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Latest Higher Education News
U.S. student loan affordability: England caps Plan 2 interest at 6%
In England, the government will cap interest on Plan 2 student loans at 6% for the 2026–27 academic year, along with applying the same cap to postgraduate Plan 3 loans. The stated goal is to...
Title IX civil-rights settlement terminations targeting transgender protections
The U.S. Department of Education has terminated civil-rights resolution agreements covering transgender-student protections at several school districts and at Taft College, ending federal...
Trump administration moves to overhaul accreditation with student-achievement floors and cost-efficiency
The Trump administration unveiled a sweeping draft proposal to change the rules that govern college and university accreditors, including new minimum standards for student achievement, explicit...
Federal admissions data reporting blocked as rushed rulemaking draws court action
A federal judge blocked the Education Department from enforcing a deadline requiring public colleges in 17 states to submit admissions data disaggregated by race and sex. The court said the...
AI policy push from OpenAI and industry leaders amid labor and taxation debates
OpenAI released a 13-page policy paper arguing that governments must redesign economic rules as AI systems approach superintelligence, with the company tying its proposals to labor-market...
Student accessibility and compliance: ADA Title II web rule deadline nears
Public entities, including public universities, must meet the ADA Title II web accessibility requirement by April 24, 2026 (or April 26, 2027 in some jurisdictions). The rule targets websites and...
Admissions and student success: plan 2 loan interest cap in England
The UK government announced it will cap interest on England’s Plan 2 student loans at 6% for the 2026–27 academic year, along with a similar cap for postgraduate Plan 3 loans. The stated rationale...
Student mental health capacity: major Ballmer Group investment into Cal State LA and CSUDH
The Ballmer Group awarded $77 million to two California State University campuses to expand mental-health workforce capacity in the Los Angeles area. The largest grant—$48 million to Cal State...
Student inclusion and campus climate: Mizzou cuts designated funding for minority affinity groups
The University of Missouri will cut off funding for five student affinity organizations starting July, citing guidance that the university can no longer allocate resources or space based on...
Accreditation, disability rights, and accessible learning resources: blind students allege WVU inaccessible materials
Two blind students enrolled in a West Virginia University online Master of Social Work said they faced inaccessible course materials that were not compatible with screen readers, alleging their...
AI education credentials: colleges expand offerings to train AI ethicists
San Francisco State University and other institutions are expanding courses, certificates, and master’s programs focused on AI ethics and compliance, reflecting employer demand for workers who can...
AI workforce disruption and institutional response
Anthropic’s economics chief highlighted the kinds of jobs that could be “killed” by AI, putting labor displacement directly back on the higher education agenda. The warning lands as institutions...
Federal civil-rights enforcement and transgender protections
The U.S. Department of Education moved to terminate multiple civil-rights resolution agreements tied to protections for transgender students, including monitoring arrangements affecting Taft...
Accreditation overhaul proposal raises accountability and governance stakes
The Trump administration released a sweeping proposal to change accreditation rules, including requirements that accreditors focus on minimum standards for student achievement, protect viewpoint...
Admissions data demands challenged in court
A federal judge blocked the Education Department from enforcing a deadline requiring public colleges in 17 states to submit admissions data disaggregated by race and sex. The court said the...
Student mental health funding and workforce pipeline expansion
The Ballmer Group awarded $77 million to two California State University campuses to expand mental health services and the pipeline of licensed providers serving Los Angeles. The largest share—$48...
Higher education DEI clampdowns hit student groups and governance
Universities are seeing tightened support for DEI-linked student organizations as federal guidance and DOJ interpretations reshape campus funding. The University of Missouri will cut off...
Workforce and grants tied to federal settlement terms
Brown University’s $50 million workforce development commitment emerged from a settlement resolving federal agency reviews into the university’s antidiscrimination compliance. The agreement...
Kentucky State University governance and institutional mission shift
Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill that increases state oversight of Kentucky State University and directs a transition toward a polytechnic institution. The change expands legislative control over...
Admissions and labor-market pathways: bringing stop-outs back
Michigan’s statewide effort to re-enroll stopped-out adults who have credits but no credential added thousands of learners back into higher education, targeting both enrollment declines and...