‘20 PhDs’ In the Time of One: How AI Is Changing College [ Bloomberg Television ]

How a Small North Carolina College Became a Magnet for Wealthy Students [ WSJ ]

The flava:

On a typical weeknight, students at High Point University might sit down to filet mignon at “1924 PRIME,” the on-campus steakhouse. This isn’t a mere perk. Servers are told to coach the young diners on body language, professional attire, which fork to use and when to salt their food.

It is one of the striking amenities at High Point, which prides itself on preparing students for the rigors of a career—and has also become a favorite of affluent families. “Half of Wall Street sends their kids to this school,” President Nido Qubein says in an interview.

Universities nationwide are battling to pad their balance sheets by attracting families who will pay full sticker price, particularly as the Trump administration slashes funding. High Point is something of a blueprint. Its model—catering to a wealthier student body—has fueled its enrollment growth, campus expansion and financial stability.

Dozens of carefully manicured gardens adorn the lush grounds. Students are almost always within earshot of a fountain; Qubein says the water has an energizing effect. Classical music plays around campus, and there are six outdoor heated swimming pools, each accompanied by a hot tub.

“Most high-paying jobs and everything are in nice environments,” says freshman Alexander Kirchner. “Just being used to it, walking around in it, helps the psyche a little bit. . . .”

The article:

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/north-carolina-college-high-point-amenities-30b0fc14

Pupils fear AI is eroding their ability to study, research finds [ theguardian.com ]

The flava:

Pupils fear that using artificial intelligence is eroding their ability to study, with many complaining it makes schoolwork “too easy” and others saying it limits their creativity and stops them learning new skills, according to new research.

The report on the use of AI in UK schools, commissioned by Oxford University Press (OUP), found that just 2% of students aged between 13 and 18 said they did not use AI for their schoolwork, while 80% said they regularly used it.

Despite AI’s popularity, 62% of the students said it has had a negative impact on their skills and development at school, while one in four of the students agreed that AI “makes it too easy for me to find the answers without doing the work myself”.

A further 12% said AI “limits my creative thinking” while similar numbers said they were less likely to solve problems or write creatively. . . . 

The article:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/15/pupils-fear-ai-eroding-study-ability-research

More than half of Dartmouth faculty members sign petition against Trump compact [ thedartmouth.com ]

The flava:

As of Oct. 12, 569 Dartmouth faculty members have signed a petition urging College President Sian Leah Beilock not to sign the Trump administration’s “Compact” for higher education, which would set restrictions on College policies in exchange for funding benefits.

In an email to campus on Oct. 3, Beilock wrote that the College “will never compromise our academic freedom and our ability to govern ourselves.” 

“I am deeply committed to Dartmouth’s academic mission and values and will always defend our fierce independence,” she wrote. “You have often heard me say that higher education is not perfect and that we can do better.”

A College spokesperson declined to comment on the petition.

The faculty petition asks that Beilock “refuse all unlawful demands and political threats that would undermine [Dartmouth’s] academic freedom and self-governance.” 

“The compact, in attempting to assert state control over admissions, tuition, grades, hiring, teaching, and research, is a direct threat to the beating heart of the university: free inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge,” the petition reads. . . .  

The article:

https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2025/10/joseph-and-gandhimore-than-half-of-dartmouth-faculty-members-sign-petition-urging-beilock-against-signing-trump-compact

Trump’s ‘Compact’ Is Freaking People Out [ Chronicle of Higher Education ]

George Takei, Banned Books Week 2025 Honorary Chair

Indiana pi bill [ wikipedia.org ]

The Indiana pi bill was bill 246 of the 1897 sitting of the Indiana General Assembly, one of the most notorious attempts to establish mathematical truth by legislative fiat. . . . 

USC, University of Southern California | BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, City Tour 4K | CALIFORNIA

A look at the future of DEI on college campuses as hundreds of programs disappear [ PBS NewsHour ]

Moriarty from Midland forwards a message received from his union.

Moriarty, 

 

This has been an incredibly disturbing week, between political violence in Utah and yet another school shooting in Colorado. Amid these national events, our union has been weathering a storm closer to home. 

• On Tuesday, a Texas A&M University professor was fired after viral video clips - spread widely by state Rep. Brian Harrison - showed a student confronting her over (relevant) course content related to gender identity. 
• On Wednesday, a Texas State University professor was fired after comments he made at an outside conference, in his personal capacity, were circulated by extremist outlets and influencers. 
• And today, a Goose Creek CISD teacher has been doxxed by state Rep. Briscoe Cain for comments she made on her personal Facebook page on her personal time. 

These are not isolated incidents, and they will not be the last. Already, Cain, Harrison, and others have begun doxxing teachers and faculty members in Texas and across the nation for using their rights to free expression to say things those elected officials do not agree with. 

 

Let me be clear: This behavior is abhorrent. And our union will fight for and defend members caught up in this state-sponsored witch hunt with every resource we have. We have your back in defending your rights to due process, freedom of expression, and academic freedom. 

 

That said, these are frightening and uncertain times. And we are up against a well-funded, well-resourced, and ill-intentioned outrage machine. Folks, the governor tweeted that the Texas A&M professor should be fired - without an investigation, without a chance for the faculty member to comment, and without any legal merit. 

I don't say all of this to scare you. And I don't say it to make you think we'll shy away from a righteous fight. I say it to encourage you to act with caution. We are in a volatile environment, with elected officials seizing this moment to juice up their fundraising and reelection campaigns. 

 

We will have further updates in coming days. At this time, however, I recommend the following to every pre-K-12 and higher education employee: 

• Lock down your social media accounts: This weekend, I urge you to look at all of your online accounts. Set them to private. Limit your networks to people you know. Remove your school district and occupational information from your social media profiles. 
• Think twice before posting: You are an American. You have a right to free speech. But for public employees, case history on this issue is more treacherous. And it seems clear that we have a political environment where courts and politicians may exploit murky legal waters. 
• Call your union at the first sign of trouble: If you are a member of a local union - pre-K-12 or higher education - contact them first. If you are a member in our Associate Membership Program or otherwise an at-large member without a local union, contact Texas AFT. 

I don't like sending this message any more than you like receiving it. But it is my duty, as well as Secretary-Treasurer Longoria's, to provide sound guidance and strong defense to our members. Thank you for what you do, and as always, I am proud to stand alongside you. 

In solidarity,

Zeph Capo

President, Texas AFT