Hiring

Will a landmark Supreme Court decision on race and hiring have an impact on higher education?

Sociology association finds that despite publicity on canceled searches, most were completed. Odds were better at bachelor's institutions than research universities.

U. of Texas has success by deciding not to wait for the pool of younger scholars to come up for advancement.

Political scientists consider changes in criteria for hiring. Should ability to win grants count? Should more grad students be discouraged from staying in programs? Should search chairs get involved with job rumor Web sites?

American Council of Learned Societies and Mellon Foundation, worried about disappearance of posts, create fellowships that will give new Ph.D.'s two-year jobs at top colleges and universities, with health insurance and low teaching loads.

In discrimination suit against Cornell labor school, U.S. appeals panel finds that letting an instructor's contract lapse is an "adverse employment action."

U. of Akron says all new employees must be willing to submit to an unusual test for academic employment. Adjunct leader quits in disgust.

University, saying it was misunderstood, moves to abandon controversial policy that was publicized when an adjunct quit in protest.

The hardest hit public universities have eliminated staff and contingent faculty slots, but still have "strategic" thinking to do about the long term, an association survey finds.

1.4 percent increase in number of degrees awarded in 2008 is smallest since 2003; growth in biology doctorates accounts for most of the uptick, and humanities continue to dip.