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Latest Higher Education News

Bill Ackman backs Francesca Gino: hedge‑fund donor funds tenure fight

January 03, 2026

Billionaire investor William Ackman publicly declared support and financial backing for former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino as she challenges Harvard’s decision to strip her of...

Satire post ruled 'disruption' — campus free‑speech clash

January 03, 2026

A university concluded that a professor's online post about Zionists—described by the author as satire—constituted "disruption," prompting debate about faculty free-speech protections. The case...

NIH agrees to revisit grants it shelved — court filing forces policy U‑turn

January 03, 2026

In court filings late in the year, the National Institutes of Health agreed to re-examine hundreds of grant applications it previously shelved or denied, reversing a pattern of rejection tied to...

Colleges shrink and merge — 15 closures, 12 consolidations reshape sector

January 03, 2026

The sector continued to contract in 2025 as at least 15 campuses closed and a dozen institutions merged or were acquired, driven by enrollment declines and fragile tuition‑dependent finances....

Interim dean won't stay — Darden appoints caretaker, opens global search

January 03, 2026

The University of Virginia named Michael Lenox interim dean of the Darden School of Business and publicly noted he does not want the permanent role, triggering a full search for a 10th dean....

Financial aid reboot: loans reined in, new grants for short‑term training set for July

January 03, 2026

Federal financial-aid rules will change in 2026 under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' with new limits on loan access, restructured repayment rules and fresh grant funds for short‑term workforce...

Students unplug...and go hungry — food insecurity and activism shape campus services

January 03, 2026

Student well‑being dominated campus life as two developments highlighted shifting needs: a student‑led "tech fast" at St. John’s College aimed at reducing smartphone dependence and a surge in...

Higher ed 2026... short‑term credentials move to front and center

January 03, 2026

Higher‑education leaders predict 2026 will intensify investments in short‑term credentials, certificates and employer‑aligned pathways as states and institutions seek faster workforce alignment....

Northwestern deal restores funding: international students targeted for 'open debate' training

January 03, 2026

Northwestern University struck a settlement with the U.S. Education and Justice departments to restore nearly $800 million in previously frozen federal research funding, but administrators agreed...

University labels satirical post 'disruption' — free‑speech fight escalates on campus

January 03, 2026

A university concluded that a professor’s online post, which she said was satire, amounted to 'disruption,' prompting calls from conservative activists for punishment and a chorus of legal experts...

Ackman backs Francesca Gino — Harvard tenure dispute turns public and financial

January 03, 2026

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman publicly declared support for former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino and revealed he has been financing her litigation against Harvard after the...

Darden names interim dean who won't pursue the permanent role

January 03, 2026

The University of Virginia appointed longtime strategy professor Michael Lenox as interim dean of the Darden School of Business; Lenox made clear he does not want the permanent post. The move...

College closings and mergers accelerate: 2025 saw dozens of campus shifts

January 03, 2026

Higher education leaders oversaw at least 15 campus closures and a dozen mergers or acquisitions in 2025 as smaller tuition‑dependent institutions confronted enrollment declines and financial...

NIH agrees to revisit hundreds of grants it shelved — court filings force review

January 03, 2026

In court filings, the National Institutes of Health agreed to reassess hundreds of grant applications it had previously shelved or denied, reversing a pattern of rejections tied to politicized...

Virginia scraps in‑state tuition for undocumented students — state sues to block Dream Act

January 03, 2026

Lame‑duck Republican officials in Virginia moved to eliminate in‑state tuition rates for undocumented students and asked a federal judge to block the state’s Dream Act, a reversal that incoming...

Student‑aid overhaul ahead: loans, repayment and short‑term grants reset in 2026

January 03, 2026

Federal financial‑aid rules set under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' will curtail access to some student loans, reshape repayment options, and introduce targeted grant funding for short‑term...

Two‑in‑five students lack steady food access — campuses scale basic‑needs responses

January 03, 2026

Approximately 2 in 5 college students report food insecurity, and campus food pantries are seeing sharp increases in demand. At Penn State Harrisburg the food pantry reported daily traffic up from...

AI in higher ed... data quality and leadership now the constraint

January 03, 2026

Colleges and business‑school deans say AI adoption in teaching, research, and operations is accelerating, but leaders identify poor data governance and a shortage of human judgment as the primary...

Northwestern settlement: federal research blockade lifted — international students to receive 'open debate' training

January 02, 2026

Northwestern University struck a deal with the U.S. Education Department and Justice Department to restore nearly $800 million in previously frozen federal research funding. Under the agreement...

Ackman backs Francesca Gino — Harvard tenure fight escalates

January 02, 2026

Billionaire Harvard alum William A. Ackman publicly declared his support for former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, calling her innocence a cause and announcing he is funding her...