Kathryn Palmer
Writing about the intersection of academic life, science, technology and research policy for Inside Higher Ed. Nothing endures but change.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerLook: a journalism job! We are hiring a reporter @insidehighered.com. Feel free to reach out if you're interested. Our reporters are organized with the News Guild. ihe.teamtailor.com/jobs/6648965...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerBREAKING: The White House has confirmed it's called the 5 institutions who haven't signed its compact to a meeting this afternoon. Insiders tell us it's "an effort to regain momentum by threatening institutions to sign" @knottkatherine.bsky.social has the scoop www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerI spoke with @insidehighered.com @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social about OSU’s decision to cancel conference funds for racially marginalized students.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerStudent interest in Turning Point USA is surging in the wake of Kirk's murder. Their intentions may be good, but critics warn the proliferation of new chapters will exacerbate political tensions on college campuses. Great story by @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social: www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerTexas Tech isn't the only university system handing down chilling, verbal-only directives banning discussions about transgender identity. If this is happening at your institution, I want to know about it--reach me on Signal at emmawhitford.96 www.insidehighered.com/node/192421/...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerHow One University Is Reimagining a Humanities Ph.D. Program @cmu.edu is turning its literary and cultural studies Ph.D. program into one focused on computational cultural studies. The reframe comes as many humanities graduate programs face an uncertain future. bit.ly/4ngm7R7
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerHey #AcademicSky, got parking woes? I want to hear about them. Tell me about your university's return-to-office plans, parking policies and any petty (or not petty) complaints about spot availability. Reach me here or on Signal: @ emmawhitford.96
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerKirk has died: Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk Shot, Killed at Utah Valley University
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerEven as many universities cancel or revise research projects due to the Trump administration's funding cuts, the University of Missouri is pushing ahead with plans to build a powerful new nuclear reactor to develop cancer-fighting drugs. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social explains why: tinyurl.com/mr367x28
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerScammers are using AI to rip off prospective students with a network of seemingly connected fake college websites. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social and I dug into this and what rising AI scams mean for higher ed as the sector struggles with trust. www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
- It’s not clear how widespread the strategy of inserting hidden text telling AI tools to give a research paper favorable reviews is, but it’s highlighting longstanding drivers of the peer review crisis some reviewers are now trying to alleviate with AI. www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerThe State University System of Florida is boycotting interviews with Inside Higher Ed because we didn’t publish an op-ed they submitted.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerAnd the Senate passed the One Big Beautiful Bill, which could significantly change how students pay for college and how institutions are held accountable, among many other things. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn Palmergreat news, IHE is hiring and looking for a reporter who wants to cover all things related to faculty. We have unlimited newsroom goldfish, among other perks. Happy to answer any questions about the job! ihe.teamtailor.com/jobs/6090901...
- Reposted by Kathryn Palmer@tulaneu.bsky.social Environmentalist Resigns Amid Research ‘Gag Order’ Kimberly Terrell, director of community engagement at the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, alleges that university officials told her not to publicly discuss her research after... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3ZxBafE
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerSanta Ono will NOT be the next University of Florida president after a contentious confirmation process before the Florida Board of Governors that resulted in a split vote to sign off on his hire. Story to come.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerScientific Community Fears for Future of STEM Workforce Amid NSF Overhaul @insidehighered.com @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social www.insidehighered.com/news/governm... If you're active on Capitol Hill - please join New America & AACC next Tuesday for a related briefing: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerFlorida A&M University hired a new president today: Marva Johnson. She has no experience working in higher education but longstanding ties to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Her critics have dubbed her "MAGA Marva." www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
- CUNY is working with Wikipedia to feed the information ecosystem more accessible, deeply researched articles on a variety of topics—including some fading from public memory.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerGood piece by @reporterdavidj.bsky.social on a college president in California who ran afoul of a conservative Congressman and ultimately paid with her job.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerResearchers are teaming up to track the ongoing, chaotic grant cuts by the NIH and NSF, compiling a database that can be useful not only in suing the Trump administration but also in preserving a record of all that's been lost. Great reporting by @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/yc3t7nkr
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerAgency at Stake: The Tech Leadership Imperative Inside Higher Ed’s annual survey of campus technology leaders reveals fractured policies and other disconnects around artificial intelligence, digital transformation and more. Experts say that’s a... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3ER0O7R
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerThe Ripple Effects of Draining the Ph.D. Pool Deep cuts to federal research funding and crackdowns on international students could mean far fewer graduate students next fall and beyond. If that happens, undergraduates, faculty and research... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/43JjvEB
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerMost Higher Ed Workers Still Paid Less Than Before Pandemic
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerNEW: The pace of student visa revocations this week is staggering. Upwards of 200 have been reported—but the total is likely much higher. I talked to college officials reluctant to report many dozens of visa terminations, anxious to avoid federal scrutiny. www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerNorthwestern's legal clinics are under investigation by a Congressional committee after representing pro-Palestinian Chicago activists. The move raises questions about the fates of other clinical programs.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerI know there’s a lot going on today, but in case you are curious about the types of federal research being canceled, you can read 16 first-person accounts (including my own) here www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerSmashing the Student Visa System The Trump administration is upending the student visa bureaucracy to deport foreign students. University officials are struggling to keep up. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3G3NCwu
- A new lawsuit argues that canceling billions in research grants will delay scientific advancements, compromise human health and even result in deaths.
