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Federal student aid reclassification: states challenge DoED professional-degree definitions for nursing and healthcare
States sued the U.S. Department of Education over rules that define which graduate programs qualify as professional degrees, arguing the agency’s approach unlawfully limits federal borrowing. The...
Harvard moves to curb grade inflation by capping A grades
Harvard College faculty approved a plan to limit how many A grades instructors can award, addressing sustained grade inflation debate inside the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The policy takes...
AI governance and adoption: colleges build guardrails and seek coordinated oversight
As universities accelerate AI deployments, workers and campus leaders are pressing for governance frameworks that reduce misuse while preserving learning benefits. Several institutions are moving...
Student speech, campus climate, and ‘objectionable speech’ punishment preferences
A new study finds college students largely oppose punishment for “objectionable speech,” except when they believe it is highly harmful. The research, published in Science Advances and conducted by...
Enrollment and program strategy shifts: UF’s and others’ staffing changes mirror structural demand reallocations
Across campuses, leaders are reshaping academic portfolios and staffing to match demand signals and affordability constraints. Baldwin Wallace University announced the wind-down of multiple...
NSF leadership confirmation fight: AAAS urges Senate to hold an open hearing for nominee Jim O’Neill
The American Association for the Advancement of Science urged Senate leaders to hold an open confirmation hearing for the proposed National Science Foundation director Jim O’Neill. AAAS CEO Sudip...
Student support policy and guidance: Education Dept’s student loan office hires while agency is targeted for dismantling
Even as President Donald Trump’s plans to close or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education face scrutiny, NPR reports that the department’s student loan operations are hiring. The Office of...
AI at student transition points: practical guidance on student retention and data intelligence
Noodle’s chief product officer Alan Mlynek argues that student retention failures often stem less from staffing gaps and more from data intelligence problems—particularly when institutions rely on...
Grade inflation crackdown at Harvard College
Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted to curb grade inflation by limiting the number of A grades that can be awarded in undergraduate letter-graded courses, a change set to take effect in...
Federal student loan litigation over graduate “professional degree” definition
Over two dozen states and the District of Columbia sued the U.S. Department of Education over its decision to exclude graduate nursing and other fields from the regulatory definition of...
University enrollment and budget cuts spread as spring ends
Public universities across multiple states are closing out the spring term with hiring freezes, layoffs, and program reductions as leaders confront budget gaps tied to enrollment pressure, state...
Oregon considers ending free college program
Oregon is weighing a decision that could end its free-college program, according to a policy review that argues the state agency overseeing the promise initiative has not produced the outcomes it...
University of Florida presidential search moves forward with Stuart Bell finalist
The University of Florida advanced its presidential search by naming Stuart Bell as sole finalist to lead the state’s flagship campus, marking a turn away from the politically combustible choices...
AI governance and compliance focus: centers of excellence
As institutions expand AI use across teaching, research, and operations, higher education leaders are increasingly moving toward formal governance structures—particularly through AI centers of...
Accreditation overhaul under scrutiny in ‘neg reg’ process
Higher education actors are continuing to press a contested accreditation overhaul forward through the regulatory negotiation process, even as the initiative faces criticism that it is...
Academic workforce reductions and program wind-down at Baldwin Wallace University
Baldwin Wallace University is sunsetting multiple programs and minors as it refocuses around areas with stronger demand, and it is also eliminating faculty positions tied to the restructuring....
Student speech policy: study finds students oppose punishing ‘objectionable speech’ absent high harm
A new study published in Science Advances finds many college students generally oppose punishment for objectionable speech unless they view it as highly harmful, with support varying based on who...
Student affordability access: historic FAFSA completion rebound
FAFSA completion among high school seniors has reached an all-time high for the class of 2026, according to the National College Attainment Network’s FAFSA Tracker tool, with more than 2.2 million...
Federal student loan definitions for graduate healthcare programs challenged in court
A coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education over a new regulatory definition that would exclude graduate nursing and other healthcare...
Harvard caps A grades as colleges confront grade inflation
Harvard College faculty voted to cap the number of A grades instructors can award, escalating a long-running grade-inflation debate at elite institutions. The policy, approved by the Faculty of...