What does 而 mean in 因森发·加计学院问题而曝光率增高的?
而 is not used as and here, but as a result;with the result that;thus.

因A而B is a common usage; 因 is used to emphasize that A is the cause, 而 is used to represent that B is the result.

You can also use 因为 or 由于 instead of 因 in this usage.