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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...
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...