Mike Gavin

Mike Gavin

@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

President and CEO, Alliance for Higher Education, author of The New White Nationalism in Politics and Higher Education, Founder, Education for All. Cubs. allianceforhighered.org

1.6K followers1.8K following349 posts

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Not clearly naming the attacks on disparate groups of Americans because of their race, gender or sexual orientation, we miss an opportunity to unite...The modern segregationist movement...is a cancer that has metastasized in our body politic and threatens...democracy. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.comThe Euphemisms that Erode Us AllBy not clearly naming the attacks on disparate groups of Americans because of their race, gender or sexual orientation, we miss an opportunity to unite
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

I have hope for the future. When I the force trying to silence black and brown voices are met with young people showing their voice will not be silenced, I have hope. These higher education students know what their voice means, and that democracy is on the ballot. thegrio.com/2026/10/16/n...

thegrio.comNorth Carolina A&T, UNC Greensboro and Bennett College students march to polling location after campus polling locations were removedStudents at UNC Greensboro, Bennett College and North Carolina A&T took to the streets on the first day of early voting.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

They also know that is why early voting stations were taken from their campus at North Carolina A&T. They are standing with democracy. They are standing with us. They are standing with each other. Our leaders should do the same by ensuring students can exercise their voting rights.

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

More now than ever the leaders of organizations have to be brave and stand for humans and humanity, which means diversity. There are real world consequences for not doing so.

Alliance For Higher Education@alliancehighered.bsky.social

The ABA and APA have both removed their diversity and inclusion requirements for schools. This is another effort by the current administration to more narrowly define who belongs in higher ed. We must resist these blatant attempts to undermine higher education and our democracy.

highereddive.comABA revokes diversity standards in accreditationTuesday's vote follows more than a year of attacks by the Trump administration on the legal organization and its diversity work.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Important: Take one minute to sign this petition. Some context: “The new rules by the Treasury Department are the latest twist of the administration’s economic vise to force colleges and universities to comply with its highly partisan political agenda." www.ipetitions.com/p/protect-th...

ipetitions.comOppose the New IRS Rule Threatening Nonprofit IndependenceUrge the Treasury Department to reject the proposed IRS rule that threatens the tax-exempt status of nonprofits based on political judgments. Sign now.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

This was an engaging episode to be a part of--I was honored to join such great colleagues in the discussion of higher education, and community colleges especially.

Alliance For Higher Education@alliancehighered.bsky.social

How can we advance public trust in our nation's community colleges and other institutions of higher education? Alliance President and CEO Mike Gavin recently sat down with @spotlightonccs.bsky.social to discuss just that. Listen below. spotlightonccs.podbean.com/e/ep-19-adva...

spotlightonccs.podbean.comEp 19: Advancing Public Trust | Spotlight on Community CollegesSimply put, America's confidence in higher education is considerably declining, with a recent Gallup poll finding that only 38% of U.S. adults only “had a great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in...
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Brian Soucek. Our solution at the Alliance is to form coalitions that recognize the entire sector, its strengths, and how it can serve the entire public good--not just part of it.

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

“Leading with Purpose in an Age of Political Warfare” Hosted by Alliance for Higher Education and The EDU Ledger Thursday, September 17. If you care about the future of independent higher education and the leaders steering it through this moment, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Glad my statement is included in @politico.com's piece on proposed rule: "The proposed rule the Trump administration’s “most blatant attack to keep working class Americans and people of color from accessing higher education and a better life.”

Politico@politico.com

IRS unveils plan to cancel universities' tax-exempt status

dlvr.itIRS unveils plan to cancel universities' tax-exempt statusThe proposed regulations could affect up to 18,000 high schools, universities and trade schools, the agency said.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

The new rules by the Treasury Department are the latest twist of the administration’s economic vise to force colleges and universities to comply with its highly partisan political agenda,” he said in a statement.

