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Philanthropy vs. fiscal strain: big gifts cushion squeezed campuses
Cornell University secured a $371.5 million pledge from alumnus David Duffield — the largest gift in the university’s history — creating legacy and launch funds aimed at engineering, research and...
Campus speech and legal defense: colleges urged to form coalitions
Legal experts and higher‑education leaders urged institutions to coordinate responses to government challenges and mounting speech controversies on campus. Panels convened this week recommended...
Campus safety and operations tested by threats and weather
Colleges nationwide faced an uptick in operational disruptions as multiple campuses reported swatting calls this week and districts braced for a major winter storm that could strain heating and...
Money and outreach: higher ed ramps lobbying while community colleges court local votes
Research universities and higher‑education associations increased lobbying expenditures in 2025 to shape federal policy on financial aid, AI, immigration and student visas, and to defend...
States escalate on classroom AI: 50+ bills in 21 states
Lawmakers across the U.S. moved in force to govern artificial intelligence in schools, filing more than 50 bills in 21 states during the 2025 legislative session. The Center for Democracy and...
Senate seeks answers on freshman math: national inquiry into college readiness
Sen. Bill Cassidy sent letters to 35 selective colleges and universities seeking math-placement data after a University of California, San Diego report found a steep increase in undergraduates...
Presidential turnover and workload: flagship presidents named as job intensifies
Public flagship campuses announced major leadership changes as universities seek executives able to navigate political pressure, enrollment shifts and fiscal strain. The University of Virginia...
UT-Austin shutters teaching center: faculty question strategy and layoffs
The University of Texas at Austin announced it will close its Center for Teaching and Learning along with three other offices, reallocating those resources to colleges and schools. Provost William...
Boards under pressure: conferences and new guidance push trustees to lead digital and fiscal change
The Association of Governing Boards (AGB) framed its March Board Professionals Conference around a blunt message: governing boards and their staff must lead decisively as institutions face...
Governing boards and ICE: trustees advised on immigration policy as districts cope with raids
Governing board advisors and campus leaders are urging trustees to adopt proactive immigration strategies after federal enforcement actions intensified in multiple cities. A recent AGB Trusteeship...
Education Dept. retreats on anti‑DEI push: court fight ends with appeal dropped
The U.S. Department of Education quietly stepped back from enforcing a sweeping Dear Colleague letter that sought to curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programs across K–12 and higher...
Visa curbs target campuses: Florida proposal and national fee raise hiring risk
Policy moves at state and federal levels are pressuring universities’ ability to hire foreign talent. Florida’s Board of Governors is considering a policy that would pause use of H‑1B hires at...
Money, lobbying and the cost of a turbulent presidency: higher ed counts the fiscal impact
Research universities and college systems ramped up federal lobbying in 2025 as campuses sought relief and clarity amid administration cuts, grant cancellations, and policy churn. Higher‑education...
Admissions, awareness and the pipeline: HBCU exposure and clogged funnels
New research from the United Negro College Fund found persistent gaps in high‑school exposure to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Most students reported little familiarity with HBCUs;...
Education Dept. backs off: anti‑DEI appeal dropped
The U.S. Department of Education has stepped back from enforcing a sweeping anti‑DEI directive after legal setbacks and sustained pressure from higher‑education groups. The agency signed a joint...
Senator Cassidy probes: 35 selective colleges asked for remedial‑math data
Sen. Bill Cassidy opened an inquiry into college readiness, sending letters to 35 selective institutions seeking six years of math‑placement data after a UC San Diego internal report flagged...
Flagships move: UVA, Michigan and others install new presidents
Several state flagships and regional universities announced presidential hires in a wave of leadership turnover this week. The University of Virginia selected Scott C. Beardsley, the Darden School...
Cornell lands $371.5m — engineering college renamed
Cornell University secured the largest gift in its history: a $371.5 million pledge from alumnus David Duffield, the PeopleSoft and Workday founder. The donation creates a $250 million Duffield...
Florida considers H‑1B freeze — public universities face a hiring pause
Florida’s university system is weighing a one‑year ban on new H‑1B hires across public campuses after Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed to curb what he called H‑1B “abuse.” The Board of Governors is set to...
UT‑Austin shutters teaching center — faculty demand answers
The University of Texas at Austin announced the closure of its Center for Teaching and Learning and several student and outreach offices, saying the moves will “optimize” resources; faculty called...