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Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education

Thriving through Current Crises

Naomi Zack

New realities in US higher education present a multifaceted crisis for students, faculty, administrators, and society at large. In this original and practical book, Naomi Zack provides incisive diagnoses of pressing problems and prescriptions to reinstate and support US higher education as an intellectually and ethically valuable institution.

Among the problems addressed are the US Supreme Court ban of affirmative action; falling enrollment and low retention; downsized and defunded humanities; the unjust situation of adjunct instructors; college firsts confronting social class; student mental health and microaggressions; disruptive free speech; the mind-numbing effects of AI; campus dangers and insecurity; and anti-intellectual ideological political pressure. The novel ideas and policy changes proposed here result in a new model of belonging for the multiplicities of race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, and nationality––and more––in current and future college communities.

An Open Access edition of this book is available through funding by Lehman College, CUNY. It is accessible on the publisher's website under the Features tab.

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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 232 • Trim: 6 x 9
979-8-8818-0514-2 • Hardback • January 2025 • $110.00 • (£85.00)
979-8-8818-0515-9 • Paperback • January 2025 • $40.00 • (£30.00)
Subjects: Education / Higher, Education / Student Life & Student Affairs, Education / Violence & Harassment, Open Access Titles / General

Naomi Zack is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Lehman College, CUNY. Her recent books are Ethics and Race: Past and Present Intersections and Controversies, The American Tragedy of COVID-19: Social and Political Crises of 2020, Progressive Anonymity: From Identity Politics to Evidence-Based Government, and Reviving the Social Compact: Inclusive Citizenship in an Age of Extreme Politics.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1. Multiplicity and Belonging: Replacing Affirmative Action and DEI.

Chapter 2. Recruiting and Retaining: Raising Enrollment and Serving Students

Chapter 3. Correcting Adjunct Injustice: Conversion to Lecturers

Chapter 4. Resetting the Humanities: Returning to Intellectual Values

Chapter 5. Social Class á la carte: How Firsts Can Remain Loyale and Still Move Up.

Chapter 6. Student Self-Help for Mental Health: First Person Approaches to Microaggression, Moral Injury, Antisemitism, and Loneliness

Chapter 7. Free Speech, Movements, and Politics: Reclaiming Academic Freedom

Chapter 8. Student Protests, Antisemitism, and Communication: The Importance of Academic Discourse

Chapter 9. All-Hazards Risk Management: Preparing for Natural Disasters, Shooters, Hackers, and AI

Conclusion: College Smart Now

Index

About the Author

In Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education, Naomi Zack brilliantly demonstrates how moral philosophy can contribute to challenges facing the contemporary American University. Having explored these issues with her many students, Zack brings to us fresh approaches that address chronic contemporary challenges: student admissions and retention, racial and class diversity, adjunct faculty, responsible speech, a better anchoring of the humanities, and other matters that make equity, community, and academic investigations collectively sustainable. Her work makes an original and timely contribution to the growing, needed discourse on university ethics today.


— James F. Keenan, S.J., Canisius Professor, Boston College, author of University Ethics: How Colleges Can Build and Benefit from a Culture of Ethics


Zack’s lucid and balanced analysis of the challenges facing American colleges and universities makes the bold and original claim that ethical philosophy can offer constructive solutions. This book is a must-read for everyone who cares about access, excellence, and the future of liberal arts study in public higher education.


— Emily Sohmer Tai, professor of history, Queensborough Community College, CUNY, former co-editor of CUNY's UFS Blog


In this timely analysis, Zack offers a cogent diagnosis of the crises facing higher education, from the enrollment cliff to student protest and adjunct labor. Her compelling and cogent map of how colleges and universities can meet these challenges provides a road forward grounded in common sense, empathy, and belonging.


— Jordan Pascoe, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign


An innovative and insightful account of the major crises in US higher education today and how we might best solve them.


— James P. Sterba, Philosophy Department, University of Notre Dame


OPEN ACCESS

Publication in open access of the book Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education: Thriving through Current Crises, by Naomi Zack, is funded Lehman College, CUNY.