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Share my thoughts with @apnews.com about the Trump proposed rule to rescind 501c3 status of higher education institutions seeking to serve all students. It is the Trump admin's “most blatant attack to keep working class Americans and people of color from accessing higher education and a better life”

Mike Gavin reposted

Alliance For Higher Education
@alliancehighered.bsky.social

The administration’s new rules threaten the tax exempt status of schools that aid minority students. It’s the latest effort to keep working class Americans and people of color from college and a better life. Read: www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/b...

nytimes.comTrump Moves to Strip Tax Exemption From Schools That Aid Minority StudentsThe Treasury Department released rules that would prevent schools with race-based programs from qualifying for tax-exempt status, a threat to both higher education and other private schools.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

The anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is next week. Higher education is poised to play a much more significant role in our democracy if we into the controversies surrounding these flashpoints rather than default to policies and procedures. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.comCharlie Kirk and How Academic Leaders Should Consider Policy and CultureThere is a racialized pattern developed in cultural flashpoints and how higher education leaders respond to those flashpoints
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Attempts to 'balance' research and teaching on campus with more 'conservative' viewpoints begin with a point of view that the lenses we look at higher education through are political (right/left) in the first place, rather than academic and truth-seeking. www.chronicle.com/article/cons...

chronicle.comConservative Scholars Are Rare. Johns Hopkins Wants More of Them.Ronald J. Daniels says the ideological imbalance is bad for the academy and for the country.

Mike Gavin reposted

Alliance For Higher Education
@alliancehighered.bsky.social

The Education Department seeks to stifle the freedom to teach, learn, and research through a process not often paid attention to: accreditation rule changes. As CEO and president Mike Gavin told @insidehighered.com: “defining academic freedom is a role the government should not take." Read more:

insidehighered.com3 Key Changes in Trump’s New Accreditation RuleThe administration accused accreditors of neglecting their “positions of public trust.”
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Public comment on proposed rules for accreditation will be necessary to preserve free thought, and maintain the integrity of higher education. Check out @alliancehighered.bsky.social for tools and guidance.

Alliance For Higher Education@alliancehighered.bsky.social

The Education Department proposed changes to the accreditation system. Read the proposed rule and ask yourself: who really benefits when academic freedom is in the hands of political partisanship? Make your voice heard before the public comment period closes on Sept. 21:

regulations.govRegulations.gov

Mike Gavin reposted

PEN America
@penamerica.bsky.social

PEN America today joined the alliancehighered.bsky.social in responding to the latest letter from Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Now is the time to stand strong and ensure academic freedom for all. pen.org/press-releas...

pen.orgPEN America Joins Alliance for Higher Education in Defending Academic Freedom and Institutional AutonomyPEN America joins Alliance for Higher Education in response to administration efforts advancing their agenda interfering with academic freedom
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Again, the very notion that these claims are made and then somehow needing verification a rhetorical strategy of the movement against black, brown, and LGBTQ people in and outside of academia. Over and again, lies become truth and truth does not matter even in death.

Middle East Eye (Unofficial)@middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social

Jason Arday's marathon challenge and football claims found to be true after his death - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jason-ardays-marathon-challenge-and-football-claims-found-be-true-after-his-death

middleeasteye.netJason Arday's marathon challenge and football claims found to be true after his deathClaims the late academic made which were widely derided as false in media and online discourse this month appear to be true, an MEE analysis has found
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

This whistleblower articulates exactly what we already knew, but in direct language. "The goal of the investigations was to punish universities disfavored by the administration and secure their preemptive compliance with the Trump administration’s demands. The Nexus www.chronicle.com/article/univ...

chronicle.comUniversities Were Forced to Pay Up Despite Little Evidence of Antisemitism, Trump Whistleblowers SayA leading House Democrat on Tuesday called for an investigation into new allegations that the administration forced universities it deemed politically incorrect into settling cases.
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Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

This whistleblower articulates exactly what we already knew, but in direct language. "The goal of the investigations was to punish universities disfavored by the administration and secure their preemptive compliance with the Trump administration’s demands. The Nexus www.chronicle.com/article/univ...

chronicle.comUniversities Were Forced to Pay Up Despite Little Evidence of Antisemitism, Trump Whistleblowers SayA leading House Democrat on Tuesday called for an investigation into new allegations that the administration forced universities it deemed politically incorrect into settling cases.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Project, a Jewish watchdog group working to battle antisemitism while protecting free speech and civil rights, issued a statement saying the whistleblower report “describes a gross exploitation of Jewish Americans’ legitimate fears — using our community’s safety as a pretext to punish political

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Studies and programs supporting study of race and supporting black students are cut. DOJ seeks to eliminate our ability to track impact of these choices. The @alliancehighered.bsky.social sees all as part of the democracy; the executive branch & some states disagree. thegrio.com/2026/08/15/n...

thegrio.comNorthwestern reportedly set to close Program of African Studies, ending an near eight-decade chapter in higher educationNorthwestern is reportedly set to close the United States' oldest program dedicated to African Studies, according to The Purple Wire.

