Get the Daily Brief

All action, no filler. hied.news delivers the industry’s 10 must-know updates, every morning.

Latest Higher Education News

Columbia student release after high‑profile intervention — campus rights under scrutiny

February 28, 2026

Federal agents detained a Columbia University student early Thursday; hours later she was released after President Trump intervened following a meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The...

UNC board approves contested academic‑freedom definition — faculty push back

February 28, 2026

The University of North Carolina system’s board of governors unanimously approved a new systemwide definition of academic freedom after contentious debate and faculty protests. The policy affirms...

University of Iowa to cut seven degree programs after low‑enrollment review

February 28, 2026

The University of Iowa announced plans to eliminate six undergraduate majors and one master’s program after a state‑mandated enrollment review identified persistently low major counts. Provost...

Long Beach Community College District settles with adjuncts — labor friction eases

February 28, 2026

Long Beach Community College District reached a settlement with adjunct faculty amid a labor dispute over pay, scheduling and working conditions. The announcement ends a contentious period of...

Trump official presses college leaders; ACE meeting urges defense of higher‑ed mission

February 28, 2026

At the American Council on Education’s annual meeting, Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent told campus leaders the agency plans tougher oversight, saying higher education has “lost...

Teachers stall on AI adoption — PD gaps and siloed tech hinder campus use

February 28, 2026

Three years into widespread availability of generative AI, many K‑12 and higher‑education instructors remain hesitant to adopt it, citing inadequate professional development, unclear policies, and...

Higher ed must change: Trump official warns campuses — sector leaders bristle

February 28, 2026

Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent used a high-profile forum to press colleges and universities to accept sweeping federal demands for accountability and structural reform. Kent told...

Accreditor shake-up: Education Dept. speeds path for new agencies

February 28, 2026

The U.S. Department of Education moved to lower the bar and accelerate its review timeline for aspiring accrediting agencies, issuing a rule that clarifies eligibility and promises decisions in...

IES overhaul urged: report presses Education Dept. to make research faster and leaner

February 28, 2026

A long‑awaited independent review urged the Education Department to overhaul the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), calling for leaner research products, faster grant turnarounds, and better...

Columbia arrest and release: student detained; White House intervention frees her

February 28, 2026

Federal agents arrested a Columbia University student early Thursday after gaining entry to a campus residence; the university said agents misrepresented themselves. The detained...

If ICE won’t show a warrant: colleges test the limits of campus defenses

February 28, 2026

The Columbia detention prompted renewed scrutiny of campus legal options when federal agents decline to display warrants. Legal analysts say campuses have limited tools: private institutions rely...

UNC redefinition: board adopts contested academic‑freedom policy — faculty alarmed

February 28, 2026

The University of North Carolina System’s Board of Governors unanimously approved a new, systemwide definition of academic freedom that includes explicit limits and examples of permissible and...

Texas A&M scramble: administrators wrestle with censoring curriculum

February 28, 2026

Internal documents at Texas A&M reveal widespread uncertainty among administrators about what professors can teach as state and system officials press for curriculum reviews. The records show...

Adjunct settlement: Long Beach CCD agrees to terms with part‑time faculty

February 28, 2026

The Long Beach Community College District agreed to a settlement with adjunct instructors after a multi‑year dispute over pay, assignments and working conditions. District officials and adjunct...

Teachers and AI: adoption stalls as PD gaps and mistrust linger

February 28, 2026

More than three years after ChatGPT’s debut, many K–12 educators remain hesitant to adopt generative AI in classrooms. EdWeek convened experts who said the primary barriers are a lack of quality...

Student‑loan privatization talks: Education Dept. explores selling $1T‑plus portfolio

February 28, 2026

The Department of Education confirmed it is exploring options to reform or sell parts of the federal student‑loan portfolio—worth more than $1 trillion—after meetings with stakeholders since the...

Higher ed under fire: Education Dept. official vows accountability

February 28, 2026

U.S. Department of Education undersecretary Nicholas Kent delivered blunt public warnings this week that colleges and universities must accept new scrutiny and align with the administration’s...

Accreditors opened to challengers: ED shortens recognition timeline

February 28, 2026

The Education Department issued rules and timeline changes this week designed to lower barriers for new accreditation agencies to win federal recognition. Agency guidance shortens the review...

IES overhaul recommended — will ED act?

February 28, 2026

A long‑anticipated review of the Institute of Education Sciences urges a major redesign to make federal education research faster, leaner and more actionable. Amber Northern’s report, released...

Student loans on the table: Education Dept. weighs privatization

February 28, 2026

The U.S. Department of Education confirmed exploratory talks about selling portions of the federal student‑loan portfolio to private investors, telling Sen. Elizabeth Warren the idea remains under...