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Education Department shake‑up... McMahon faces lawsuits, calls to resign
The Trump administration’s reorganization of the U.S. Department of Education has provoked legal challenges and bipartisan backlash this week, with critics saying programs and expertise are being...
Court forces library grants reinstated — IMLS reverses Trump cancellations
A federal court ruling prompted the Institute of Museum and Library Services to restore grants that the Trump administration had canceled, marking a legal rebuke to efforts that sought to...
MacKenzie Scott gives $155 million to access‑focused colleges — debt relief and programs
Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced over $155 million in unrestricted gifts this week to public, access‑oriented colleges including California State University–East Bay, Lehman College and...
Yale braces for layoffs — $300M endowment tax forces cuts
Yale University warned staff this week that the new higher‑education endowment tax will force deep budget adjustments and could lead to layoffs as the institution prepares to shoulder roughly $300...
George Mason faculty push back — reject Trump‑era deal threats
George Mason University’s faculty senate passed a resolution urging university leaders to refuse any settlement with the Trump administration that would compromise institutional autonomy or impose...
Education programs face loan‑cap squeeze — ‘professional degree’ definition in play
A negotiating committee convened by the Education Department has proposed excluding education degrees from the administration’s working definition of “professional degrees,” a move that could...
Purdue historian declines MLA award — protest over association’s Gaza policies
Purdue University history professor Tithi Bhattacharya formally declined the Modern Language Association’s Scaglione Prize in protest of the MLA’s handling of Gaza‑related resolutions and its...
Fitch flags 2026 trouble — higher ed outlook turns 'deteriorating'
Fitch Ratings on Thursday issued a “deteriorating” outlook for US higher education in 2026, warning of a shrinking prospective student base, rising expense pressures and uncertain state and...
Workforce Pell rules: Education Department lays out draft — short programs face tight metrics
The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulatory language this week defining how short-term programs could qualify for the new Workforce Pell Grants created in the summer spending...
Education Dept. reshuffle sparks lawsuits — library grants reinstated after court rebuke
The Trump administration’s move to shrink the Department of Education and reassign programs across agencies has generated lawsuits, resignations and political backlash from senators and state...
Universities cut deals with Trump admin — faculty warn about autonomy tradeoffs
Several elite universities negotiated settlements this year to restore frozen federal research funds, striking policy commitments in exchange for access to grants. Those “compacts” -- reached by...
Yale braces for layoffs — endowment tax and budget shock hit campus finances
Yale University told faculty and staff it expects workforce reductions and belt‑tightening after Republicans’ new tax law imposed a higher endowment income tax on the wealthiest institutions. Yale...
Poll shock: Majority of Americans question college’s value — implications for enrollment and policy
A national poll found that nearly two‑thirds of registered voters say a four‑year college degree no longer justifies its cost, echoing a rising public skepticism about higher education’s value...
Supreme Court to hear birthright citizenship challenge — K‑12 and campus administrators brace
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 consequences for schools and educational...
Faculty dissent and academic freedom: prize declined, grading row raises governance alarms
A Purdue University history professor declined a major Modern Language Association prize in protest of the MLA’s handling of Gaza‑related resolutions, citing institutional silence and suppression...
NIH accessibility rule stirs researchers — funding cuts ripple through industry
An NIH open‑access policy intended to make taxpayer‑funded research immediately available to the public has created new compliance costs and financial pressure for scientists and university labs,...
Chronicle tracks Trump’s higher‑ed agenda — continued federal pressure and legal fights
The Chronicle of Higher Education is maintaining an ongoing tracker of executive orders, agency actions and legal challenges tied to the Trump administration’s higher‑education agenda. That agenda...
Education Dept unveils Workforce Pell rules — governors to define eligible short-term programs
The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulatory language this week to implement the new Workforce Pell program and opened a negotiated-rulemaking session with students, employers and...
Ratings firms warn: higher‑education credit outlook weakens for 2026
Fitch Ratings on Thursday issued a “deteriorating” outlook for U.S. higher education in 2026, joining Moody’s and S&P in signaling sector stress. Fitch cited a shrinking pool of prospective...
Yale braces for cuts — endowment tax forces universities to reassess budgets
Yale University told staff this week it expects to pay roughly $300 million annually under a new higher endowment income tax and is preparing hiring freezes, spending reductions and possible...