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Trump says the Smithsonian is too woke. We visited five of its museums to find out

Reposted by Chris Quintana

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Sep 3

Pres. Trump says the Smithsonian Institution is too "woke."

My colleagues + I went to several museums + interviewed visitors to assess his concerns.

Here's what we found:
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

@chrisquintana.bsky.social @stephenbeard.bsky.social @duanegang.bsky.social @usatoday.com

On Aug. 12, the Trump administration announced a review of the Smithsonian, starting with eight of its most-visited and high-profile museums.

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Aug 18

That is exactly what I mean!

Liberty University faces second lawsuit accusing it of mishandling sexual assault cases

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Aug 18

A question for the academics, I am looking for folks who can speak, on-record or background, about developing a certificate program for a university as a third party. I am looking for sources on either side of this equation. DMs are open and I am @ [email protected], thanks!

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Aug 15

Liberty University is facing a second lawsuit accusing it of mishandling sexual assault cases, my latest: www.usatoday.com/story/news/e...

An ex-employee alleged she faced workplace discrimination in addition to retaliation for working with Education Department investigators.

Senate confirms Trump's pick to oversee higher ed, a man tied to for-profit colleges

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Aug 2

It was the Senate's last vote on Friday night, but Trump's pick to oversee higher ed was confirmed in a 50-45 vote. More on Nicholas Kent, his time working with Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and his ties to for-profit colleges here: www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

The under secretary at the Department of Education oversees billions in federal financial aid.

Trump is seeking to reshape higher education. Meet the man he wants leading the charge.

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Reposted by Chris Quintana

Duane Gang @duanegang.bsky.social · Jul 27

The Trump administration is seeking to dramatically reshape higher education across the U.S. For @usatoday.com, @chrisquintana.bsky.social takes a deep dive looking at the man Trump wants leading the charge. www.usatoday.com/story/news/i...

Trump's pick to oversee higher ed was a vice president for a company that paid $13 million to settle accusations it defrauded the student aid system.

MA judge rules 'Varsity Blues' mastermind Rick Singer can consult college hopefuls again

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 26

Meet the man President Trump wants in charge of higher ed policy. He worked for Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a for-profit college trade group, and a company that paid the gov $13 million to settle accusations of gaming the financial aid system, my latest: www.usatoday.com/story/news/i...

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 17

And USA TODAY's story from @michael-loria.bsky.social www.usatoday.com/story/news/2...

After serving time in prison, a judge says William “Rick” Singer can consult college hopefuls again as long as he makes his past known to clients.

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 17

You can find the disclaimer required by the judge on the website's terms and conditions page. You can see here there's a standard pop-up on the homepage that directs people there, but again no specifics about Singer:

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 17

Singer does have a lengthy "about" section where he says he made "a mistake" and "took full responsibility" without delving into specifics as seen below:

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 17

Varsity Blues mastermind Rick Singer can advise aspiring college students, but only if he prominently displays the following disclosure on his website per a district judge. No sign of Singer or the disclosure on the home page of his new biz, ID Future Stars as of today:

Reposted by Chris Quintana

BrieAnna Frank @brieannafrank.bsky.social · Jul 16

Smoky Hills @pbs.org is a rural station that sits in the heart of Kansas wheat country. It's among the places that advocates fear could be hardest hit if the Senate votes to claw back $1.1 billion in federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

My latest for @usatoday.com:

Delayed Meeting at a Powerful College Panel Stirs Suspicions in Higher Ed

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Reposted by Chris Quintana

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · Jul 16

New Lumina/Gallup survey data show a slight uptick in the share of respondents who have confidence in higher education, with Republicans giving much more support to community colleges than four-year institutions. It's a rare bit of good news for the sector.

news.gallup.com/poll/692519/...

A summary of responses showing a slight uptick in public confidence in higher education, with community colleges doing better than four-year institutions.

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Reposted by Chris Quintana

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · Jul 3

Exclusive: The Trump administration’s postponement of a summer meeting for a college-accreditation panel has set off alarm bells in an obscure but powerful corner of higher education.

The Trump administration postponed a summer meeting for a panel set to vote on reapproving Columbia University’s accreditor.

on.wsj.com

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 3

Back to the Future turns 40 today, which gives me a great excuse to repost the movie's take on a USA TODAY front page. We're still chasing that 3 minute mile!

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 1

www.governing.com/magazine/hig...

Higher Education Faces Its Greatest Challenges in Decades

Universities were already facing a grim future due to demographic changes. Then along came Trump.

www.governing.com

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jul 1

Interesting piece from Governing that synthesizes many of the biggest challenges facing higher ed, including enrollment cliff, federal funding cuts, changing perception about the value of a degree and other factors. Striking open too with the closure of Fontbonne U. in St. Louis:

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 17

Brief update, Senate version would cap the college endowment tax at 8% instead of the House's max rate of 21%. Also, only three tax tiers now, instead of four. Religious carveout remains in place, via Senate Finance Committee: www.finance.senate.gov/chairmans-ne...

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 16

I'm heading to New Orleans this week for the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference! Will also be on a panel Thursday w/ @arionne.bsky.social and @merkolodner.bsky.social talking about some of the underreported but important higher ed stories worth chasing. Let's chat if you're there!

Treasury Weighs Rules That May End Colleges’ Tax Status Over Race Policies

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 16

Was not ready for the English major turn though:

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 16

Every time, via recent essay about paying off student loans fast in Biz Insider:

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Reposted by Chris Quintana

Robert Kelchen @robertkelchen.com · Jun 13

Treasury is developing new rules that would strip the tax-exempt status of colleges that are deemed to be using race in any way, aligning with the administration's executive orders. This flew under the radar yesterday with everything going on.

The US Treasury Department is considering changing rules to revoke tax-exempt status for colleges that consider race in student admissions, scholarships and other areas — potentially threatening the f...

www.bloomberg.com

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Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 4

I will be watching to see what action Middle States takes. I am curious too if we'll see similar letters to other accreditors like the New England Commission of Higher Education, the accreditor for Harvard. Release below if of interest: www.ed.gov/about/news/p...

U.S. Department of Education Notifies Columbia University’s Accreditor of Columbia’s Title VI Violation

www.ed.gov

Chris Quintana @chrisquintana.bsky.social · Jun 4

This action likely means more pressure on Columbia, but shows the admin trying to influence accreditors. It's a long process to strip an accreditor's federal recognition, but it would affect all the institutions it approved. Middle States' members include Penn and Princeton.