Get the Daily Brief
Latest Higher Education News
Texas screwworm resurgence threatens livestock and tests federal-state response
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported newly detected New World screwworm cases in Texas and neighboring New Mexico, restarting a containment effort that relies on sterile male fly releases...
Federal court move targets Trump’s anti-DEI contract order
A coalition of plaintiffs asked a Maryland judge to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring federal contractors to include anti-DEI contract clauses or risk cancellation. The...
Faculty layoffs at The New School trigger AAUP escalation
The New School’s AAUP chapter condemned recently announced layoffs as a “major gutting” of full-time faculty and challenged the necessity of the reductions. The private institution said it will...
Texas academic freedom and shared-governance scrutiny expands under SB 37
The American Association of University Professors said an AAUP committee is investigating alleged academic freedom and shared-governance violations across Texas colleges following restrictions on...
DOJ scrutiny of CUNY’s Black Male Initiative raises compliance stakes for race-targeted supports
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a City University of New York program—its Black Male Initiative—for alleged racial discrimination. DOJ officials said the initiative provides...
Student-athlete eligibility dispute spotlights legal battles over campus sports gambling
A Texas state judge ordered Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to be eligible to play next season after challenging an NCAA ban tied to sports betting, including wagers on his own team. The...
Higher education governance and law: Texas institutions face public-law constraints
Beyond federal DEI contract litigation, the legal environment for higher education governance is tightening through state and court challenges. AAUP’s Texas investigation highlights how SB 37’s...
H-1B visa fee struck down—major implications for faculty and research hiring
A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, ruling the executive branch exceeded its authority by imposing a tax-like payment without...
Enrollment pressure surfaces at University of Oregon as out-of-state strategy cracks
The University of Oregon is facing a budget and enrollment reality shift as its long-running strategy of recruiting out-of-state students falters. The institution expects the number of domestic...
Student learning foundations remain weak as early literacy gaps persist
New education findings from the Anne E. Casey Foundation show worsening child educational attainment indicators from 2019 to 2024, with foundational literacy and math performance remaining...
AI and agent safety in higher education
Amazon Web Services is warning that real-world AI agents can “stray off task” and leave organizations effectively “flying blind” unless they add guardrails between models and the tools agents use....
Student literacy support and the next teaching reforms
A national review of teacher-preparation programs shows momentum toward evidence-based “science of reading” training, with the share of programs earning an A rising to 53% since 2023. The National...
Federal visa policy hits university hiring and research recruitment
A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, ruling the executive branch exceeded its authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act....
Adult learner recruitment and completion pressure
New survey-based reporting indicates tens of millions of American adults say they intend to pursue education or training in the next two years, but intention does not equal enrollment. The data...
Small-college enrollment stress and the “flat is the new growth” bind
Reporting on enrollment-strapped small colleges highlights the strategic challenge of staying viable as students concentrate in flagship public institutions. The analysis describes a pressure...
Public flagship enrollment dependence cracks
The University of Oregon is confronting a decline in out-of-state enrollment that is forcing cost reduction planning ahead of the fall 2026 admissions cycle. The institution’s decades-long...
AI in education and classroom governance controversies
A majority of city council members are urging pause or restraint on artificial intelligence use in schools, as the Department of Education updates guidance for how teachers should use AI in...
Education cyber readiness—students as the weakest link
A new analysis argues that higher education institutions often feel confident about staff cybersecurity training, but students remain the weakest link—creating risk for campuses that rely on user...
Board and presidential autonomy pressures
A governance-focused account examines how dysfunction on governing boards is changing presidential behavior, citing Michigan State University’s presidency as an example. The reporting describes...
Student well-being and faculty burden on counseling capacity
A new argument in higher education points to a growing mismatch between rising student mental health needs and the faculty workloads absorbing support responsibilities. The piece cites a survey...