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Supreme Court to hear birthright citizenship challenge — campuses brace for fallout
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, a case with direct implications for schools and universities that...
Universities sign compacts — federal research funds return after policy concessions
Universities including Northwestern, Columbia, Brown, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania have struck formal agreements with the Trump administration to regain frozen federal research...
Education Department fragments — states sue as McMahon tours schools
The Education Department’s reorganizing and program shifts have provoked lawsuits and sharp criticism from state and congressional leaders, who say critical programs are being handed to agencies...
Credit agencies flag 2026 risk — sector outlook turns negative
Three major rating agencies have issued negative or deteriorating outlooks for U.S. higher education in 2026, citing a shrinking pool of prospective students, rising costs, and uncertainty over...
Workforce Pell draft: Education Department maps how short programs get Pell
The Education Department released draft regulatory language defining how short‑term workforce programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants, a major policy change that will allow Pell...
Yale braces for layoffs — endowment tax bites as private philanthropy surges
Yale University told faculty and staff it expects workforce reductions after Congress raised the top endowment tax rate, warning the new cost could total roughly $300 million annually beginning in...
Faculty and governance fights spread — prize declines and calls to depoliticize boards
Academic governance and professional associations are fracturing over politicized decisions and institutional responses to geopolitical conflict. Tithi Bhattacharya, a Purdue University historian,...
Public doubts about college value — enrollment drops tied to jobs not just tuition
A new national poll finds a majority of Americans saying a four‑year college degree no longer justifies its cost. The sentiment adds pressure to colleges already facing enrollment declines and a...
Research access fight and funding squeeze — NIH policy and fiscal pressures collide
Researchers and university administrators are warning of disruption after the NIH pushed for immediate open access to federally funded articles, a policy critics say is straining labs and...
Employers press schools for work‑ready skills and hands‑on learning
Business leaders and education executives are urging K‑12 and higher‑education institutions to increase work‑oriented learning—internships, CTE programs and apprenticeships—to close the gap...
Court and state actions threaten access — birthright citizenship case looms for schools
The U.S. Supreme Court accepted review of whether President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship complies with the 14th Amendment, a legal fight that education leaders say could...
Fitch: Higher education faces deteriorating 2026 outlook
Fitch Ratings on Thursday flagged a sharper financial strain for U.S. colleges in 2026, warning of a “deteriorating” credit environment for public higher education. The agency pointed to a...
Workforce Pell draft: Education Department maps eight‑week eligibility
The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulatory language this week laying out how short‑term training programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants created in the summer...
Universities pay fines to end probes — Trump compacts spark autonomy fight
An expanding set of federal compacts negotiated by the Trump administration has seen major research universities accept large financial penalties and policy commitments in return for the release...
Education Department shake‑up... McMahon faces lawsuits, calls to resign
The Trump administration’s reorganization of the U.S. Department of Education has provoked legal challenges and bipartisan backlash this week, with critics saying programs and expertise are being...
Court forces library grants reinstated — IMLS reverses Trump cancellations
A federal court ruling prompted the Institute of Museum and Library Services to restore grants that the Trump administration had canceled, marking a legal rebuke to efforts that sought to...
MacKenzie Scott gives $155 million to access‑focused colleges — debt relief and programs
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced over $155 million in unrestricted gifts this week to public, access‑oriented colleges including California State University–East Bay, Lehman College and...
Yale braces for layoffs — $300M endowment tax forces cuts
Yale University warned staff this week that the new higher‑education endowment tax will force deep budget adjustments and could lead to layoffs as the institution prepares to shoulder roughly $300...
George Mason faculty push back — reject Trump‑era deal threats
George Mason University’s faculty senate passed a resolution urging university leaders to refuse any settlement with the Trump administration that would compromise institutional autonomy or impose...
Education programs face loan‑cap squeeze — ‘professional degree’ definition in play
A negotiating committee convened by the Education Department has proposed excluding education degrees from the administration’s working definition of “professional degrees,” a move that could...