Shifting federal policies are putting financial stress on colleges nationwide. Harvard University faces a civil rights investigation threatening its federal aid, with the U.S. Education Department placing it on heightened cash monitoring status. Brown University announced layoffs and position cuts in response to anticipated decreases in federal research funding. Hispanic-serving institutions in Texas are expected to lose about $60 million in grants after the Education Department cut several programs for minority-serving colleges. Additionally, the cancellation of nearly $170 million in K-12 GEAR Up funding impacts college preparatory efforts funded through federal programs.