Rob Townsend

RRCHNM @rrchnm.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 09, 2024 at 15:45 UTC

🗓️ Join us at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. this Thursday, July 11 for a free event! “Antisemitism, U.S.A.” is a panel conversation featuring contributors from the upcoming podcast of the same name, produced by RRCHNM's own R2 Studios. Register here: www.simpletix.com/e/antisemiti...

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 08, 2024 at 17:14 UTC

“Institutions have to be much more clear about the skills and competencies that the students gleaned from liberal arts in really straightforward language” bit.ly/3xFx3DA

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 03, 2024 at 13:17 UTC

"If only we had a curriculum that exposed students to noteworthy attempts to understand what is worth striving for in a human life, with the aim of cultivating self-knowledge and practical wisdom. Of course, we already do. It is called the humanities." bit.ly/3XR512q

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 02, 2024 at 13:36 UTC

Virginia Tech's fabulous (and humanities-oriented) Institute for Leadership in Technology is now accepting applications for their next class. Details at bit.ly/3RTlZJT

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jul 01, 2024 at 17:02 UTC

Judging at the national Empower Your Pitch competition, in which doctoral students compress their dissertations into a 3-minute pitch to non-specialists. Learn more about it at bit.ly/3L4mw7Q.

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 28, 2024 at 19:55 UTC

"In order to inspire people to pursue degrees and careers in the humanities...we need to do two things: correct the record on career outcomes, opportunities, and satisfaction; and highlight the connection between humanities...research and scholarship and major world news." bit.ly/45JcXVg

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 28, 2024 at 13:08 UTC

"By adopting a transdisciplinary approach to integrate humanities, disability studies and rehabilitation, along with fostering collaborative community partnerships, the JHR addresses the complex and pervasive health inequities faced by the disability community." bit.ly/3zoPuNi

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 27, 2024 at 17:35 UTC

"I've come to appreciate that the humanities offer a clear window into our humanity. They remind us that it's okay to engage in philosophical musings, to learn from others' perspectives, and to navigate our destinies with intention." bit.ly/3L90MYl

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 27, 2024 at 13:19 UTC

"The U.S. should welcome more students from China, but to study the humanities rather than sciences, the second-ranked U.S. diplomat said on Monday" bit.ly/3W0ApdG

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 26, 2024 at 22:45 UTC

"arts and humanities graduates often take longer to settle upon a career path, precisely because so many options are open to them." bit.ly/3xHtOLC

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 24, 2024 at 15:28 UTC

"institutions like Carolina Public Humanities help to assure that we have a robust civic health – because without knowledge of history or literature or the complexities of different cultures, we can’t sustain a democracy." bit.ly/3RCU7te

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 24, 2024 at 13:01 UTC

“We hope for this background to help our students make the right observations, but also think and act intelligently in regard to the transitions that are vital to the sustainability of our world.” bit.ly/4eti4No

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 23, 2024 at 16:32 UTC

"Ron DeSantis last week vetoed over $32 million in arts and culture grants from next year’s budget, a move that could cripple institutions across Tampa Bay and greater Florida" bit.ly/3VEnKM9

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 22, 2024 at 19:40 UTC

"Before we dismantle its institutional home, and jettison the accumulated expertise, we should stop and reflect on what further benefits philosophy may yet bring." bit.ly/4etkJH7

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 21, 2024 at 19:35 UTC

"The right’s newfound interest in these disciplines can make support for them solidly bipartisan for the first time in decades. Scholars everywhere, regardless of how they vote, should be thinking creatively about how to use that support to build a vital future for the humanities." bit.ly/3VD2Blg

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 21, 2024 at 17:37 UTC

“We’re excited about the new ways these centers will expand our work to honor the vibrant voices and cultures that define Virginia.” bit.ly/3RBbE4U

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 21, 2024 at 14:26 UTC

"approaches found within the Transformative Humanities bring together research and education within the academy, and across a wide range of partners and communities. The framework is organised around six interdisciplinary thematic areas, inflected across and between disciplines" bit.ly/3XxDm6q

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 21, 2024 at 13:04 UTC

"In the US alone, there are now 4.5 million people with doctorates: again, double the number in 2000. Put differently, that amounts to a “doctoral nation” roughly the size of Scotland." bit.ly/45ygHck

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 20, 2024 at 19:46 UTC

"Skepticism of generative AI’s value was highest among humanities faculty, where 45 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed that AI’s impact on instructional practices in their field would be positive." bit.ly/45veZsh

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 20, 2024 at 15:50 UTC

“When you look at the data of what businesses say they need, they say they want somebody who communicates well, who’s a critical thinker and who knows how to do data analysis,” said Stern. “Our students in the humanities and social sciences are broadly trained in those skills.” bit.ly/45yJvBk

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 20, 2024 at 14:09 UTC

"A joint humanities project led by Clemson University, South Carolina Humanities and the University of South Carolina to build connectivity within local communities and their richly unique histories concludes this month." bit.ly/4bemyEW

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 19, 2024 at 17:11 UTC

"Technically, science majors are part of the liberal arts, but it is a real stretch to say that a university is committed to “liberal arts” without majors in the humanities and the arts." bit.ly/4csBPTr

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 18, 2024 at 19:15 UTC

"The University of California, Los Angeles, created Humanities Welcome to highlight the value of the humanities knowledge and skills and how they can apply to students’ values and hopes for their college experience." bit.ly/3XMzVcv

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 18, 2024 at 14:19 UTC

"Many respondents emphasized that concerns about job prospects and return on investment were a particularly powerful deterrent for students from historically underrepresented groups." bit.ly/3VsG5eQ

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 18, 2024 at 13:40 UTC

"Bringing humanistic perspectives to conversations about the pandemic, the UCI School of Humanities has launched a new series: COVID-19: The Humanities Respond." bit.ly/45wKeCY

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 17, 2024 at 20:37 UTC

"A project that uses humanities methods to document and explore pandemic backlash and the experiences of public health officials has received $1.25 million in funding from the Mellon Foundation." bit.ly/4bUZbBn

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 17, 2024 at 17:37 UTC

“What we're doing is innovative; we’re reimagining the future of humanities and the university by training grad students and supporting humanities faculty who collaborate with community partners on research projects.” bit.ly/45v91Yr

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 17, 2024 at 13:24 UTC

"A small number of majors will be merged into larger market-aligned programs for future students.

