No. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15

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Diversity statements will no longer be used in University of Michigan faculty hiring, promotion and tenure, a move applauded by critics who have called the practice "litmus tests" that limit diversity of thought while diversity advocates said the process was "preordained" and dishonest. Provost Laurie McCauley announced the decision Thursday based on a recommendation from a UM faculty working group to end diversity statements. But the recommendation is "deceptive," coming after the regents rejected a previous recommendation to keep the diversity statements, a faculty leader said. Diversity statements are documents written by faculty job candidates that let applicants explain to a search committee the distinct experiences they would bring to the university along with their commitment to diversity. The statements help search committees identify applicants "who have professional skills, experience and/or willingness to engage in activities that would enhance campus diversity and equity efforts," according to a University of California at San Diego statement referenced by UM's Center for Research on Learning & Teaching. McCauley's announcement came hours before the Board of Regents is scheduled to meet and a protest is planned beforehand at UM President Santa Ono's house. Many in the UM community are concerned the regents may dismantle a multimillion dollar diversity, equity and inclusion effort built after the school was at the center of a decade-long national debate around affirmative action in higher education, and DEI programs have been under attack across the nation.. "Diversity, equity and inclusion are three of our core values at the university," McCauley said in the University Record, an internal UM publication for faculty and staff, in announcing the end of diversity statements. "Our collective efforts in this area have produced important strides in opening opportunities for all people. As we pursue this challenging and complex work, we will continuously refine our approach.” But there is more that happened in this process, UM Faculty Senate Chair Rebekah Modrak wrote on the University Record page under the announcement. After the regents called for diversity statements to be banned last summer, McCauley formed a faculty committee to review diversity statements in the spirit of shared governance that came up with a different recommendation, Modrak wrote. "My understanding is that the committee’s first report recommended that the use of diversity statements should be up to each unit, a recommendation that honors our decentralization, independence, and academic freedom," Modrak wrote. "The Regents rejected that report and central leadership didn’t support their own faculty committee. Sending a committee back to work to give a second report with preordained results is neither honest nor respectful of faculty expertise. The University Record’s erasure of the Regents’ autocratic hand in this process is also deceptive." Regents will not vote on the provost's action, but may discuss it during the meeting, said Regent Sarah Hubbard, one of two Republicans on the eight-member UM board. "I applaud the provost for ending the practice of requiring diversity statements," said Hubbard. "This policy change removes a barrier to diversity of thought on campus by eliminating the ideological litmus test." No action is expected during Thursday's meeting around other DEI issues, added Hubbard, who previously said the regents have been looking for a long time at the university's DEI efforts and want to realign funds closer to student scholarships. Any budget decisions wouldn't happen until next year when budgetary decisions get made, she said. Even so, hundreds of students, faculty and staff demonstrated on campus earlier this week to show support for the university's DEI programs, and others are planning to attend the protest organized by UM's Black Student Union before the regents meeting and show up to the official meeting. UM's decision to discontinue diversity statements came after the statements were also eliminated in May at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in June at Harvard University’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In June, UM's provost charged the eight-member faculty working group to examine diversity statements, though the university did not have an institutional policy on the statements but units did have the discretion to ask for them. The working group recommended the end of the statements after reviewing other policies and surveying more than 2,000 faculty members. “Critics of diversity statements perceive them as expressions of personal identity traits, support of specific ideology or opinions on socially-relevant issues, and serve as a ‘litmus test’ of whether a faculty member’s views are politically acceptable,” the working group wrote in its report. “Thus, as currently enacted, diversity statements have the potential to limit viewpoints and reduce diversity of thought among faculty members.” The working group said it acknowledged the concerns. "But, well-written diversity statements do not necessarily require expression of one’s identity, and they need not express one's beliefs or stances on socially-charged issues," the working group wrote. "Instead, well-written diversity statements contain reflections of how identity has shaped a faculty member’s approach with their students, how they work with their colleagues, and how they interact with society. These are desirable features of current and future U-M faculty members, and this information should be considered when potential faculty are hired and current faculty are promoted." The work group also offered two other recommendations, including that the university "can and must" incorporate of content about DEI into teaching, research and service statements. "Through this incorporation, the problematic features of diversity statements can be eliminated, while the useful and necessary information that exists in diversity statements can be saved and placed where it more naturally belongs," the group wrote in its report. However, UM did not adopt those recommendations. UM's decision to discontinue diversity statements followed other steps the university has taken in recent months that supporters said will create an environment that expands diverse views on campus. They include the regents' controversial adoption last month of a policy on institutional neutrality that prohibits some officials from taking public stances on political and social issues not related to the internal governance of the university. Last month the Faculty Senate passed a resolution censuring the Board of Regents and accusing the regents of "increasingly exhibiting authoritarian tendencies, and silencing free speech. ©2024 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.No. 2 Ohio State takes control in the 2nd half and runs over No. 5 Indiana 38-15

