In today's issue, we look at how Trump is inspiring academic courses worldwide.
We also look at
✨A new way to re-engage students
✨How a solar-energy project went dark
✨A creative rescue

Have a great weekend!

Universities across the globe are increasingly offering courses that directly examine Donald Trump's presidency and its impact. These include modules such as The New School's "Donald Trump as History," the University of Pennsylvania's "Climate and Environment Journalism: Truth-Telling in the Trump Era," and the University of Washington's "Trump in the World." International institutions, such as the University of Sheffield and University College Dublin, have also introduced Trump-focused modules. The aim is to help students critically analyze the Trump phenomenon and its influence on US and global society.

Team dynamics often suffer more from conflict avoidance than from overt disputes, creating a culture where accountability lapses and poor decisions go unchallenged, write Karin Hurt and David Dye, who highlight the "unspoken pact" in which team members avoid addressing issues to maintain politeness. They offer phrases to break the cycle and gently name what's not being said, reaffirm shared goals and create an opening for feedback and clarity.

Effective onboarding is a critical factor in employee retention and organizational success, writes Farnaz Ronaghi, a co-founder and the chief technology officer of NovoEd. A modern approach goes beyond administrative tasks to foster connection, clarity and development, using technology and buddy programs to enhance engagement and integration. Companies that invest in effective onboarding tactics see higher job satisfaction, a deeper sense of belonging and reduced turnover, Ronaghi writes.

Community colleges across the US are experiencing a surge in enrollment, outpacing four-year universities, as students seek more affordable education options amid rising student loan debt. Preliminary data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a 4% increase in community-college enrollment this fall, compared with less than 2% at four-year schools.

Napa Valley College's $7.5 million solar project, launched in 2006 with 5,600 photovoltaic panels covering five acres, was initially celebrated as a model for clean energy and cost savings. The installation was designed to provide approximately 40% of the campus's electricity and received praise for its innovation. However, after about 15 years of operation, the system was decommissioned and now sits unused, overgrown with weeds, as the college explores options for future solar investments. The college has since switched to a fuel cell system from Bloom Energy, which has proven more reliable and cost-effective.