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Federal research funding oversight and peer review
Higher education and research organizations are escalating concerns over a Trump administration proposal that would tighten oversight of federal research grants by requiring political appointees...
Faculty governance and shared governance restrictions in Texas
The American Association of University Professors announced it is investigating alleged academic freedom and shared governance violations across Texas public colleges and universities, citing...
DEI-related federal contractor litigation escalates
A coalition of plaintiffs asked a Maryland judge to block President Trump’s executive order that targets diversity, equity and inclusion activities among federal contractors, arguing the order...
Faculty workforce cuts and teach-out planning at Hampshire College
Hampshire College’s board voted to keep a teach-out process on track through December after reaching an agreement in principle on a loan with a philanthropic partner, according to a community...
K-12 learning outcomes: NAEP reading and math gaps persist for teens
A new NAEP Long-Term Trend release shows tentative academic recovery for 9-year-olds while 13-year-olds’ reading and math scores remain flat, according to updated results from the 2025...
Student success and credentials: community colleges and work-based learning
A new Brookings Institution brief highlights best practices at community colleges that produce “credentials of value,” defined using student earnings benchmarks and associate-degree outcomes, and...
Faculty and student protection amid campus AI expansion and cybersecurity gaps
A report highlighted a persistent vulnerability in higher education cybersecurity: students are often treated as lower-risk actors when they may represent a major attack surface through credential...
Public university enrollment strategy breakdown: University of Oregon nonresident drift
The University of Oregon warned that a long-running enrollment strategy dependent on out-of-state students is cracking, with expected fall 2026 domestic nonresident first-year enrollment running...
Civil rights review: DOJ investigating CUNY Black Male Initiative
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a program at City University of New York that provides support for men from underrepresented backgrounds for alleged racial discrimination. Trump...
Teaching and AI accountability: Professional guardrails for agentic tools
Amazon Web Services researchers said deploying AI agents in production without adequate guardrails can leave teams “flying blind,” highlighting persistent risks that agents may outsmart themselves...
Texas screwworm resurgence threatens livestock and tests federal-state response
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported newly detected New World screwworm cases in Texas and neighboring New Mexico, restarting a containment effort that relies on sterile male fly releases...
Federal court move targets Trump’s anti-DEI contract order
A coalition of plaintiffs asked a Maryland judge to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring federal contractors to include anti-DEI contract clauses or risk cancellation. The...
Faculty layoffs at The New School trigger AAUP escalation
The New School’s AAUP chapter condemned recently announced layoffs as a “major gutting” of full-time faculty and challenged the necessity of the reductions. The private institution said it will...
Texas academic freedom and shared-governance scrutiny expands under SB 37
The American Association of University Professors said an AAUP committee is investigating alleged academic freedom and shared-governance violations across Texas colleges following restrictions on...
DOJ scrutiny of CUNY’s Black Male Initiative raises compliance stakes for race-targeted supports
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating a City University of New York program—its Black Male Initiative—for alleged racial discrimination. DOJ officials said the initiative provides...
Student-athlete eligibility dispute spotlights legal battles over campus sports gambling
A Texas state judge ordered Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby to be eligible to play next season after challenging an NCAA ban tied to sports betting, including wagers on his own team. The...
Higher education governance and law: Texas institutions face public-law constraints
Beyond federal DEI contract litigation, the legal environment for higher education governance is tightening through state and court challenges. AAUP’s Texas investigation highlights how SB 37’s...
H-1B visa fee struck down—major implications for faculty and research hiring
A federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, ruling the executive branch exceeded its authority by imposing a tax-like payment without...
Enrollment pressure surfaces at University of Oregon as out-of-state strategy cracks
The University of Oregon is facing a budget and enrollment reality shift as its long-running strategy of recruiting out-of-state students falters. The institution expects the number of domestic...
Student learning foundations remain weak as early literacy gaps persist
New education findings from the Anne E. Casey Foundation show worsening child educational attainment indicators from 2019 to 2024, with foundational literacy and math performance remaining...