Last spring, George Mason University, a public research institution in Virginia, experienced a controversy around gift agreements that accompanied prior philanthropic donations. In addition to a lawsuit filed by a student group against the George Mason University Foundation, President Angel Cabrera released a number of gift agreements that contained clauses giving donors potential input on faculty hiring and evaluation of faculty activity.

Not Just a No-Show: Understanding Faculty Absence at Graduation
Each spring, university campuses are spruced up: Lawns are mowed and stages assembled, and rows of chairs fill the arena. Graduation is a time-honored tradition, celebrating students’ hard work and


