Robert A. Paxton's departure from Iowa Central Community College shows the danger for college leaders of being caught in a less-than-exemplary moment.

The Chronicle's Almanac, 2008-9

• Growing South Atlantic States Face Space Crunch
• Budget Woes Hinder South Central Colleges

Default Lists Lead 2-Year Colleges to Avoid Loan Programs

Obama Accepts Nomination, Lists Affordable Tuition Among Goals

• Video: 'I Support Barack Obama'
• Campaign U. Blog: Continuing Coverage From Denver

Scholars Question the Direction of American Political Studies

Scientists Who Cheated Had Inattentive Mentors

Struggling New Orleans Colleges Could Face Another Storm

Russell Jacoby describes a complication of scholars' addiction to complicating things.
(Illustration by Randy Lyhus)

Many South Atlantic states, including Georgia, expect to see increases in their traditional college-age population well into the next decade. Above, a classroom at Kennesaw State University's College of Business, near Atlanta. (Photograph by Susan Bull)

The Brown Bag: Read a transcript of an online discussion with Barbara A. Lee, an expert in higher-education law and a professor at Rutgers University at New Brunswick, about strategies for navigating difficult classroom conversations and controversial topics while teaching, without landing yourself — or your institution — in a lawsuit.

Also of Interest

Join the free and free-wheeling conversation in Balancing Act, one of our most popular forums, where thousands of academics gather every day to share advice with each other on work, life, and parenting. Post a question or offer your opinions there or in more than a dozen other forums on topics such as personal finance and teaching.

A Gloomy Giving Outlook
Giving by U.S. businesses is likely to remain flat this year as the jumpy economy eats into companies' profits and new charitable projects are put on hold, the annual Chronicle survey of corporate philanthropy finds.

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