Christa Dutton

Washington, D.C., United States, Winston-Salem

Reporting Fellow at The Chronicle of Higher Education

Reporting Fellow @chronicle. Alum of @WakeForest & @wfuogb. Say hello or send tips: [email protected]

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Articles

Here’s What Utah’s Colleges Are Doing to Win Back State Funding

3 weeks ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

Earlier this year, Utah lawmakers passed two bills that cut $60 million to its higher-education system. That cut, however, came with a caveat — public colleges could earn the money back if they worked out a plan to shift the lost funds away from “operational inefficiencies” and toward high-demand, high-wage majors. The state’s eight public colleges have now spelled out precisely how they plan to do that. Or subscribe now to read with unlimited access for as low as $10/month.
UNC Chapel Hill Approves Tenure Bids for Faculty Outside the Health Sciences, Ending Unexplained Delay

3 weeks ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees approved 32 faculty members for tenure on Wednesday after delaying votes for professors outside of the health-affairs schools since March. The unusual period of inaction — during which no professors from the university’s College of Arts and Sciences had received tenure in over six months — caused anxiety among faculty who said the board’s delay hindered career planning and harmed recruitment.
At UNC Chapel Hill, Only Health-Sciences Professors Have Been Getting Tenure

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hasn’t tenured a single professor in fields outside the health sciences since January — an unusual period of inaction that has spurred confusion and alarm among faculty. At its normal meeting last week, the university’s Board of Trustees deferred a vote on pending tenure cases outside of the health-affairs schools.
How Alums Put DEI at U. of Virginia in the Justice Dept.’s Crosshairs

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Katherine Mangan |Erin Gretzinger |Maggie Hicks |Christa Dutton

In June 2020, as millions took to the streets to protest anti-Black racism, the president of the University of Virginia, James E. Ryan, created a small team with an ambitious agenda. The university needed bold ideas, he told the new Racial Equity Task Force, and it needed them quickly. A free account provides you access to free articles each month, newsletters, job postings, salary data, and exclusive store discounts. Get a year of unlimited access for $89.
Facing Federal Uncertainty, Swarthmore Makes a Novel Plan: the 3-Month Budget

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

What’s NewWith federal funding in flux, Swarthmore College is taking a novel approach to financial planning.
Facing New Protests and Political Pressure, Colleges Are Taking a Harder Line

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

Pro-Palestinian protests at three colleges in the past several days led to more than 100 arrests for trespassing or destruction of property. Several students were also suspended for violating their college’s policies and protest restrictions. The mass arrests at Columbia University, Swarthmore College, and the University of Washington may signal a shift in how college leaders are responding to protests, experts say.
5 Key Moments From the Congressional Hearing With College Presidents

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

On Wednesday, for the fourth time in 17 months, the U.S. House’s education committee brought in college presidents to testify about antisemitism generally and particular incidents on their campuses.
Indiana Required Colleges to Accept Complaints Against Instructors. Here’s How Many They Got.

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

Last year, Indiana enacted a law requiring public colleges to set up a complaints system that students could use to report professors who fail to “foster a culture of free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity,” among other things. The legislation touched off fears about whether it would, paradoxically, hinder academic freedom and freedom of speech. Or subscribe now to read with unlimited access for as low as $10/month.
In Indiana, Last-Minute Additions to the Budget Take Aim at Higher Ed

1 month ago | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

In approving a new state budget late last week, Indiana lawmakers also gave the green light to several measures that would dramatically change public higher education in the state. Those additions, made at the 11th hour, include a post-tenure review process that measures productivity, guidance that makes faculty-governance groups “advisory only,” and a provision that gives the governor sole power to appoint trustees at Indiana University at Bloomington.
Utah Lawmakers Mandate a Utah State University Refocus Gen-Ed Courses on Civics and Viewpoint Diversity

Mar 27, 2025 | chronicle.com | Christa Dutton

Utah lawmakers are forcing a public university to overhaul its general-education curriculum — by refocusing it on the Western canon and civil discourse. Under a new law, signed by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox on Monday, Utah State University will create an independent academic unit called the “Center for Civic Excellence” that will serve as a new general-education hub.