right now. But there are tradeoffs.

Mizzou’s President Has Succeeded by Staying Out of Trouble

The University of Missouri leader turned around its reputation, bolstered state funding and enrollment, and restored the faculty trust. But his tight-lipped management style has its critics.

www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Sarah Brown

Eric Kelderman @erickelderman.bsky.social · Sep 3

www.chronicle.com/article/a-ro...

Breaking News: Harvard/AAUP win summary judgment in federal district court

‘A Robust Victory’: Federal Judge Says Harvard Should Have Billions of Research Dollars Restored

The judge, Allison D. Burroughs, ruled that the Trump administration’s explanation for canceling the grants — that Harvard had done too little to respond to antisemitism — rang hollow.

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Aug 25

First on @chronicle.com: George Mason University's president just refused the Trump administration's demand to deliver a "personal apology" for supporting diversity efforts in hiring.

GMU President Refuses to Apologize for Diversity Efforts, Lawyer Calls Ed. Dept. Claims ‘Absurd’

In a 10-page letter, Gregory Washington’s lawyer says the Trump administration conducted an incomplete and haphazard investigation full of “gross mischaracterizations.”

www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Sarah Brown

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · Aug 22

🙃🙃🙃

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Aug 20

Most texts between me and my husband these days are just one of us saying "Schwarrrr..." and the other one replying "💣" #Phillies #MVP

Reposted by Sarah Brown

Stephanie M. Lee @stephaniemlee.bsky.social · Aug 12

SCOOP: The NIH is moving to prohibit funded scientists, inside and outside the agency, from collecting data about gender, according to a draft policy I obtained. It’s part of the NIH’s aggressive crackdown on gender-identity research. www.chronicle.com/article/gend...

Gender Data Would Be Off-Limits Under Proposed NIH Policy

A draft rule would bar scientists funded by the agency from collecting data about gender identity, following other steps the administration has taken to restrict research on LGBT topics.

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jul 30

Everyone wants to see the numbers — how selective colleges choose their classes.

How they make sense of those numbers (especially now that the Trump administration is among those parties) could have major implications for higher ed.

Columbia’s Deal With Trump Stokes Fears of Federal Admissions Audits

The university will hand over new details about the prospective students it admits and rejects. Is it laying the groundwork for more-aggressive government intervention?

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jul 28

At least some funding for federal TRIO programs — which support low-income students — is being awarded as planned this summer, per campus announcements. Hundreds of colleges rely on TRIO grants.

(In the long run, though, Trump has proposed eliminating TRIO and dismantling ED, which administers it.)

TRiO Delivers. Will Congress?

UMSV Wins $1.7M SSS/TRiO Grant Renewal—But National Funding Cuts Could Threaten TRiO’s Future

mountsaintvincent.edu

Reposted by Sarah Brown

Eric Kelderman @erickelderman.bsky.social · Jul 9

THREAD:

1/ FWIW, @usedgov.bsky.social has sent a notice to @harvard.edu 's institutional accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education, alleging the university had violated Title VI and may be in violation of accreditation standards

www.ed.gov/about/news/p...

U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services Notify Harvard University’s Accreditor of Harvard’s Title VI Violation

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights today notified the New England Commission of Higher E...

www.ed.gov

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jul 9

Wisconsin just made 4/4 teaching loads the law for all full-time faculty members at the state's public universities (except the university system's two research universities, where everyone must teach a 2/2 load)

A 4/4 Teaching Load Becomes Law at Most of Wisconsin’s Public Universities

The mandate, included in the state’s new budget, applies to full-time faculty across the University of Wisconsin system — except at the two R1 universities, where professors must carry 2/2 loads.

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

Updated Chronicle story on UVa President Jim Ryan's resignation:

"Faculty members at every university should be worried that the federal government believes it has the right to decide who their leader should be."

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

The sudden move followed a reported demand by federal officials that James Ryan step down to resolve a Department of Justice investigation into diversity, equity, and inclusion on the campus.

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

This is an important quote from our story on how UVa and its president ended up in the crosshairs of the Justice Department:

"Neither Trump’s Office of Civil Rights, the Youngkin administration, nor the Board of Visitors has defined DEI — the thing that they want to get rid of."

Is DEI Truly Dead at UVa?

The university’s board has ordered a sweeping walkback of ambitious diversity programs. But conservative critics say DEI lives on — and they’re pushing to oust President James E. Ryan.

www.chronicle.com

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

Trump's far-reaching guidance (currently blocked) offered the interpretation that colleges can't use race "in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring...financial aid...administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life."

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

Colleges have been wrestling for months with what to do about their diversity-related efforts amid federal and state pressures.

Part of why Trump's crusade against DEI has been so successful — i.e. led to preemptive compliance — is because his administration hasn't defined it.

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

UVa eliminated its central diversity office and moved staff to other roles back in March.

But per the Chronicle's reporting last month, the Justice Department latched onto the idea (promoted by a small alumni group and then others) that President Jim Ryan hadn't done enough to root out "DEI."

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Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

I clearly erred, I apologize

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

UVa president's full statement is here:

Sarah Brown @brownepoints.bsky.social · Jun 27

Jim Ryan's statement, continued: "To do so would not only be quixotic but appear selfish and self-centered to the hundreds of employees who would lose their jobs, the researchers who would lose their funding, and the hundreds of students who could lose financial aid or have their visas withheld."

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