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Ed. Dept. splinters — programs shift to four agencies
The U.S. Department of Education announced interagency agreements transferring the administration of dozens of student-support, workforce and international programs to the Departments of Labor,...
State chiefs warn: transfers will complicate schooling
State education chiefs signaled alarm after the department’s interagency agreements, warning that moving core federal programs to multiple agencies will complicate state–federal coordination and...
DOJ sues California — in‑state tuition for undocumented students challenged
The Justice Department filed suit against California seeking to block state laws that allow certain undocumented residents to pay in‑state tuition and receive state scholarships, arguing the...
Moody’s warns: higher‑ed finances under stress
Moody’s Ratings issued a negative outlook for higher education in fiscal 2026, citing enrollment declines, rising expenses and political headwinds from federal policy shifts. The agency...
NSF and NIH spending steadies — but new grants fall
Science magazine’s analysis found that overall commitments by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health remained roughly level in fiscal 2025, even as both agencies...
Faculty governance fights mount—panels rebuke firings, layoffs
Arbiters and faculty bodies pushed back this month against administrative personnel moves at two public universities, underscoring rising trusteeship and shared‑governance battles. A faculty panel...
Federal subpoena at Penn sparks campus backlash
The Justice Department sought employee records and names from the University of Pennsylvania as part of an investigation into alleged antisemitism, prompting sharp backlash on campus and among...
Sonoma State names turnaround leader amid cuts
The California State University board named Michael Spagna Sonoma State University’s new president, tasking him with stabilizing the campus after a year of steep enrollment declines and a budget...
NCAA rescinds pro‑sports betting change after scandals
Division I members voted to rescind a proposed rule that would have allowed athletes and athletic‑department staff to bet on professional sports, extending a ban across Divisions I, II and III....
AI, VR pilots expand — campuses brace for Title II accessibility rules
Colleges are accelerating immersive learning pilots powered by AI and virtual reality while also preparing for the Department of Justice’s new Title II digital accessibility requirements that take...
Education Department Fracture: Programs Shifted to 4 Agencies
The U.S. Department of Education announced sweeping interagency agreements this week that move the administration of dozens of grant and student-support programs to the Departments of Labor,...
Federal Suits Target State Education Policies — California, Tennessee in Court
Federal and state litigation intensified this week as the Justice Department sued California over in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students while parents and taxpayers in Tennessee filed...
Funding Squeeze: Moody’s Flags Negative Outlook as States Cut Aid
Moody’s issued a negative outlook for higher education in 2026, citing enrollment pressures, rising costs and political headwinds tied to federal policy changes. The ratings firm highlighted...
Presidential Turnover: Sonoma State Picks System Veteran — UVa Search Stays Contentious
The California State University board named Michael Spagna as Sonoma State’s permanent president, tasking him with stabilizing finances after deep enrollment declines and a year of program and...
Faculty Autonomy on Trial: Firings, Reinstatements, and Shared‑Governance Rulings
Universities faced fresh faculty-governance tests: a faculty panel unanimously ruled Texas A&M wrong to fire a professor over a gender-identity lesson, and an arbitrator ordered Portland State to...
Campus Crises and Reputation: Subpoenas, Historical Ties and Institutional Risk
Universities are grappling with reputational and legal fallout as federal and press scrutiny converge on campus controversies. A federal suit seeking names of some Jewish employees at the...
AI and Immersive Tech... Campuses Rework Skills and Pedagogy
Universities are moving from pilot to program-scale use of immersive learning: UNC Greensboro deployed an AI- and VR-powered immersive environment in its business school after a $1 million grant,...
Accreditation, Accessibility and Quality Assurance: New Compliance Pressures
Institutions face converging compliance demands: Title II ADA digital-accessibility rules take effect in April 2026, requiring public colleges to meet WCAG 2.1 standards for digital content; at...
Community College Pathways: Noncredit Training and Workforce Links
New evidence shows short-term, noncredit community college training delivers measurable earnings gains: a study in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis found average annual income rises of...
Faculty Speech and Discipline... Reinstatements, Leaves and Free‑Speech Tests
Universities continue to navigate high‑stakes cases on faculty speech and employment: Harvard economics figure Larry Summers went on leave as the university reopens reviews after disclosures about...