David Decosimo objected to a Wall Street Journal editorial about UNC-Chapel Hill’s embattled civics school. The paper didn’t publish his response—which he says is part of the problem.
Matt Hartman
Matt Hartman is a higher education reporter for The Assembly and co-anchor of our weekly higher education newsletter, The Quad. He was previously a longtime freelance journalist and spent nearly a decade working in higher ed communications before joining The Assembly in 2024.
Posted inHigher Education
Michael Jordan Gives $10 Million to UNC’s School of Social Work in Honor of His Mom
The basketball superstar’s gift is the largest in school history. It will support master’s students and international work.
Posted inHigher Education
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Football Investigation is Over. Will We Ever Know What It Found?
University officials are providing few details. They say the secrecy is necessary to build trust with future whistleblowers.
Posted inHigher Education
NC State Told Salvadoran Staff Not to Work, Then Reversed Course Amid Immigration Confusion
Workers from El Salvador were set to lose Temporary Protected Status, but the Trump administration said it would decide their fate later.
Posted inHigher Education
Is UNC-Chapel Hill’s Bet on Athletics Paying Off?
After paying big money for coaches Bill Belichick and Michael Malone, the price of Tar Heel sports is going up.
Posted inHigher Education
The New Federal Funding Problem
While many universities avoided Trump’s biggest cuts to research funding, the pipeline for new grants has shrunk.
Posted inHigher Education
UNC-Chapel Hill Civics School Investigation Can Stay Secret, Judge Says
The Assembly and other outlets sued to release the report under public records laws. The court ruled in the university’s favor.
Posted inHigher Education
A Is for Average
The median college GPA is on the rise. Critics call it grade inflation. But it’s not clear why it’s happening—or if it matters.
Posted inHigher Education
What’s the Difference Between Civility and Civil Discourse?
Robert Taber, chair of the UNC System Faculty Taskforce on Civil Discourse, explains why it shouldn’t be a partisan issue.
Posted inHigher Education
A Greensboro Professor Sued His College for Ignoring Its Handbook
A Bennett College professor claimed the school didn’t follow its human resource policies during a misconduct investigation. The college argued it doesn’t have to.
