Timothy R Cain

I see what ed tech acolytes promise

Take a look at this op ed from @melli75.bsky.social, author of PUERTO RICAN CHICAGO: Schooling the City, 1940-1977 latinonewsnetwork.com/education/th...

Even before the 26th passed, some tried to undermine students' voting rights. In one college town, they tried to deaccession a square block to get rid of 1000 student voters in local elections. In others, they just refused to register students. At times, it was explicitly to block Black students.

A Planned Intellectual Diversity Accreditation Standard Draws Opposition The @aaup.org president told the Commission on Colleges and Universities that institutions shouldn’t “be expected to prioritize intellectual pluralism on settled scholarly questions.” https://bit.ly/4jqqH0k

NSF awarded just 91 social science grants in 2026—down 89%. More than 30 research areas got ZERO. This is a crisis for scholarship. #Censorship #DefendResearch #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky www.science.org/content/arti...

After how I spent my last few hours, I am happy to reiterate that I am pro-desk reject. It is better for reviewers, author, and the entire publishing ecosystem (which is fragile regardless)

So... we are back to political sign stealing season. My Ossoff yard sign was stolen last night. My mistake for not buying multiple of them the first time. I had to buy 3 for Abrams and 2 for Warnock a few years ago, because some people want to steal elections, rather than win them.

A new paper published in @aeraedresearch.bsky.social's AERA Open identifies and publicly names 149 colleges and universities with high outcomes for Pell-eligible students.

Dealing with page proofs is the worst part of the job, especially when you need to back out a few dozen inserted errors (and then likely miss other ones that were your fault). Also, this is the second time this year I have gotten page proofs without getting copy edits from the publisher beforehand.

Just watched the first 1/2 of the Mandolorian movie with my kid and it was worse than the reviews. It was like the creative team behind it watched Superman IV (the only movie I have ever walked out of a theater during in my life) and said, "hold my..."

I have a chapter coming out in an edited book at a good press. I got an email from the editors in early February that the full .ms had been submitted to the press for review. Next I heard about it was when I got page proofs late last week. Then a contract this. Seems like some steps were missed.

I am assuming futures markets have odds on River America and Pond of America.

The Trump administration is limiting international students' ability to take on internships while in college, an effort that is likely to widen the trade deficit by discouraging prospective students.

As someone who studies unions in higher education, I fundamentally disagree with almost all of this (maybe all I stopped reading by the end).

THE POSTLIBERAL UNIVERSITY by Barrett J. Taylor and Brendan Cantwell serves as an urgent exploration of the political and social conditions that shape contemporary higher education governance. Pre-order this book here: https://bit.ly/4bdwG3s

I saw that Kyle Monangai hyperextended his knee and I can’t get him out of my head

Got a new phone for the first time in about 5 years. That always seems cool until you are on the same site as before, just holding a newer phone case.

I received a nice note thanking me for something that I wrote from a more senior scholar who I have never met but whose work I know. It surprised me and reminded me that we should be generous to each other. Most of us can feel fragile at times and small gestures are important (and maybe not small).

“As with [Trump's] first compact, the best path forward is for higher education workers to organize and demand that their administrations and governing boards reject Compact 2.0. There is every reason to believe we can do so again." - @rweingarten.bsky.social & @aaup.org's @proftwolf.bsky.social

It is almost midnight on a Sunday in the summer. I am writing a P/T letter. Legislators, admins, and the public often think that faculty have cushy jobs and don't work hard. Trust me, they work hard.

I had to read Bloom's "Closing of the American Mind" for a thing that I am writing and... oof. I had not read it since grad school and am worse off for re-reading it.

I wasn’t worried

Somewhere Tim Donaghy is asking questions.

I wrote two op-eds to propose in response to Auburn's board actions. I am not sure which to submit: 1. Work to rule 2. Malicious compliance I had another in mind but it would have been about nine words and while my intended audience would have understood it, I don't think the board would have.

More university boards overruling the judgement of expert faculty 🤮 www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...

radio.wpsu.org/2026-05-14/p...

Our annual award recognizing the best PhD dissertation on employment-related issues is still taking submissions! All academic disciplines are welcome, as long as it has a major employment and policy focus. The deadline is July 20th. Learn more: www.upjohn.org/dissertation... #econsky

Our graduate workers at @uicgeo.org are striking for dignity, fair wages, and quality, affordable healthcare. It is past time for the University of Illinois to settle a fair contract. Please join us in supporting UICGEO, and in demanding full state funding for all of IL higher ed!

RIGHT NOW! As the SJU Board of Trustees meets, SJU-AAUP is rallying to make clear to Father Shanley, the SJU admin, & the entire Board of Trustees that unlawful attacks on faculty will not be tolerated & faculty are united in their fight. UNION BUSTING IS UNHOLY!

the most anti free speech administration in this country’s history

This is interesting and I am very curious to hear what Cole will say. He has done important work (both scholarly and in practice) on civil liberties and free speech, which he could center.

Two days to this discussion on labor rights in higher education, with two professors and union organizers from St. John's University's branch of @aaup.org, a professor at BMCC, and the vice-president of the newly recognized faculty union at @michiganstateu.bsky.social. Please join us this Tuesday!

Students are standing with the faculty & staff at UIS because they see who’s fighting for them. It’s time for Chancellor Gooch to come to the table & negotiate a fair contract! www.wcia.com/news/sangamo...

USC v. UCLA. It reads like a rivalry game...