Education
Canadian novelist Emily St. John Mandel featured during Bale Boone Symposium Oct. 17 in Lexington
Bestselling Canadian novelist and essayist Emily St. John Mandel will discuss her work — including “Station Eleven,” a 2014 novel about a global pandemic’s aftermath —? at 6 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Transylvania University in Lexington. The event is part of this year’s Bale Boone Symposium organized by the Gaines Center for the Humanities […]
Zebrafish help Kentucky researchers advance understanding of fetal alcohol syndrome
LOUISVILLE — Over the next five years, University of Louisville researchers plan to expose about 1.5 million fish eggs to alcohol in hopes of better understanding fetal alcohol syndrome in humans. Using a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, researchers will specifically study zebrafish as a model for better understanding human facial […]
Kentucky university presidents say they welcome everyone, GOP lawmakers renew criticism of DEI
FRANKFORT — Five of Kentucky’s university presidents told state lawmakers that their campuses are focused on inclusivity for all students as an interim committee sought information about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education. The discussion, which lasted a couple of hours, in front of the Interim Joint Committee on Education on Tuesday […]
From grassroots to government, Kentuckians will gather this month to talk about climate change
Lauren Cagle wants to make something clear. Despite popular assumptions about Kentuckians’ priorities and politics, they do care about climate change. Cagle, a University of Kentucky professor of writing, rhetoric and digital studies, told the Lantern despite narratives that “red states have a certain point of view on climate change,” the reality of what’s happening […]
Kentucky’s two-year college system latest to reassess diversity policies under political heat
Under scrutiny from Republican lawmakers pushing to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, Kentucky’s two-year college system on Friday announced it is launching an internal review.? The goal is “to make sure that our offices and titles correctly reflect our mission of student success for all students,” said Ryan Quarles, president […]
Northern Kentucky developers, teachers unions fuel Amendment 2 money race
FRANKFORT — The big money being donated to defeat the so-called “school choice” amendment on the November ballot has come from – as expected – teachers unions, while the big money contributed by proponents of Amendment 2 has come from developers and other business interests in Northern Kentucky. Reports filed with the Kentucky Registry of […]
Measles case confirmed at Western Kentucky University
A Western Kentucky University student has a confirmed case of measles and may have exposed others, according to the Barren River Health District and the Kentucky Department for Public Health. The student is unvaccinated against the highly contagious disease, the health departments said.? The student, whose name, gender and other identifying information were not released, […]
Lawmakers hear skepticism from Louisville residents who oppose breaking up school district
LOUISVILLE — More Louisville residents expressed skepticism about a legislative task force’s intentions amid fears of dismantling Jefferson County Public Schools Tuesday evening.? While addressing the Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force, students, teachers, parents and more called for different solutions, like allocating more adequate funding for public schools, giving students incentives to become […]
Spalding University in Louisville names new president
Spalding University, a private, liberal arts college in Louisville, has named Anne Kenworthy as its 11th president, the institution announced Monday.?? Kenworthy, who comes from the Catholic Christian Brothers University in Memphis, will take over the role on Jan. 1.? She also worked at Crichton College and the University of Memphis, according to Spalding, which […]
Professors worry about political interference in higher education, finds survey of Southern faculty
Professors in the South are increasingly worried about political interference in higher education, according to a new survey released by southern chapters of the American Association of University Professors.? The survey, which included responses from nearly 3,000 faculty members, found that about 70% of respondents signaled dissatisfaction with the political atmosphere around higher education and […]
A second public university in Kentucky closes its diversity office under GOP lawmakers’ pressure
A second Kentucky public university has disbanded its diversity office under pressure from Republican lawmakers. Northern Kentucky University President Cady Short-Thompson wrote in an email to campus: “The circumstances under which universities across the Commonwealth and the country find themselves, coupled with the legislative priorities of state leaders for the upcoming session, require universities to […]
Louisville residents warn legislative task force against splitting up their school district
LOUISVILLE — Several speakers, including Jefferson County Public Schools students, warned a legislative task force against breaking up Kentucky’s largest school district in a Tuesday evening meeting.? However, the co-chairs of the Efficient and Effective School Governance Task Force said deciding to split the district, which serves almost 97,000 students, was not under its purview. […]