The Latest
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Republican lawmakers ask McMahon to restore funding for Hispanic-serving colleges
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference pushed back on arguments that the programs discriminate by establishing racial quotas.
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Q&A
Antioch University’s president talks leadership and democratic education in uncertain times
Lori Varlotta took the helm of the nearly 175-year-old university this summer as it looks to raise its profile and grow the college coalition it co-founded.
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Tracker
Tracking the Trump administration’s moves to cap indirect research funding
We’re keeping tabs on the agencies that have tried to limit reimbursement for overhead costs to 15% — and the legal challenges against them.
Updated Oct. 14, 2025 -
MIT becomes first college to reject Trump’s higher education compact
University President Sally Kornbluth said Friday that some of the terms would restrict the institution’s free expression and independence.
Updated Oct. 10, 2025 -
California governor signs Cal State direct admissions program into law
A pilot version of the program proactively offered thousands of students acceptance into the public university system.
Updated Oct. 14, 2025 -
Virginia lawmakers threaten state funding consequences if UVA signs Trump compact
Three leaders of the state’s Democrat-controlled Senate urged the University of Virginia to immediately reject the agreement.
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Carnegie Mellon lays off 75 employees at engineering institute amid federal funding shifts
The cuts amount to 10% of the Software Engineering Institute’s workforce, which has taken a financial hit from recent policy changes.
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty raise alarms about program cuts
Professors at the public institution voiced concerns about poor data and a lack of transparency in the chancellor’s proposal to axe six academic programs.
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Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
Richey confirmed to lead Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights
Kimberly Richey, who also served in President Donald Trump’s first term, steps into the role as the office faces a significant backlog and a halved workforce.
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Trump’s higher ed compact draws condemnation from faculty and college unions
At least two faculty senates have voted to oppose the proposed agreement sent to nine research universities, while other workers have publicly rebuked it.
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Pennsylvania lawmakers seek to bar state-funded colleges from signing Trump compact
Two Democratic state representatives said the agreement threatens institutions’ independence and cast their proposal as safeguarding academic freedom.
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Opinion // President Speaks
Don’t let polarization undermine the vital role colleges play in the US
Colleges must refocus energy on supporting students and reestablishing higher education’s value, the head of the University of California, Davis writes.
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Higher ed groups sue over Trump administration’s $100K H-1B visa fee
The surprise policy rolled out last month could cause “catastrophic setbacks” to research in the U.S., the lawsuit alleges.
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DePaul University weighs budget measures amid cratering international enrollment
The private Chicago nonprofit is considering cutting executive pay and freezing staff hiring after new international graduate enrollment fell 62% from last year.
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What’s the latest in Harvard University’s battle with the Trump administration?
The Ivy League institution said it plans to significantly reduce the number of Ph.D. students it admits due to financial pressure.
Updated Oct. 6, 2025 -
Newsom vows to pull state funding from California colleges that sign Trump’s compact
A proposed agreement sent to nine institutions would give them priority for federal research funding in exchange for sweeping policy changes.
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Federal judge dismisses legal challenge to gainful employment rule
Although the Biden-era rule survived litigation, the Trump administration is considering making changes to the regulations.
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Inside North Carolina’s direct admissions program
A statewide initiative is offering high school students proactive admission to dozens of public and private colleges, following a pilot last year.
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Djflem. (2019). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
New Jersey City University and Kean University sign official deal to merge
Under the deal, New Jersey City University would become “Kean Jersey City,” marking a new chapter after years of financial distress.
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NIH temporarily restores UC grants under court order
But in court filings this week, the federal agency reported some difficulties identifying which of the researcher grants it canceled needed to be reinstated.
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The image by Warren LeMay is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Washington University lays off over 300 employees
The private St. Louis institution has also cut nearly 200 unfilled positions as it grapples with federal cuts, rising expenses and a heightened endowment tax.
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Week in review: Courts weigh in on higher education lawsuits
We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from the top conferences to attend in 2026 to the latest federal investigations into colleges.
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Retrieved from Chad McNeeley for the U.S. Department of Defense.
At least 4 presidents abruptly departed their institutions last month amid pressure campaigns
New Jersey City University and the University of Vermont also formally installed their new leaders in September.
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HHS moves to cut Harvard off from all federal grants and contracts
The agency's Office for Civil Rights on Monday recommended blocking the university's access to the funding to protect the public interest.
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The top higher education conferences to attend in 2026
We’re rounding up a list of major events to help college leaders and administrators plan their calendars next year.