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UVA signs DOJ agreement: Campus to restrict DEI in exchange for pause on probes
The University of Virginia signed a four-page agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to pause five investigations in return for adopting the administration’s July guidance limiting...
Trump’s tuition compact... public resistance grows
The Trump administration urged colleges to sign a voluntary compact to freeze tuition for at least five years, offering preferential access to federal funding for institutions that comply. No...
Affirmative-action ban... Black enrollment dips at elite colleges
An Associated Press analysis of enrollment data from 20 selective colleges found Black freshman representation has fallen at nearly all campuses in the two years after the Supreme Court banned...
Cal State courts tech giants — campuses race to build AI-enabled infrastructures
California State University invited Amazon, OpenAI and other technology firms to partner on an ambitious plan to become the nation’s largest "AI‑empowered" university, signaling wide institutional...
AI in the classroom: Teachers warn — campuses must govern and guide
A College Board report found wide educator concern that generative AI could erode students’ critical thinking and deepen dependence on tools; 89% of principals surveyed worry AI will make students...
Tulane bars a high school — admissions commitment enforced
Tulane University imposed a one‑year ban on Colorado Academy’s ability to submit early‑decision applicants after a student who had committed under an early‑decision offer withdrew. The university...
Fraternity chapter closed after hazing injury at Rutgers
Alpha Sigma Phi’s national organization permanently shut down its Rutgers chapter after investigators concluded hazing occurred in an episode that left a student critically injured. The closure...
Kentucky adopts the digital SAT — College Board rolls out prep and support
Kentucky replaced its statewide accountability assessment with the digital SAT, meaning higher‑education institutions will now receive SAT results from the entire state. The College Board...
Direct‑admit programs expand — students accepted before applying
Colleges increasingly use direct admissions programs that notify students of acceptance before they submit a traditional application. The approach seeks to boost access, simplify decision‑making...
UVA strikes deal with DOJ — campus fissures emerge
The University of Virginia signed a four-page agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that pauses five federal investigations in exchange for changes to admissions and hiring practices....
Ivy budget shock — Columbia’s surplus plunges as executive pay rises
Columbia University reported a year‑over‑year collapse in operating surplus, with the university’s operating income falling more than 63% in fiscal 2025 as expenses outpaced modest revenue gains....
Michigan State trims headcount — 99 positions cut amid grant losses
Michigan State University announced layoffs of 99 faculty, staff and executives this month as part of cost‑saving measures tied to rising operating expenses and disruptions to federal research...
Elite colleges see Black enrollment tumble after admissions ban
New data and an Associated Press analysis show Black student enrollment at many selective colleges has fallen in the two years since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in admissions....
Trump’s higher‑ed compact pressures campuses — mixed institutional responses
The Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence, which includes a high‑profile pitch to freeze tuition for at least five years, has prompted an array of responses from colleges and...
Colleges race to govern AI — teachers flag learning risks
Universities and K‑12 leaders are moving from ad hoc AI adoption to institution‑level governance, with new models aiming to make AI a learning partner rather than a shortcut. Higher‑ed experts...
Politics and curriculum collide — Alamo fallout and state higher‑ed fights
Political interventions over history, curriculum and speech are reshaping institutions beyond academia: the CEO of the nonprofit managing the Alamo resigned after state leaders publicly criticized...
Direct‑admit surge — colleges admit students who never applied
A growing number of institutions are experimenting with direct‑admit programs that offer admission to students before they formally apply. Colleges say the practice helps lock in prospective...
Certificates cost students — nondegree credentials boom on out‑of‑pocket dollars
Nondegree credentialing has expanded rapidly, but a new report finds most students pay for certificates and microcredentials out of pocket. The surge reflects employer demand for skill‑specific...
Campus tech squeeze — AI infrastructure and data analytics reshape priorities
Budget‑strained colleges are adopting AI‑powered infrastructure and new data architectures to scale student services and institutional analytics. EDUCAUSE and vendor research show campuses are...
U.Va. accepts Justice Dept. terms — funding restored
The University of Virginia reached an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to address alleged discrimination in admissions and hiring, pausing federal investigations and unlocking access to...