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Accreditation at a crossroads: negotiated rulemaking and sector conversation intensify
With negotiated rulemaking dates set for accreditation reform, higher‑education leaders and accreditors are debating the Department of Education’s agenda and potential policy shifts. Inside Higher...
State support slows: public higher‑ed funding enters a low‑growth phase
State support for higher education increased just 1% nationally for fiscal 2026—the smallest year‑over‑year rise since 2021—according to the SHEEO Grapevine report. After a multi‑year run of...
St. John’s drops CBP partnership after campus backlash: university suspends border program
St. John’s University has suspended a planned academic partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection following student and campus criticism over the agency’s enforcement actions. The...
Education funding: Congress reopens spigot amid shutdown drama
Congress ended a brief funding lapse and delivered annual appropriations for education, restoring program budgets and avoiding the cuts the administration sought. Lawmakers passed a consolidated...
Student aid shake-up: FAFSA surge and repayment rule changes
FAFSA submissions for the high school class of 2026 are running far ahead of last year’s pace, signaling stronger early demand for federal aid even as borrowers face sweeping changes to loan...
Admissions and testing: ETS eyes sale as MBA demand slides
Educational Testing Service has opened talks to sell the GRE and TOEFL, a move that underscores seismic shifts in graduate admissions and international testing markets. ETS is seeking roughly $500...
Academic freedom showdown: Texas A&M firing spurs lawsuit
A former Texas A&M lecturer fired after a classroom controversy has filed a federal lawsuit alleging violations of her First Amendment and due‑process rights. Melissa McCoul says political...
Immigration enforcement and campus ties: ICE policy triggers legal and partnership fallout
Universities and school districts are pushing back on renewed federal immigration enforcement on or near campuses. A coalition including Minnesota districts and faculty filed suit challenging...
State budgets: growth in higher‑education funding slows
State appropriations for higher education are cooling after a pandemic‑era surge. The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association’s Grapevine report shows national state support rose...
AI in recruitment and campus operations — opportunity and barriers
AI is reshaping how prospective students discover and choose colleges while campus leaders wrestle with operational adoption challenges. EducationDynamics found that 78% of education searches now...
Campus finances and endowments: institutions tighten belts
Public and private institutions are flagging near‑term liquidity and endowment pressures. Southern Oregon University told trustees it faces a rapid cash‑decline and could hit negative balances by...
Workforce and credentialing: noncredit and short‑term programs gain traction
Colleges are adapting to workforce demands by expanding noncredit and short‑term credentials. A qualitative study shows many noncredit students are returning to education with career‑focused...
Accreditation at a crossroads: rulemaking and sector response
Negotiated rulemaking on accreditation is set to reshape federal oversight and accountability for colleges and universities. Inside Higher Ed’s podcast previews the Department of Education’s...
Campus leadership shuffle: dozens of presidents named — change at USC
Colleges and universities announced a flurry of leadership changes this month as systems and private institutions reposition for political and financial headwinds. A roundup of recent appointments...
Professor fired over gender lesson sues Texas A&M: First Amendment case filed
Melissa McCoul, a senior lecturer at Texas A&M, sued the university in federal court after her dismissal following a viral classroom video about a children’s literature lesson on gender identity....
Schools and districts sue DHS over ICE at campuses — litigation escalates
Public school districts and university faculty have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Department of Homeland Security and ICE policies that allow immigration‑enforcement actions on or near...
Accreditation at a crossroads: negotiated rulemaking set and sector braces
With dates set for negotiated rulemaking, the Department of Education and accreditors are preparing for a substantive rewrite of accreditation policy. Inside Higher Ed’s podcast and the CHEA...
AI rewrites college search — institutions lose visibility as students rely on AI
EducationDynamics’ 2026 benchmarks show AI‑powered search is reshaping how prospective students research and apply to colleges. The report finds 78% of education queries now return Google AI...
ETS weighs sale of GRE and TOEFL — testing giant explores $500M exit
Educational Testing Service is reportedly exploring options to sell or take strategic investment in two of its flagship products, the GRE and TOEFL, with price expectations near $500 million....
State support slows: higher‑ed funding growth cools after pandemic surge
New reports show state funding for higher education is decelerating: national appropriations increased roughly 1% this year, the smallest rise since 2021, and many states show no real gains after...