Get the Daily Brief
Latest Higher Education News
Federal student loan rules tighten and judicial limits on forgiveness remain in play
New federal student loan changes took effect July 1, ending or narrowing key repayment options and rolling out new limits tied to the administration’s broader overhaul of federal aid. The changes...
Education Department regulations add a new earnings test and reshape loan eligibility for colleges
The Education Department moved forward with a new round of higher-education regulations under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” package, setting an earnings-based accountability test for programs that...
Florida moves to bar undocumented students from state college enrollment
The Florida State Board of Education approved a policy that bars undocumented students from attending the state’s Florida College System institutions. The measure limits admission to U.S. citizens...
Leadership shakeups across campuses: UF president approved and multiple new presidents named
Florida’s Board of Governors voted to confirm Stuart Bell as the permanent president of the University of Florida, ending about two years of leadership turmoil for the flagship campus. Bell’s...
State and campus investigations escalate amid governance and compliance allegations
New Mexico Highlands University is facing a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud and forgery, according to the office of the district attorney. The inquiry is described as running...
Underserved enrollment and affordability pressures widen: Mississippi aid deficit and degree-aid caps
Mississippi is confronting a $7.3 million financial aid deficit that could reduce state grant awards for as many as 27,000 students during spring 2027, according to reporting cited by state aid...
Accreditation and compliance: new president names Oklahoma and Utah systems while universities adjust identity and branding
Batten University officially changed its name effective July 1, completing a transition from Virginia Wesleyan University that began nearly a year earlier. The institution said the change honors...
Higher ed finances and staffing cuts: UT Tyler buyouts and university staffing reductions rise
The University of Texas at Tyler is offering voluntary separation packages to about a quarter of its employees, a move that drew scrutiny because the institution has seen record enrollment in...
HBCUs expand academic mobility with a new course-sharing model
Six HBCUs launched a course-sharing partnership designed to let students take classes across institutions without transferring or losing progress toward a degree. The initiative aims to widen...
AI governance reaches beyond classrooms into research and hiring: OpenAI and Anthropic model access, plus grants assessment risks
Frontier AI access and research governance moved again this week as Anthropic restored global access to its Fable 5 model after a two-week government standoff that had restricted use of the...
Florida blocks undocumented students from Florida College System
The Florida State Board of Education approved a policy barring undocumented students from the state’s 28-institution Florida College System, restricting enrollment to U.S. citizens or those...
Federal student-loan rules hit public service forgiveness and federal aid eligibility
Two separate federal judges struck down key parts of the Trump administration’s overhaul of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), ruling that the changes exceeded agency authority and raised...
Education Department updates 'professional' degree list for graduate loan caps
The U.S. Department of Education expanded the federal definition of “professional” graduate degrees for purposes of student-loan borrowing caps, responding to a court order that temporarily...
Public university governance upheaval: New Mexico Highlands University under criminal investigation
New Mexico Highlands University is now under criminal investigation by the state district attorney for allegations described as fraud and forgery, the Fourth Judicial District Attorney announced....
Enrollment and leadership: University of Florida confirms Stuart Bell after two years of turmoil
Florida’s Board of Governors approved Stuart Bell as the University of Florida’s permanent president, ending nearly two years of leadership instability following the abrupt resignation of Ben...
Public funding strain: Mississippi faces financial aid deficit that could cut awards
Mississippi faces a $7.3 million financial aid deficit that could reduce awards for as many as 27,000 students in spring 2027, Mississippi Today reported. State aid officials attributed the gap to...
HBCUs expand student course options through multi-campus sharing deal
Six HBCUs launched a course-sharing partnership designed to let students take classes across institutions without transferring and without losing progress toward a degree. The initiative is...
Academic freedom and legal exposure: colleges pay settlements after firing staff over Charlie Kirk comments
Nine months after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, multiple colleges have paid out nearly $3 million in settlements tied to legal challenges from employees disciplined after...
Higher education operations and financial viability: UT Tyler offers buyouts amid budget deficit
The University of Texas at Tyler is offering voluntary separation packages to about a quarter of its employees, according to reporting that the program comes alongside budget pressure despite the...
Education policy and access: Florida’s ban expands as governing boards align with federal litigation risk
Florida’s higher education restrictions on undocumented students are widening beyond the state college system, with the policy context indicating a broader push across public higher education....