VIEW & DOWNLOAD



Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education

Thriving through Current Crises

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • New realities in US higher education present a multifaceted crisis for students, faculty, administrators, and society at large. In this original and practical book, Naomi Zack provides incisive diagnoses of pressing problems and prescriptions to reinstate and support US higher education as an intellectually and ethically valuable institution.

    Among the problems addressed are the US Supreme Court ban of affirmative action; falling enrollment and low retention; downsized and defunded humanities; the unjust situation of adjunct instructors; college firsts confronting social class; student mental health and microaggressions; disruptive free speech; the mind-numbing effects of AI; campus dangers and insecurity; and anti-intellectual ideological political pressure. The novel ideas and policy changes proposed here result in a new model of belonging for the multiplicities of race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, and nationality––and more––in current and future college communities.

    An Open Access edition of this book is available through funding by Lehman College, CUNY. It is accessible on the publisher's website under the Features tab.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 232 • Trim: 6 x 9
    979-8-8818-0514-2 • Hardback • January 2025 • $110.00 • (£85.00)
    979-8-8818-0515-9 • Paperback • January 2025 • $40.00 • (£30.00)
    Subjects: Education / Higher, Education / Student Life & Student Affairs, Education / Violence & Harassment, Open Access Titles / General
Author
Author
  • Naomi Zack is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Lehman College, CUNY. Her recent books are Ethics and Race: Past and Present Intersections and Controversies, The American Tragedy of COVID-19: Social and Political Crises of 2020, Progressive Anonymity: From Identity Politics to Evidence-Based Government, and Reviving the Social Compact: Inclusive Citizenship in an Age of Extreme Politics.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Acknowledgments

    Introduction

    Chapter 1. Multiplicity and Belonging: Replacing Affirmative Action and DEI.

    Chapter 2. Recruiting and Retaining: Raising Enrollment and Serving Students

    Chapter 3. Correcting Adjunct Injustice: Conversion to Lecturers

    Chapter 4. Resetting the Humanities: Returning to Intellectual Values

    Chapter 5. Social Class á la carte: How Firsts Can Remain Loyale and Still Move Up.

    Chapter 6. Student Self-Help for Mental Health: First Person Approaches to Microaggression, Moral Injury, Antisemitism, and Loneliness

    Chapter 7. Free Speech, Movements, and Politics: Reclaiming Academic Freedom

    Chapter 8. Student Protests, Antisemitism, and Communication: The Importance of Academic Discourse

    Chapter 9. All-Hazards Risk Management: Preparing for Natural Disasters, Shooters, Hackers, and AI

    Conclusion: College Smart Now

    Index

    About the Author

Reviews
Reviews
  • In Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education, Naomi Zack brilliantly demonstrates how moral philosophy can contribute to challenges facing the contemporary American University. Having explored these issues with her many students, Zack brings to us fresh approaches that address chronic contemporary challenges: student admissions and retention, racial and class diversity, adjunct faculty, responsible speech, a better anchoring of the humanities, and other matters that make equity, community, and academic investigations collectively sustainable. Her work makes an original and timely contribution to the growing, needed discourse on university ethics today.


    — James F. Keenan, S.J., Canisius Professor, Boston College, author of University Ethics: How Colleges Can Build and Benefit from a Culture of Ethics


    Zack’s lucid and balanced analysis of the challenges facing American colleges and universities makes the bold and original claim that ethical philosophy can offer constructive solutions. This book is a must-read for everyone who cares about access, excellence, and the future of liberal arts study in public higher education.


    — Emily Sohmer Tai, professor of history, Queensborough Community College, CUNY, former co-editor of CUNY's UFS Blog


    In this timely analysis, Zack offers a cogent diagnosis of the crises facing higher education, from the enrollment cliff to student protest and adjunct labor. Her compelling and cogent map of how colleges and universities can meet these challenges provides a road forward grounded in common sense, empathy, and belonging.


    — Jordan Pascoe, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign


    An innovative and insightful account of the major crises in US higher education today and how we might best solve them.


    — James P. Sterba, Philosophy Department, University of Notre Dame


Features
Features
  • OPEN ACCESS

    Publication in open access of the book Multiplicity, Belonging, and Free Speech in US Higher Education: Thriving through Current Crises, by Naomi Zack, is funded Lehman College, CUNY.

    VIEW & DOWNLOAD



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