Get the Daily Brief
Latest Higher Education News
Connecticut research funding gap narrows after Trump-era federal cuts
Connecticut moved to stabilize research after federal funding cuts to the University of Connecticut and UConn Health. Gov. Ned Lamont announced $35 million in state funding to backfill some of the...
Workforce Pell gets final federal rules, tightening outcomes-based approval
The U.S. Department of Education released final regulations for Workforce Pell, establishing the approval mechanics for short-term programs seeking Pell eligibility based on job placement and...
States challenge federal loan limits for nursing and healthcare graduate programs
A coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court to challenge a Trump administration rule that limits access to federal student loans for borrowers pursuing certain...
Faculty unions’ Columbia grant-freeze fight ends in appeals court dismissal
A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit brought by the AAUP and AFT challenging the Trump administration’s suspension of roughly $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia...
Connecticut board leadership shakeup after interim chancellor resignation
The chair of Connecticut’s State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents, Marty Guay, resigned effective immediately, following weeks of leadership disruption in the public higher education...
Calif. community colleges curb ghost and bot-driven financial aid fraud with tougher ID verification
California community colleges reported progress in reducing financial aid fraud tied to ghost students and bot-driven claims. Between January and March 2025, ghost students allegedly took about...
AAUP and law school accreditation: push to remove ABA diversity standard advances
The American Bar Association’s accrediting body moved closer to eliminating a longstanding law school diversity requirement after voting to strike ABA Standard 206, which required a “commitment to...
AI at graduation: students boo commencement speakers as anxiety around AI intensifies
Students interrupted commencement speakers to boo AI-focused messages at multiple campuses, reflecting rising anxiety about AI’s impact on jobs and education. At the University of Arizona’s...
Presidential leadership at flagship public universities
The University of Florida’s presidential search committee unanimously recommended Stuart Bell, the former University of Alabama president, as the sole finalist to lead Florida’s flagship...
Public research footprint expands through acquisition of a downsized campus
The University of Michigan is poised to buy a roughly 140-acre campus from Concordia University Ann Arbor for $60 million, setting up a Thursday board vote on the acquisition. CUAA, which opted...
Higher ed fraud and student aid compliance in California
California community colleges reported a sharp reduction in financial aid theft from ghost students after escalating verification efforts. CalMatters data shows ghost students stole nearly $5.6...
Federal loan rules for nursing face multi-state legal fight
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia sued the U.S. Department of Education over changes that limit federal loans for nursing degrees, arguing the federal decision will worsen workforce...
Workforce-focused Pell implementation moves forward
The U.S. Department of Education finalized rules for Workforce Pell, detailing how short programs—minimum as brief as eight weeks—can qualify for the new grant stream. The final regulations...
State-led support replaces cut federal research funding at UConn
After the Trump administration cut $95 million in research funding to the University of Connecticut and UConn Health, Connecticut is stepping in with new state support. Gov. Ned Lamont announced...
College admissions access rebounds after earlier FAFSA changes
FAFSA completion hit an all-time high for the class of 2026, fueled by earlier form release and multiple process and policy improvements. The National College Attainment Network’s FAFSA Tracker...
Cybersecurity disruption exposes online learning vendor dependence
A Canvas cyberattack disrupted online instruction for thousands of schools and educational institutions during a peak exam period, forcing universities to pause coursework and adjust...
Cybersecurity and privacy risk in AI-heavy education ecosystems
Universities and K-12 platforms are facing renewed scrutiny over how AI-enabled systems and online interactions handle child data and risk. A coalition of child advocacy organizations—including...
Federal court reshapes the scope of employee lawsuits under Title IX
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether college employees at federally funded institutions can personally sue under Title IX if they believe they were subjected to sex discrimination. The...
University leadership shakeups
Northwestern University’s Board of Trustees named Purdue president Mung Chiang as the school’s 18th president, with his term beginning July 1. The appointment follows the resignation of former...
DEI and campus compliance pressure
University governance and policy battles over DEI intensified as a new leadership contest opened at the University of Florida. The flagship’s search for a president candidate has drawn attention...