The political maelstrom around US universities’ handling of pro-Palestinian protests reflects a right-wing campaign that is increasingly challenging higher education’s autonomy to determine its missions and run its affairs. Yet the sector appears to have no strategy to hold the line. Paul Basken reports
As a woman concerned by gender inequality, I could be tolerated coming up to the elbows of the men in power, but not to their shoulders, says Pat O’Connor
The interim president of Michigan State University shares her approach to healing the campus community after a deadly shooting and sexual misconduct crises
Some narcissistic v-cs have lost sight of their real job – to be the custodian of their university’s heritage and to safeguard its future, says Kieran Walshe
Questions over whether King Charles’ doctor holds certain institutional roles increase need for more formalised way of handing out honorary titles, critics say
With Claudine Gay accepting debatable instances of plagiarism as final straw, faculty see odds getting hopeless for countering unified political and economic power
Codes’ vague, narrow and toothless provisions are failing to promote the safety and well-being of all university community members, says Richard Joseph
Autonomy, tertiary sector integration and sustainable research funding are crucial to sector’s future, Brian Schmidt says, as he relinquishes leadership role
The Elizabeth Magill case notwithstanding, presidents should focus on how conflicts affect the primary mission of their university, says Nicholas Dirks
After extended review, covering allegations of plagiarism on top of political pressures over Israel, governing board calls first black president right choice for healing
With UK sector in increasing dire financial straits, universities are turning to experienced hands to steady the ship, but is short-termism really what institutions need?
Universities have long taken diverse stances on difficult current issues, proud of their ability to intervene thoughtfully and respectfully, says Harvey Graff
AI is helping us mine 200,000 stakeholders’ ideas, sensible and silly, about core elements of the new Adelaide University, say Peter H?j and David Lloyd
As governance report castigates his successor, former Cape Town vice-chancellor says he is not surprised by findings but that anyone would have struggled to lead Africa’s most highly ranked university after tumults of preceding years
The American University in Cairo’s first Arab leader on helping people reskill, serving the community and taking on the ‘necessary evil’ of administration
Centre for Antiracist Research doesn’t have obvious funding flaws, but celebrity activist still leaves university questioning its Floyd-era hiring coup
The Gaza situation is no exception to the rule that truth-seeking requires the marrying of free expression with inclusion and respect, says Duncan Ivison
Both boards approved the case for the amalgamated Adelaide University – but politicians still formed a scrutiny committee, say Peter H?j and David Lloyd