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Penn confirms breach: FBI probes alleged mass data leak
The University of Pennsylvania confirmed a social‑engineering attack compromised information systems tied to development and alumni operations and said it is working with the FBI and CrowdStrike...
Former Texas A&M president received $3.5M — records reveal payout
Public records show former Texas A&M president Mark Welsh received an exit package exceeding $3.5 million after stepping down in September amid an academic‑freedom controversy. Welsh—who had a...
Campus leaders in public office and new presidencies — a wave of transitions
Centenary University president Dale Caldwell won election as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor while a slate of colleges announced presidential appointments, signaling rapid leadership churn across...
International graduate enrollments dip — visa and policy headwinds
U.S. graduate programs are reporting declines in international master’s‑level enrollment amid tighter visa issuance and immigration challenges, according to campus reports and surveys. Some...
Accreditors pivot — HLC launches endorsement for short‑term credential providers
The Higher Learning Commission announced a new process to evaluate and endorse short‑term credential providers, marking a meaningful expansion of formal accreditation activity into non‑degree and...
Student success leaders: confidence amid gaps — data, AI and affordability loom
A new national survey of student‑success administrators finds leaders broadly confident that student success is prioritized on campus, but reveals persistent gaps in data use, AI literacy and...
EDUCAUSE and scholars: campuses adopt AI — leaders focus on change management
At EDUCAUSE 2025 higher‑education leaders and technology advisers urged institutions to accelerate AI adoption while strengthening change management and governance. Panels stressed that AI is...
Federal policy shifts bite — teacher‑prep grants cut and special‑ed reporting under review
The U.S. Department of Education abruptly discontinued remaining years of Hawkins Centers of Excellence grant funding at multiple institutions, jeopardizing tuition support for...
UNL program cuts draw faculty pushback — metrics and process questioned
An academic advisory group at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln opposed most of the chancellor’s proposed program eliminations, urging delay and more time for units to identify alternatives. The...
Penn mass hack... alumni, donor and student records exposed
An apparent mass data breach disrupted the University of Pennsylvania this week, prompting an ongoing FBI investigation and outside cyberforensics support. Penn acknowledged a social‑engineering...
California court keeps UC hiring ruling intact — system faces two policy battles
The California Supreme Court declined to review an appeals decision that found the University of California’s policy barring undocumented students from on‑campus employment is discriminatory,...
University leadership sweep: Georgetown, Utah State, LSU name presidents
A broad wave of presidential appointments and interim placements across U.S. colleges was announced this month. Notable moves include Eduardo M. Peñalver’s appointment as president of Georgetown...
USC on track to erase deficit — 900‑plus layoff notices issued
The University of Southern California said it is "on track" to eliminate a long‑term deficit by the end of the fiscal year after issuing more than 900 layoff notices since July. Interim president...
Nebraska productivity push... faculty alarm as programs face elimination
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s attempt to apply new productivity metrics to academic programs has prompted an outcry from faculty after leaders signaled six programs could be closed as part...
Education Department cuts Hawkins grants — HBCU teacher pipelines disrupted
The U.S. Department of Education abruptly informed multiple universities that it will discontinue remaining funding under the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence grants, a program that...
Partial SNAP funding — campuses scramble as food aid shortfalls bite
Federal court orders compelled the Trump administration to partially fund SNAP benefits for November, but the emergency reserves will cover roughly half of normal benefits and leave students and...
UT‑Austin declares academic freedom non‑negotiable — nationwide protests set
The University of Texas at Austin issued a firm statement affirming academic freedom as “non‑negotiable,” a response cultivated in part to the White House’s proposed higher‑education compact and...
AI joins the faculty — adoption surges at HBCUs, instructors weigh benefits and risks
Generative AI is increasingly embedded in teaching and campus operations. A Chronicle feature reports that more instructors are using AI tools in coursework and assessment, sparking debate over...
Students double‑down on majors as job anxiety rises — MBA classes shift too
Undergraduates are declaring additional majors at rising rates to bolster employability in a volatile labor market, Hechinger Report analysis shows. At institutions such as the University of...
China intimidation... Sheffield Hallam probe referred to counter‑terror police
An internal investigation into allegations that Sheffield Hallam University bowed to sustained pressure from Chinese actors has been escalated to counter‑terrorism police after documents showed...