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Education Department breakup ignites legal fight: McMahon under pressure
The Trump administration’s moves to redistribute Education Department programs across other federal agencies sparked immediate legal challenges and political backlash. Twenty states and the...
Court order restores library grants: funds reinstated after Trump cuts
A federal court ruling forced the Institute of Museum and Library Services to reinstate grant funding that the administration had canceled, reversing moves intended to dismantle the agency. The...
MacKenzie Scott doubles down on access: $155M to public, minority‑serving colleges
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced gifts totaling roughly $155 million this week to public, access‑oriented institutions, including $50 million to CSU‑East Bay, $50 million to Lehman College...
Higher‑ed finances demand precision: new playbook urged for instability
Financial leaders in higher education are being urged to adopt a ‘precision mindset’ as institutions confront federal funding cuts, an enrollment cliff and rising labor and operational costs. The...
AGB to Virginia governor‑elect: depoliticize college boards now
The Association of Governing Boards sent a letter urging Virginia governor‑elect Jennifer McClellan (Spanberger referenced in the letter) to reverse recent politicization of public college and...
Alabama still bars some undocumented students from college — access under threat
Alabama remains one of only three states that block certain undocumented students from accessing state colleges and in‑state tuition paths, a policy that local advocates say curtails educational...
Supreme Court to hear birthright citizenship challenge — campuses brace for fallout
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, a case with direct implications for schools and universities that...
Universities sign compacts — federal research funds return after policy concessions
Universities including Northwestern, Columbia, Brown, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania have struck formal agreements with the Trump administration to regain frozen federal research...
Education Department fragments — states sue as McMahon tours schools
The Education Department’s reorganizing and program shifts have provoked lawsuits and sharp criticism from state and congressional leaders, who say critical programs are being handed to agencies...
Credit agencies flag 2026 risk — sector outlook turns negative
Three major rating agencies have issued negative or deteriorating outlooks for U.S. higher education in 2026, citing a shrinking pool of prospective students, rising costs, and uncertainty over...
Workforce Pell draft: Education Department maps how short programs get Pell
The Education Department released draft regulatory language defining how short‑term workforce programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants, a major policy change that will allow Pell...
Yale braces for layoffs — endowment tax bites as private philanthropy surges
Yale University told faculty and staff it expects workforce reductions after Congress raised the top endowment tax rate, warning the new cost could total roughly $300 million annually beginning in...
Faculty and governance fights spread — prize declines and calls to depoliticize boards
Academic governance and professional associations are fracturing over politicized decisions and institutional responses to geopolitical conflict. Tithi Bhattacharya, a Purdue University historian,...
Public doubts about college value — enrollment drops tied to jobs not just tuition
A new national poll finds a majority of Americans saying a four‑year college degree no longer justifies its cost. The sentiment adds pressure to colleges already facing enrollment declines and a...
Research access fight and funding squeeze — NIH policy and fiscal pressures collide
Researchers and university administrators are warning of disruption after the NIH pushed for immediate open access to federally funded articles, a policy critics say is straining labs and...
Employers press schools for work‑ready skills and hands‑on learning
Business leaders and education executives are urging K‑12 and higher‑education institutions to increase work‑oriented learning—internships, CTE programs and apprenticeships—to close the gap...
Court and state actions threaten access — birthright citizenship case looms for schools
The U.S. Supreme Court accepted review of whether President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship complies with the 14th Amendment, a legal fight that education leaders say could...
Fitch: Higher education faces deteriorating 2026 outlook
Fitch Ratings on Thursday flagged a sharper financial strain for U.S. colleges in 2026, warning of a “deteriorating” credit environment for public higher education. The agency pointed to a...
Workforce Pell draft: Education Department maps eight‑week eligibility
The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulatory language this week laying out how short‑term training programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants created in the summer...
Universities pay fines to end probes — Trump compacts spark autonomy fight
An expanding set of federal compacts negotiated by the Trump administration has seen major research universities accept large financial penalties and policy commitments in return for the release...