- The NIH claimed that numerous canceled research grants were “antithetical to the scientific inquiry.” A clinical psychology researcher who lost her grant says that characterization smacks of ignorance.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerVance misses an important point: for many colleges, tuition from international students is a financial lifeline and helps subsidize aid for domestic students. I wrote about why the crackdown on student visa holders could decimate int'l enrollment: www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerTrump Order Threatens University Libraries, Museums The president disbanded the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Academic researchers, librarians and museum professionals say defunding the agency undermines their commitment to education. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4bJpdZd
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerMeet Gracie Himes, age 20. Her goal: Fight cancer by developing new medicines. On March 3, her dreams were shattered when Trump admin cuts hit West Virginia University, which rescinded her PhD program offer. www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerLayoffs Gut Federal Education Research Agency The department says the research agency failed to effectively fulfill its mandate and exemplifies wasteful spending. But experts warn the cuts will undermine “the backbone of accountability” for... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3DxjEQW
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerNEW: Ed Dept is planning to lay off half of its workforce tonight, per inside sources who were notified late this afternoon. Earlier the department said its DC office would close Wednesday for "security reasons." My story with @jessicablake.bsky.social: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Despite court orders blocking Trump’s federal funding freeze, bans on DEI and other executive mandates, academic researchers are still in the dark on what all of it could mean for their careers and the pace of scientific discovery.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerWith all the lawsuits against the Trump administration, it can be hard to keep track of what's what, so we made a tracker of the key higher ed legal challenges to follow. Check out the latest here: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerEarlier this month, GOP senator Ted Cruz released a database of NSF-funded research projects that he accused of pushing “a far-left ideology” and called for “significant scrutiny” of the 3,400-plus projects on the list. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social reports www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerThe Trump administration wants to make deep cuts in NIH research funding. It’s not just colleges and hospitals that will feel the pinch. chroni.cl/3ERwp9h
- At a court hearing Friday, an NIH lawyer told a judge that the $4B in cuts to indirect costs will simply be a reallocation of funds, contradicting the NIH’s own social media post, which said the plan “will save more than $4B a year effective immediately." www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- That “tweet was at best sort of a misunderstanding of what the guidance does," the lawyer said. The HHS has not said whether it will issue a public correction to clarify its policy and inform taxpayers that the plan to cap indirect costs is not intended to save them any money.
- With photos by @ryanequinn.bsky.social!
- From @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social: Ahead of Court Hearing, Chaos Reigns at NIH www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerI spoke with @liamknox.bsky.social for his IHE story about the administration’s letter www.insidehighered.com/news/diversi...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerI’m headed to Capitol Hill now for ed secretary Linda McMahon’s confirmation hearing with the Senate HELP committee. Follow along for live coverage with @knottkatherine.bsky.social and yours truly: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- The Carnegie classifications now require only two criteria for R-1 status: spend $50 million in annual research and award at least 70 research doctorates a year. A new designation also recognizes smaller colleges conducting research.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerFederal judge blocks the NIH rate cute in 22 states. Universities outlined how the cap would lead to job losses and other consequences in court filings. My story with @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social on the lawsuit and some pushback from Congress. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerTrump's latest attempt to cut back on NIH funding sets off alarms in higher ed. If it goes unchallenged, colleges will have to cut budgets, raise tuition or reduce research to make up the difference. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social @knottkatherine.bsky.social www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- An art assignment using generative AI sparked fierce controversy, vandalism and the specter of Hitler at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, last fall—and then offered a lesson in navigating student anxiety about the technology.