M/I Homes CEO Robert Schottenstein sells $1.31 million in stockSINGAPORE: In the age of AI, 5G, and cloud computing, people’s lives, communication, and work are radically transformed. With companies adopting the fourth industrial revolution, global ICT investment reached US$4.9 trillion last year, as reported by SCMP . Roadmap to prosperity The Global Digitalization Index 2024 , compiled by Huawei Technologies and the International Data Corporation, emphasizes that digital technology and AI will drive 70% of global economic growth over the next five years. The report assesses the digital development of 77 countries, representing 93% of global GDP and 80% of the world’s population. The report classifies countries into three groups—front runners, adopters, and starters—based on factors such as economic development, ICT industry maturity, connectivity, digital infrastructure, green energy technology, and supportive policies. It highlights a strong link between a country’s ICT maturity and its economic growth. For example, in front runner countries like the United States, Singapore, and China, a one-point increase in the Global Digitalization Index (GDI) score can raise GDP per capita by US$945. The report also emphasizes the high returns on digital investment , estimating that every US$1 spent on digital transformation could generate a return of US$8.3 in a country’s digital economy. However, it also points to a widening gap: from 2019 to last year, highly digitalized countries increased their tech investments 18 times faster than less developed ones. This disparity could worsen global economic inequality if less advanced nations fail to catch up. Singapore: A model for digital development Singapore stands out as a model for digital development. Over the past three decades, the city-state has invested heavily in its digital infrastructure, research and development, policy revamps, and ICT talent. To maintain its competitive edge, Singapore must continue to integrate AI into its economy and develop a roadmap for green data centers to support its net-zero goals. Thailand: Accelerating digital transformation For adopter countries like Thailand, the focus should be on expanding connectivity and supporting foundational technologies. Thailand is accelerating its digital transformation by collaborating with telecom companies to roll out 5G networks and introducing plans to facilitate investments in cloud computing, big data, AI, and 5G. Kenya: Building digital foundations Starter nations, such as Kenya, must prioritize establishing fixed and mobile broadband connectivity to drive digital economic activities. Kenya’s strategic investments in mobile network coverage, a national fibre-optic network, and digital government services have propelled its e-commerce sector to rank third in Africa. Investing in the digital future The report emphasizes the importance of green energy technologies for sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. It also stresses the need for medium- and long-term ICT plans to foster digital economies. Additionally, emerging economies must enhance ICT talent development and create attractive job opportunities for STEM graduates to retain tech talent. Ultimately, the Global Digitalization Index 2024 underscores that investment in the digital future is crucial for a nation’s long-term economic prosperity. The rewards for staying at the forefront of innovation are higher than ever, making it imperative for countries to prioritize digital transformation and talent retention .

If you are looking for some new additions to your portfolio in December, then the ASX shares listed below could be worth a closer look. They have been named on Australian Equities Panel for the month ahead. The broker notes that these are the shares that it believes "offer attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term." In addition, Bell Potter highlights that when choosing its picks it considers the current macro-economic backdrop and investment environment, focusing on quality companies with proven track records, capable management, and competitive advantages. You can read about the first two ASX shares on the list . Let's now take a look at three more of the broker's top picks for the month. They are as follows: ( ) Bell Potter continues to rate this biotechnology giant very highly and keeps it on its Australian equities panel for another month. The broker feels that now is a great time to buy given its positive earnings outlook and the lower than normal multiples its shares trade on. Bell Potter explains: CSL presents an attractive buying opportunity as we anticipate the start of a margin recovery phase for CSL, driving above-market earnings growth over the next few years. CSL trades at a 12-month forward PE of ~28x, representing a discount to its 10-year average of ~31x. Furthermore, the company will continue to deleverage the balance sheet over the next few years. Given the company's proven quality and growth prospects, we believe significant upside remains. ( ) A new addition to the Australian Equities Panel in December is energy producer Santos. Bell Potter believes that the company is a great pick right now due to its cheap valuation and positive earnings and free cash flow outlook. It also notes that Santos is well-placed with commodity prices where they are and doesn't need higher prices to drive higher levels of free cash flow. It said: One of our top value picks is Santos and we believe the market underestimates the long-term demand for oil and liquefied natural gas. In our view, Santos can continue to increase production and drive earnings growth over the next few years and should see a significant increase in its free cash flow and dividends as they pass peak CAPEX in FY24. In addition, STO does not need higher commodity prices to drive higher free cash flow and dividends. ( ) Finally, Bell Potter thinks that youth fashion retailer Universal Store would be a great ASX share to buy this month. It likes the company due to its store expansion opportunity and attractive valuation. It said: Universal Store Holdings is a leading youth focused apparel, footwear and accessories retailer in Australia. UNI will continue to increase store numbers over the next few years, supporting earnings growth of 12% p.a. over (FY25-27). Valuation looks attractive, trading on a fwd P/E of ~14x. UNI is a quality small cap (ROE ~25%) that is executing on its rollout strategy.

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