Rhode Island College President Frank D. Sánchez said he will step down after his contract expires on June 30. ... Dean College President Paula M. Rooney announced she will leave office at the end of the 2021-22 academic year, following 27 years as president of the independent college based in Franklin, Mass. ... The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University named artist and art historian Margaret Rose Vendryes as its next dean. ... New England Law | Boston selected Associate Dean Lisa R. Freudenheim as the law school’s next dean, succeeding former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who resigned as president and dean of the faculty of New England Law last August after less than a year at the helm. ... See more on these and other changes in NEJHE's Comings and Goings tally of new appointments in New England higher ed and beyond.

Pictured: Frank D. Sánchez

A Review of The Age of AI and our Human Future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is overtaking our traditional world of natural and human intelligence, signaling paradigm shifts that are more significant than any since Gutenberg introduced printing on paper with movable type that laid the foundations of modern Western culture. Already in higher education, "AI apps and their uses are multiplying—in financial and fiscal management, fundraising, faculty development, course and facilities scheduling, student recruitment campaigns, student success management and many other operations," writes historian and Catalogue for Philanthropy founder George McCully. In his review of The Age of AI and our Human Future, McCully notes that academics will play a crucial role in bringing technology, strategy and philosophy into some alignment.

The nonprofit Farm to Institution New England (FINE) recently launched the New England Farm and Sea to Campus Data Center, a new system for collecting, measuring and reporting farm-to-campus activity. “Farm to campus” is a growing movement to mobilize the influence and power of colleges and universities to shape the food system. Research done before the Covid-19 pandemic shows that New England colleges with dining services served more than 87 million meals and spent nearly $400 million on food and beverage annually. Decisions about what food to buy, where to buy it and from whom help shape supply chains, affect the health and nutrition of those eating at the institutions, and can support the communities of which the institutions are an integral part. In addition, colleges and universities are educating and shaping opportunities for future food systems leaders, food businesses and food consumers.

UConn, Waterbury Officials Announce "Promise" Financial Aid Program

Help us pilot a new section in NEJHE NewsBlast highlighting and linking brief items like these from the NEJHE Beat—that unique constellation of issues connected to higher education and also to social justice, economic and workforce development, regional cooperation, quality of life, academic research, workplaces and other topics that together, say "NEJHE." Please don't be shy with any suggestions to help this feature help you. Many thanks for your ideas,

John O. Harney, Executive Editor, The New England Journal of Higher Education

Free college policies—commonly known as “promise” programs—are important promoters of equity in higher education, according to a new NEBHE report titled “Living Up to the Promise? Exploring Issues of Access and Equity among New England’s Promise Programs.” The report's author, NEBHE Policy and Research Consultant Rachael Conway, points out that some specific elements help ensure that promise programs truly encourage equity, especially for students from low-income backgrounds. These elements include: providing financial support beyond the costs of tuition and fees, supporting adult learners and undocumented students, and never converting student financial support into loans that need to be repaid.

Wanted: Director of Regional Student Program (Tuition Break), Director of Policy & Research, Open Education Consultant

NEBHE is looking to hire a Director of the Regional Student Program, NEBHE's longest-running program, also known as Tuition Break. We're looking for someone who can strategically plan for the program's continued success; develop surveys and reports; engage key stakeholders, including administrators and enrollment managers at the region's public colleges and universities, school counselors and college advisors; and expand outreach and promotion to college-bound students, families and other constituents.

NEBHE also seeks a Director of Policy & Research: someone who can anticipate emerging issues, interpret policy developments, develop research reports, presentations and best practice tools for postsecondary education leaders, state policymakers and the public and direct NEBHE's Policy & Research team.

NEBHE also seeks an Open Education Consultant to support NEBHE’s Hewlett Foundation grant-funded activities. The consultant will assist in planning an Open Education summit that includes a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), assist in writing briefs, reports, update and create new content for the Open Education webpages on the NEBHE site, represent NEBHE at Open Education meetings and serve as a member of a proposal development team to expand Open Education usage in the region.