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Author Profile

Rob Jenkins

higheredspeak
Rob Jenkins is a 32-year veteran of higher education, a regular contributor to the Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications, and the author of four books, including The 9 Virtues of Exceptional Leaders: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential (with Karl Haden) and Welcome to My Classroom. He currently serves as associate professor of English at Georgia State University Perimeter College and as a Senior Fellow at the Academy for Academic Leadership. The views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of his employers.

Articles by Rob Jenkins


The Toxic Absurdity of “Diversity Statements”    

Feb 4, 2022 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on The Toxic Absurdity of “Diversity Statements”    

As if landing a college teaching position wasn’t already difficult enough, the powers-that-be have placed another obstacle in job-seekers’ path: the so-called “Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” better known … Continue reading “The Toxic Absurdity of “Diversity Statements”    “


Dear Humanists: You Have Done That Yourself

Dec 9, 2020 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on Dear Humanists: You Have Done That Yourself

Every time I read an op-ed piece from some English professor (and isn’t it always an English professor?) whining about the demise of the humanities, in The Chronicle of Higher Education or elsewhere, … Continue reading “Dear Humanists: You Have Done That Yourself”


The Case for Reopening College Campuses 

Jun 5, 2020 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on The Case for Reopening College Campuses 

Higher education media has gone “all in” for keeping college campuses closed this fall, with articles like “The Case Against Reopening” in The Chronicle of Higher Education and “Colleges Are Deluding Themselves” … Continue reading “The Case for Reopening College Campuses “


How Colleges Can Survive the Coming Enrollment Crash

Nov 13, 2019 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on How Colleges Can Survive the Coming Enrollment Crash

Nationwide, higher education enrollment has been trending down for several years. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2019 was the eighth straight year of decline, with an overall drop … Continue reading “How Colleges Can Survive the Coming Enrollment Crash”


No, the World Doesn’t Need More Humanities PhDs

Aug 10, 2018 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on No, the World Doesn’t Need More Humanities PhDs

In May, The Chronicle of Higher Education asked four academics from across the country to weigh in on the “adjunct crisis.” The results were predictable, with most of the blame directed at the usual … Continue reading “No, the World Doesn’t Need More Humanities PhDs”


Why Conservative Policymakers Should Support Community Colleges

Mar 23, 2018 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on Why Conservative Policymakers Should Support Community Colleges

In the first installment of this series, I offered several reasons why conservative families ought to consider sending their kids to the local community college. This time, I would like … Continue reading “Why Conservative Policymakers Should Support Community Colleges”


The Conservative Case for Community Colleges, Part I: To Parents

Feb 9, 2018 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on The Conservative Case for Community Colleges, Part I: To Parents

For many parents, the prospect of sending their kids off to college can be daunting. If the price tag alone doesn’t scare them silly, there are more than enough stories … Continue reading “The Conservative Case for Community Colleges, Part I: To Parents”


Notes from the Free Speech Underground

Nov 10, 2017 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on Notes from the Free Speech Underground

In October, I attended the first-ever FIRE Faculty Conference. If you’re not familiar with FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education), you should be—assuming you support free speech, open inquiry, … Continue reading “Notes from the Free Speech Underground”


Let’s Not Throw the Dual Enrollment Baby Out with the Bathwater

Apr 26, 2017 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on Let’s Not Throw the Dual Enrollment Baby Out with the Bathwater

Dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses for college credit, have been getting some bad publicity lately. In 2013, the popular college watchdog site Minding … Continue reading “Let’s Not Throw the Dual Enrollment Baby Out with the Bathwater”


Why College Graduates Still Can’t Think

Mar 23, 2017 · Rob Jenkins · Comments Off on Why College Graduates Still Can’t Think

More than six years have passed since Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa rocked the academic world with their landmark book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses. Their study of more … Continue reading “Why College Graduates Still Can’t Think”

More in Politicization

  • App State’s Magical Vanishing DEI Committee Feb 6, 2023

    Last May, Inside Higher Ed reported that Appalachian State University was building a summer ’22 “working group” to address how the institution solicits and evaluates “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) … Continue reading “App State’s Magical Vanishing DEI Committee”

  • A New Anti-DEI Petition for UNC Medical School Feb 2, 2023

    The Martin Center has often reported on the damage being done in colleges and universities under the guise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Now, another organization, Color Us United … Continue reading “A New Anti-DEI Petition for UNC Medical School”

  • Social-Justice Restrictions on Research Harm All of Us Feb 1, 2023

    Recently, one of the departments on my campus invited an academic “expert,” who, among other specializations, “advise[s] on the ethical aspects of telescope siting,” to give a talk entitled “How … Continue reading “Social-Justice Restrictions on Research Harm All of Us”

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Recent Articles

  • App State’s Magical Vanishing DEI Committee Feb 6, 2023

    Last May, Inside Higher Ed reported that Appalachian State University was building a summer ’22 “working group” to address how the institution solicits and evaluates “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) … Continue reading “App State’s Magical Vanishing DEI Committee”

  • Why do we need law schools? Feb 5, 2023

    To the editor: In the article ‘A Better Way to Teach Law’, Mr. Andersson makes a good case for the value of getting people into the workforce sooner, I also … Continue reading “Why do we need law schools?”

  • Lowery “outplayed” by UT-Austin administrators Feb 5, 2023

    To the editor: Lots of talk, then… Richard Lowery is an associate professor of finance at the University of Texas at Austin. He is an applied game theorist and studies … Continue reading “Lowery “outplayed” by UT-Austin administrators”

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