- “I study the development of disease, which tends to affect populations of certain ethnic and cultural backgrounds more than others. Is that DEI?” one NSF-funded researcher told me about the lack of clarity on Trump's EOs.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerThis article shows clear concerns on how #gradstudents and #postdocs are impacted in their #research careers in STEM. @jpflores.bsky.social @insidehighered.com @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social #STEMworkforce #academia www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerScheduled review panels for National Science Foundation grant applications are on pause until Feb. 1. Some researchers believe the pause may be connected to the new administration’s anti-DEI crusade, reports @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social ⬎
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerFrom @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social NSF Cancels Grant Reviews to ‘Ensure Compliance’ With Trump’s Executive Orders
- BREAKING: It's not just today. The NSF has canceled all review panels scheduled for the remainder of this week to "allow the agency to make the best use of everyone's time and resources as we continue to develop guidance to ensure compliance with the recent executive orders." #breaking #academicsky
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerIt's hard to keep up with the flurry of new executive orders and what they mean for higher ed, among other sectors. Here @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social captures the anxiety among scientists following Trump's freeze on NIH grant funding: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
- ICYMI: Although colleges in Los Angeles escaped serious fire damage, leaders say they face a long road ahead as hundreds of students and faculty were displaced.
- 2U’s decision to shut down its coding boot camps is the latest sign that changes are afoot in the alternative credentials sector.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerHow Will #AI Influence Higher Ed in 2025? No one knows for sure, but #InsideHigherEd asked seven experts for their predictions. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3Dp67KN
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerSome colleges are using AI to help with advancement. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social had a chat with Wren, William & Mary's fundraising bot who has been assigned 500 potential donors to connect with via text and email in hopes of boosting its $1.45bn endowment www.insidehighered.com/news/busines...
- Under pressure from conservative lawmakers, a museum at East Tennessee State University made people sign waivers to view a provocative exhibit. Free speech advocates are outraged.
- Faculty say a proposed policy change could lead to AI-run classes at the Universities of Wisconsin System. University officials say their fears are overblown.
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerAnd now for a bit of positive higher ed news: freshmen enrollment may be down this year, but six-year completion rates are up. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social has the story. www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerIs Grammarly #AI? @notredame.bsky.social Says Yes The rapid introduction of generative AI has created a wild west of policies at colleges, complicating the use of long-standing editing and writing tools. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4fKyxgj
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerWhat’s at Stake for Science as Trump Returns No one knows exactly how President-elect Trump’s second term will shape science and research policy, but judging from his first four years, he will likely focus on budget cuts and research security. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4eCEyul
- The $10M Microsoft/Taylor & Francis AI deal is yet another example of the longstanding power imbalance between publishers and scholars, who know publishing is the key to tenure. "It's really hard to think about what leverage they have when they’re often publishing for free."
- The publisher didn’t give authors any notice before selling access to its data to Microsoft for $10 million. The agreement could improve academic research, but it further entrenches the predatory nature of academic publishing, experts say. #EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd bit.ly/4dkzlqN
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerThe publisher didn’t give authors any notice before selling access to its data to Microsoft for $10 million. The agreement could improve academic research, but it further entrenches the predatory nature of academic publishing, experts say. #EDUSky #AcademicSky #HigherEd bit.ly/4dkzlqN
- A staff member at a Florida college, posing as a student, hires a contract cheating firm to test the institution’s systems for preventing fraud. The outcome offers lessons for instructors and students as virtual learning expands. www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerAcademic museums, like academic libraries, fuel innovation in teaching, offer resources/services supporting original scholarship, provide meaningful opportunities for student learning, & have endless potential for community engagement @insidehighered.bsky.social
- Bruised and Battered, Harvard Seeks a Smoother Path for Student Protests www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
- Reposted by Kathryn PalmerMicrocredentials on the Rise, but Not at Colleges A new survey found training partnerships between employers and four-year colleges fell between 2022 and 2023 while instruction provided by third-party providers rose. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social via @insidehighered.bsky.social