A small number of majors will be discontinued for new students even as we offer teach-outs to all current students."

bit.ly/3VscuSL

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 16, 2024 at 18:37 UTC

"To prevent further atrophying of such skills, a compelling case needs to be established for their benefits to the individual in an increasingly automated world. Such a case will need to be made through rigorous research—emotional appeals are likely to fall short." bit.ly/3z3SbDL

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 15, 2024 at 17:20 UTC

"To facilitate these collaborations and enhance the effectiveness of natural resource management, UConn researchers are taking a #humanities approach to understand what influences private landowners to make conservation and stewardship plans." bit.ly/4coVXFV

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 14, 2024 at 14:42 UTC

"undervaluing the humanities is dangerous territory. A society that does not appreciate its historical and philosophical foundations will inevitably face a decline in culture as its members lose sight of their communal identity." bit.ly/3KFYSOO

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 14, 2024 at 12:57 UTC

“Cutting one of our key humanities courses is not the right path forward and severely limits the potential for intellectual growth amongst our student body” bit.ly/4eooBJm

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 13, 2024 at 20:11 UTC

"its assumption that humanities graduates were somehow not ‘job-ready’ was based not in evidence, but in ideology. As the most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey has shown, humanities graduates remain highly employable." bit.ly/3xhGZTq

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 13, 2024 at 13:11 UTC

“The humanities are worth the hype... in this AI-ascendant era, the skills and sensibilities that emanate from the humanities will be a superpower.” bit.ly/45q3n9F

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 12, 2024 at 20:50 UTC

Among teens who have heard of ChatGPT, "20% say it’s acceptable to use it to write essays." bit.ly/3VF8G1Q

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 12, 2024 at 17:27 UTC

I've had a few questions recently about how to build more interdisciplinary relationships between the humanities and other fields on campus. Here is a useful model from the American Association of Medical Colleges on integrating the arts and humanities: bit.ly/45l8rfA

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 12, 2024 at 13:57 UTC

Interesting pushback on some nonsense in National Review ("if you were to dial back the number of students in the humanities and social sciences...you would have to cut the majority of faculty positions") using our faculty data analysis: bit.ly/4bTB4Ty (second comment)

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 11, 2024 at 19:56 UTC

"the humanities crisis is actually a funding crisis. Reversing it will benefit global understanding. It is time to rediscover the value of the humanities for all humanity." bit.ly/3VizSlO

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 10, 2024 at 16:44 UTC

“The Humanities are not an optional extra... In this changing world, we need them more than ever. We need to understand who is questioning their value and their relevance – and we need to know how to communicate and reach those different communities on whom we rely for support” bit.ly/3KzziLx

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 08, 2024 at 18:44 UTC

The declines in the average (bit.ly/3Ve77GB) and median (bit.ly/4bNBf2C) number of humanities bachelor’s degrees awarded per institution is more troubling. Many of the disciplines fell by a third or more from 2012 levels.

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 08, 2024 at 17:32 UTC

For most humanities disciplines, the number of colleges and universities that awarded a degree rose modestly from the late-1990s to the mid-2010s, but then fell in almost every year up to 2022. My visualization at bit.ly/4bKyjE7.

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 06, 2024 at 12:33 UTC

"Humanities students generally express bleaker opinions about the cost of college but still believe it’s for everyone. These students are less likely to say college is worth the cost (30%) compared to STEM (34%) and business students (39%)." bit.ly/4c98eys

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 05, 2024 at 12:50 UTC

"This first article, on low-tech learning, explores how the basic building blocks of the humanities—reading, writing, talking, and making—contribute to the growth of young people." bit.ly/3RdBXhC

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 03, 2024 at 18:58 UTC

“we need the medical humanities to help us understand the human experiences that are at the heart of health care and that really shape how we understand illness and wellness. Without that, our research enterprise is incomplete.” bit.ly/3yMYJXh

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 02, 2024 at 17:18 UTC

"Different factors account for the high number of liberal studies certificates including support groups, on-campus programs and overall student support" bit.ly/454nSIZ

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 01, 2024 at 17:48 UTC

"BlackRock COO Robert Goldstein recently discussed a desire to hire more students of English and other humanities fields. Watch the video below from Fortune Magazine." bit.ly/4e1ec67

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] Jun 01, 2024 at 17:01 UTC

Sorry, this apparently only works in the desktop version. But happy to share it if you want to send an email address.

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] May 31, 2024 at 13:29 UTC

"Billionaire Joseph Y. Bae ’94 and author Janice Y.K. Lee ’94, his wife, donated $20 million to Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences to endow the Arts and Humanities deanship and bolster financial aid for undergraduates" bit.ly/3X6bCWA

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Rob Townsend @rbtownsend.bsky.social [ View ] May 30, 2024 at 19:42 UTC

Slides for my talk on "The Crisis in the Humanities 2024" at SSP 2024 are now available at bit.ly/456rPgd (on LinkedIn). So dark it broke the projector.

@kawulf.bsky.social @asheeshksi.bsky.social

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