Best of March from HigherEdJobs

Whether you’re actively job searching or simply seeking to excel at your current institution, here are some editor’s picks highlighting issues, trends, and tips from last month that may help you.

Best in Job Search

Memorable Candidates Use Concrete Language

As artificial intelligence becomes more common in job materials, over-polished language can weaken a candidate’s impact. Instead of relying on vague, AI-generated phrasing, the piece encourages job seekers to use language that is vivid and more memorable. It also shows how candidates can stand out by focusing on real outcomes and details that make their work easier to picture and remember.

Best in Workplace inclusion

Building Institutional Culture Beyond the Guidebooks

Often, institutions clearly define their values, but this piece explores what happens when those values are not consistently demonstrated in practice. It focuses on the gap between intention and execution, showing how culture is reinforced or weakened through everyday leadership decisions. Using a set of examples, the article shows how misalignment shows up and what leaders can do to correct it.

Best in Health and Wellbeing

When the Ground Shifts, We Migrate

“Paralysis is not an option,” the author writes, describing the uncertainty facing higher education today. This piece explores how shifting expectations, limited resources, and growing pressures have left many faculty, staff, administrators, and students feeling stuck, but it points to steady movement as a way forward. It centers on persistence, collective effort, and continued care for students, showing how moving forward can create momentum and new possibilities.

Best in Teaching and Faculty

Oh, the Joy! Why Students Should Help Co-Author Your Curriculum

What happens when students help shape the course they are taking? This piece shows how inviting students into curriculum design can improve engagement and make learning feel more relevant. It shows how being open about gaps in a course can lead to more discussion, stronger participation, and a sense of shared ownership in the classroom. Examples include reviewing the syllabus together, letting students lead conversations, and adjusting assignments based on their input.

Best in Leadership in Higher Ed

S5 Ep98: Inside the Chancellor’s Office: Leadership, Family, and Legacy

What does leadership look like beyond the title? In this episode, a university chancellor shares the unexpected responsibilities that come with an executive role, from constant stakeholder engagement to navigating complex institutional dynamics. It explores how leaders balance visibility, decision-making, and relationship-building across campus and beyond, showing how day-to-day actions shape both campus culture and the student experience.