Mike Gavin reposted

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

After the "S.T.O.P. Woke Act" was found to violate the First, Amendment, The Alliance for Higher Education asks what we should do as a sector next. Patricia Okker, former New College president, Leah Watson, Senior Staff at ACLU, and 📅 Tuesday, August 4. 12-1pm ET 🔗 bit.ly/4fJQ9eF

bit.lyWelcome! You are invited to join a webinar: What’s Next for the Freedom to Think and Learn After the Florida Ruling?. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar...In a landmark decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit struck down key higher education provisions of Florida's "Stop W.O.K.E. Act," concluding that the law's restrictions on class...
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

President Trump’s influence in sports and sporting events is anything but apolitical. Trump and his movement’s focus on sport of late seems to match the attacks on higher education, legal, media, voting, and other sectors than they do cultural debates. open.substack.com/pub/michaelh...

open.substack.comSports is next for AuthoritariansNo sector is safe, and all signals are that sports will be the next sphere focused on to pit Americans against each other.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Emelyn dela Pena, Ed.D., president NADOHE - National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. We are lucky to have Goldie Blumenstyk moderate this important discussion that focuses on a better future after a ruling finds what we already knew, but now have legal backing to prove it.

bit.lyWelcome! You are invited to join a webinar: What’s Next for the Freedom to Think and Learn After the Florida Ruling?. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar...In a landmark decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit struck down key higher education provisions of Florida's "Stop W.O.K.E. Act," concluding that the law's restrictions on class...

Mike Gavin reposted

Alliance For Higher Education
@alliancehighered.bsky.social

"Rebuilding public trust in higher ed goes beyond saying more positive things more frequently to more audiences" says Alliance President @michaelhgavin.bsky.social. We have to also reject the false narrative that access and inclusion are bugs, instead of assets. www.theeduledger.com/institutions...

theeduledger.comAmericans’ Confidence in Colleges Continues Long-Term SlideA new Gallup-Lumina survey shows faith in higher education has dropped sharply since 2015, especially among Republicans and, more recently, Democrats.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

As usual, higher education leaders shouldn't change operations. The rhetoric in this letter is meant to incite fear based on false accusations. If only there was a place in America where deep study of race and institutions would reveal best practices. 🙃 www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

insidehighered.comDear Colleague Letter Asks Colleges to End Affinity HousingThe Trump administration alleges that housing that caters to minority students violates the Fair Housing Act. Experts say the guidance is unlikely to withstand legal challenges.
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

For the sports should stay out of politics crowd this tracks: we have seen politicians attend events, but not events come to them. And just as has happened with curriculum, citizenship, voting, segregationist rhetoric is being amplified by politics in sport culture.

George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸@gtconway.bsky.social

Absolutely no bottom with these people.

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

This article gets it right...I would only add the other major glaring error is the omission of institutions like community colleges (to name one kind) from the report--despite that they teach over 50% of humanities in higher ed. Glaring omission. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/view...

insidehighered.comThe Question Haunting the Vanderbilt/Wash U Report (opinion)A new report criticizes a turn toward politicized scholarship in the humanities. But could it be that a more diverse academy is asking different questions?
Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

able to secure employment. As I’ve learned from the activist and organizer Mariame Kaba, that realization can either break you or liberate you. If most of us are going to stay, then it’s up to us to find allies and work together to save ourselves."

Mike Gavin
@michaelhgavin.bsky.social

Much of sports and society analysis rightly focuses on protests of black and women athletes in particular moments: 1968 with Tommie Smith & John Carlos; Ali & Vietnam War, eg. What happens when an authoritarian comes to see the @ny-knicks.bsky.social play a team with a coaching legacy of Popovich