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Greenwich and Kent merge: UK’s first 'super‑university' approved as sector seeks resilience
The universities of Greenwich and Kent have formalized merger terms to create the UK’s first so‑called 'super‑university', a single legal entity due to operate from Aug. 1 while both institutions...
Presidential shuffle: Caltech, Columbia, Michigan and others name new leaders
A broad set of leadership changes was announced across U.S. campuses, with appointments ranging from Ray Jayawardhana as president of Caltech to Jennifer Mnookin named president of Columbia...
MSU wins $50M pledge: new engineering and AI hub aims to expand capacity and industry ties
Michigan State University announced a $50 million commitment from the Leinweber Foundation to fund the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, the largest gift ever earmarked for...
Sussex fights regulator: High Court challenge tests OfS power and free‑speech enforcement
The University of Sussex has launched a High Court challenge to a record £585,000 fine imposed by England’s regulator, the Office for Students, arguing the regulator acted beyond its powers and...
Workforce Pell and community colleges: four‑year colleges chase short‑term credentials as two‑year sector booms
Four‑year institutions unexpectedly captured nearly half of FIPSE grants for short‑term programs eligible for Workforce Pell, signaling universities’ rapid pivot to stackable credentials and...
Trump signs $79 billion education package – department funded through Sept. 30
President Donald Trump signed a consolidated appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Department of Education at roughly $79 billion for fiscal 2026. The measure passed the House 217–214 after...
GAO: Education Department paid civil‑rights staff during layoff fight – cost estimated up to $38M
A Government Accountability Office review found the U.S. Department of Education spent as much as $28 million to $38 million paying Office for Civil Rights staff who were put on administrative...
University of Sussex launches High Court challenge – £585k OfS free‑speech fine contested
The University of Sussex has begun a High Court judicial review of a record £585,000 fine imposed by England’s Office for Students for alleged failures to protect freedom of speech. Sussex argues...
Trump‑Harvard talks erupt over finance demand – president doubles down on $1 billion ask
Negotiations between the White House and Harvard University over alleged campus misconduct have frayed after President Trump abruptly raised his settlement demand to $1 billion and insisted any...
Supreme Court decision reshapes enrollments – elite colleges lose students of color
New federal enrollment data analyzed by Class Action shows a stark redistribution of underrepresented minority freshmen after the Supreme Court barred race‑conscious admissions. Among the 50 most...
FAFSA simplification yields 1.7M more Pell‑eligible students – NCAN analysis
A National College Attainment Network analysis of federal aid data found that FAFSA simplification led to 1.7 million additional students qualifying for the maximum Pell Grant in the 2025–26 award...
Audit questions Duke’s cuts as faculty unions push back – job‑cut wave continues
An independent audit commissioned by Duke faculty found the university in strong fiscal condition — ample cash flows, rising net assets, and large unrestricted reserves — and criticized recent...
Moltbook security alarm: researchers and AI leaders warn of agent‑internet risks
Security researchers and industry officials sounded simultaneous alarms over Moltbook, a viral social network for AI agents, after analysts found exposed databases, malware, and prompt‑injection...
Community colleges surge and degree apprenticeships gain traction – workforce focus deepens
Community colleges are enjoying renewed momentum in 2026 as enrollment in short‑term credentials and workforce programs rises and public confidence in two‑year colleges grows. Analysts point to...
Admissions work shifts from yield to onboarding — students press for AI skills in curricula
Colleges are redefining admissions offices’ role to include post‑acceptance coaching that helps admitted students complete complex enrollment steps—financial aid, registration, housing—to improve...
Sussex takes OfS to High Court: £585k free‑speech fine in crosshairs
The University of Sussex has launched a High Court challenge to overturn a record £585,000 fine imposed by England’s higher‑education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS). Sussex argues the...
Cascade: Selective colleges lose students of color – federal data shows
New federal data and a Class Action analysis show wide redistribution of underrepresented students in the first admissions cycle after the Supreme Court barred race‑conscious admissions. Among the...
GAO: Education Dept spent ~$38M on idle OCR staff as complaints were dismissed
A Government Accountability Office report found the U.S. Department of Education paid up to $38 million to Office for Civil Rights (OCR) employees placed on administrative leave during 2025 while...
Education Dept withdraws DEI appeal: Dear Colleague guidance no longer enforceable
On Jan. 21, 2026 the U.S. Department of Education withdrew its appeal of a federal court ruling that had blocked a 2025 'Dear Colleague' letter clarifying enforcement of civil‑rights law for...
Audit and cuts collide: Faculty challenge Duke’s budget narrative
A faculty‑commissioned audit of Duke University’s financial statements concluded the private research university is in 'very strong financial condition,' citing robust cash flow, rising net assets...