Hello! In today's issue, we look at lessons that are available from other campuses. Among them:
✨How to be environmentally friendly
✨How race neutrality can lead to diversity
✨How to manage a presidential transition
Enjoy!

The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, has once again secured the top spot as the most sustainable college in the US, according to The Princeton Review's annual green rankings. Noted for its long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and student health, the college reached carbon neutrality in 2007 and is targeting a fossil-free campus by 2030. These achievements underscore its leadership in campus sustainability.

Lobbying expenditures by major research universities surged in 2025 compared to the previous year, though spending saw a notable decrease in the third quarter. After reaching $10 million in the second quarter, total lobbying outlays among Association of American Universities members dropped to $8.6 million in Q3. Despite the quarterly slowdown, overall annual spending remains high, as institutions continue to respond to federal policy changes and legislative proposals that impact higher education.

Giving feedback requires courage, especially if the input is negative, since no one wants to get a defensive response, writes Shari Harley, founder and president of Candid Culture, who recommends putting people at ease by asking for feedback, defining what type it should be, thanking them for giving it and deferring any response to negative feedback for later. "You're not being dismissive; you're ensuring your emotions don't take over. If you want to have a second conversation, have it within a week," Harley advises.

A report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy highlights California's success in implementing race-neutral strategies to expand college access since the 1996 ban on affirmative action. The report notes that programs such as dual enrollment and the Associate Degree for Transfer program have helped increase college applications and admissions among underrepresented groups; however, disparities persist.

A pending college presidential departure can cause institutional uncertainty, and Kristin Tichenor of Tuition Exchange and Raafat Zaini of James Madison University offer advice for managing the transition. They recommend reaffirming the institution's mission, involving stakeholders in the search process and retaining top talent, while avoiding institutional paralysis, ensuring clear communication and avoiding rushed interim presidencies.

A Picasso portrait of muse Dora Maar, "Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat (Dora Maar)," has sold for 32 million euros at a Drouot auction in Paris, exceeding expectations and marking the highest auction price for any artwork in France this year. The 1943 painting, unseen by the public for more than 80 years, was part of Picasso's "Woman in a Hat" series and remained in a private collection since 1944. Dora Maar, both artist and photographer, was Picasso's muse and partner for about seven years, influencing several of his major works, including serving as the model for "Guernica." Their relationship, marked by emotional complexity, was nearing its end when "Bust of a Woman with a Flowered Hat" was painted. After Picasso left her for Françoise Gilot, Maar lived a more reclusive life until her death at 89.