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Latest Higher Education News
Enrollment volatility threatens university budgets as demographic decline bites
Universities and colleges are increasingly preparing for enrollment shortfalls, with leaders describing “enrollment volatility” as an operational and financial reality for next term. Syracuse...
Federal student loan interest rate changes take effect
The U.S. Department of Education is rolling out lower federal student loan interest rates for borrowers who enroll in autopay starting July 1. Under the policy, borrowers will receive a full...
Kansas boards lock in DEI-CRT definitions under state law
The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved definitions for “DEI-CRT” to comply with a new state law that bars public colleges from requiring certain race-related coursework. The policy...
UK campuses face scrutiny over restructuring, staffing cuts, and pension moves
At two UK universities, staff discontent is escalating as job cuts and pension changes draw union opposition. At Northumbria University, the University and College Union (UCU) threatened further...
Cybersecurity pressure mounts across higher education
Higher education institutions are seeing a persistent rise in cyberattacks, with the sector facing roughly 4,200 attacks per week in 2026, according to Randy Rose of the Center for Internet...
CHEA elects new leadership to guide accreditation oversight
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) announced its 2026–2027 Board of Directors, including eight newly elected members and new board officers. CHEA said the board’s mission is to...
REF 2029 guidance draws audit scrutiny over SPRE narratives
UK universities are bracing for increased audit scrutiny as panels finalize guidance for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF 2029). The concern centers on the renamed “strategy, people and...
U.S.-funded AI policy shifts: White House export controls hit Anthropic after vulnerability disclosures
The Trump administration’s AI crackdown escalated after a vulnerability discovered by Amazon researchers in Anthropic’s “Fable 5” sparked executive-level engagement and a fast-moving regulatory...
University workplace governance: Deakin restructure canceled after staff backlash
Deakin University’s leaders canceled a contentious restructure and apologized after an “unsettling” fortnight in which hundreds of employees were threatened with potential retrenchment. In an...
Federal student loan policy: interest-rate cuts extended for borrowers
The U.S. Department of Education lowered federal student loan interest rates for two years, citing high default rates. The policy reduces interest rates on federal student loans by up to one...
Federal student loan pricing and repayment mechanics
The U.S. Department of Education announced it will lower federal student loan interest rates for borrowers for two years, citing high default rates. The agency also said the change will apply...
AI governance and safety enters the higher-ed risk conversation
Google DeepMind published a new technical roadmap outlining how it will police potentially rogue AI agents inside its own AI research organization. The approach shifts away from relying only on...
Kansas regents define and operationalize DEI-CRT course limits
The Kansas Board of Regents unanimously approved definitions to comply with a new state law barring public colleges from requiring certain race-related coursework. The board defined DEI-CRT to...
Federal education bureaucracy reshuffling draws legal and political backlash
A House Democrat on the education committee announced an effort to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon, arguing she violated her oath and federal law by transferring dozens of Education...
Accreditation leadership rotates at CHEA
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) elected eight new members to its Board of Directors for terms beginning July 1, 2026, and announced new board officers. The board includes...
UK research assessment scrutiny grows ahead of REF 2029
Panellists finalizing guidance for the next UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2029) raised concerns about “polishing” narrative statements about research culture. The issue centers on the...
CISA-style cybersecurity warnings highlight higher-ed attack volume
A higher-education cybersecurity briefing cited a sharp volume of attacks across the sector, with the Center for Internet Security (CIS) estimating roughly 4,200 attacks per week in 2026. The...
Southern Oregon University moves to restructure programs amid funding condition
Southern Oregon University released a plan that would cut three undergraduate programs and the equivalent of roughly 66 full-time jobs, alongside a broader overhaul of academic operations. The...
Student success and career readiness: counseling gaps persist
A new report from FutureEd, a Georgetown University-based think tank, argues that schools are expanding career education but are not providing enough counseling and career navigation support for...
Higher-ed labor unrest: job cuts and governance battles intensify
At the University of Lincoln, union members passed a “no confidence” vote in senior leadership, and at Northumbria University, staff face renewed pressure as job cuts and pension changes spur...