Kevin R. McClure

1/ I was taking to @karinfischer.bsky.social recently and observed that these economic arguments are now useless. Everything is culture and raw power. And from that framework the economic arguments for international students may be a negative and not just irrelevant in MAGA eye. Why?

I think you’re onto to something key. I’d add that in many fields the old path of publishing your way to a position with higher prestige or pay is gone since there are no jobs to be had anywhere.

Yeah for us, exceeds expectations doesn’t translate to anything material. People still exceed but could easily ask: why?

Yeah, I decided I wasn't going to kill myself for merit pay when I realized exceeding expectations got me 0.09% more than meeting them. Not gonna kill myself to afford one more cup of coffee a month than my colleagues. Not to mention the year I got exceeding and no one got raises 🤷🏻‍♀️

Playing around with an idea which basically goes: faculty have lost (as in, these things have been cut, undermined or eroded) many of the incentives that might encourage them to work very hard.

I considered this but wondered if CBAs include real incentives or more protections?

Though it feels like the traditional stratification structure is flattening or in limbo.

People may still be motivated by a number of things—but incentivized to go above and beyond? I can see why, at least in terms of extrinsic factors.

So what’s left is tenure, though we also know the story there. Ironically, it’s one of the few incentives institutions have and they are doing much to protect it. Aside from that, the only incentive (if institutions see it this way) is working conditions.

Merit pay, so far as I can tell, basically doesn’t exist anymore. Many awards and fellowships are on rockier terrain than in the past. We know the story of “prestigious” federal grants. Academic presses are struggling and contracting.

Playing around with an idea which basically goes: faculty have lost (as in, these things have been cut, undermined or eroded) many of the incentives that might encourage them to work very hard.

Not the point, of course, but this is a cool example of how to undertake a big data collection effort in pursuit of understanding a big issue. I imagine you have some creative ideas for sharing the stories, too…

Thank you! :)

Sometimes I see someone in a coffee shop with an honest-to-god, made of paper magazine or newspaper. It's so quaint and makes me envious.

Thank you!

I've been in a few situations recently that suggest to me higher ed leaders don't have a great sense of the state of academic publishing. I don't suppose we've got a good explainer or article out there on delays in the peer review system, mergers/acquisitions of presses, effects on early career?

The boys wanted to help pack for vacation. We'll be gone a full week. They grabbed 4 pairs of underwear for the two of them. Saw no issue with this.

lol I loved it

No worries! That other Kevin might be interested in it

Oh hey! You tagged a different Kevin McClure :) this one’s me

when they close it all up, I do believe this will go down as the funniest video on the internet

Congrats!! Cover looks great.

The cover for the upcoming volume "The Campus Crisis Toolkit: Strategies and Solidarity for the Rest of Us"

IT HAS A COVER! Pleased to announce that _The Campus Crisis Toolkit: Strategies and Solidarity For the Rest of Us_ is coming from @sunypress.bsky.social in Feb. With 25 chapters from over 40 contributors, the book tackles everything from anti-DEI laws to consultants and cuts to campus violence (1/2)

The Case for Care: A Review of The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation McClure advances a compelling argument: in the same way that we must address the needs of the whole student, we must address the needs of the whole employee, and this is a critical time to center care...

Hey, first full review of The Caring University!

"The Caring University is a timely and even urgent reminder that colleges and universities are not disembodied bureaucracies, but communities comprised of individuals deserving of sustenance and care..."

www.diverseeducation.com/faculty-staf...

No idea how widespread that sentiment might be, but I know for sure the psychological contract between institutions and faculty is so thoroughly cooked, some will be disinclined to fight this.

They will say: the university has already shown what it thinks about my value and what it thinks about quality. You get what you pay for, and therefore, you get me taking all the shortcuts. (Not me literally, but you get the idea.)

One thing I think about re:AI in higher ed is there are absolutely people who will use these tools not because they believe they are good, but rather because they’ve decided to give the institution the absolute bare minimum.

Thank you so much! If you're an Amazon user and feel so inclined, I hope you'll consider leaving a review there for others who might be considering the book. Appreciate this post regardless.

Book cover of The Caring University: Reimagining the higher education workplace after the great resignation. With a hexagon in the background with yellows, pinks, and blues.

Just finished @drkevinrmcclure.com’s The Caring University. I think this is a must read for seasoned or emerging leaders in higher education. What can we do to create more caring workplaces? What steps can we take to reduce harm and spread love? #highered #studentaffairs