Policy & Legal
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No more in-state tuition for undocumented students in Texas
A federal judge Wednesday signed off on a joint plan from the state and the U.S. Department of Justice to revoke the 24-year-old practice.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 5, 2025 -
University of Idaho abandons plan to acquire University of Phoenix
Faced with opposition from the beginning, the state university and for-profit college ended negotiations.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 4, 2025 -
Working-age adults with some college but no credential reaches 37.6M, report finds
However, more stopped-out students returned to college in the 2023-24 academic year, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 4, 2025 -
Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.
‘Finally’: Keystone College completes merger with nonprofit
After a recent closure scare, the institution is continuing operations under the nonprofit Washington Institute for Education and Research.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 3, 2025 -
3 takeaways from McMahon’s testimony on Trump’s FY26 budget plan
The education secretary defended the proposed elimination of federal funding for TRIO and Gear Up despite bipartisan pushback from lawmakers.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 3, 2025 -
Illinois lawmakers pass bill to establish direct admissions program
Participating public universities will set GPA standards each year for first-time and transfer students to gain automatic entry.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 3, 2025 -
FY26 budget plan would slash maximum Pell Grant by nearly a quarter
The Education Department's proposal would also radically reduce funding for Federal Work-Study and require a bigger employer contribution.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 2, 2025 -
Week in review: Trump administration targets Chinese student visas
We’re rounding up last week’s news, from another crackdown on international students to a new lawsuit against the National Science Foundation.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 2, 2025 -
Lawmakers and judge push back on Education Department’s gutting, citing inefficiency
The agency appealed the May 22 court order temporarily blocking its dramatic downsizing efforts the same day U.S. District Judge Myong Joun issued it.
By Naaz Modan • May 30, 2025 -
Eastern Michigan University to cut ties with Chinese colleges amid lawmaker push
The institution is the latest to dissolve its partnerships after Republican legislators raised concerns about national security and research theft.
By Natalie Schwartz • May 30, 2025 -
16 states sue National Science Foundation over wide-reaching research cuts
The lawsuit takes aim at the agency’s cap on indirect research costs and its mass termination of grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 30, 2025 -
Trump administration to ‘aggressively revoke’ Chinese student visas
Two federal agencies will also increase scrutiny of new visa applications from China and Hong Kong, per Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
By Laura Spitalniak • May 29, 2025 -
Q&A
How accreditors are navigating a new, anxious environment under Trump
Officials from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation unpacked the current higher ed landscape, including attacks on diversity initiatives.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 29, 2025 -
Trump administration moves to end Harvard University’s remaining federal contracts
Since mid-April, the federal government has cut off roughly $2.8 billion in multi-year grants and contracts to the Ivy League institution.
By Laura Spitalniak • May 28, 2025 -
What’s the latest in Harvard University’s battle with the Trump administration?
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to bar Harvard-bound international students from entering the U.S. for six months.
By Laura Spitalniak • Updated 13 hours ago -
How will Trump’s tariff policies impact college students?
Higher prices on essential items like computers, food and transportation could harm low-income students and jeopardize their academic track, experts say.
By Danielle McLean • May 27, 2025 -
Legal defense fund will seek to fill gap left by OCR reduction
Set to launch in the fall, the fund backed by National Center for Youth Law aims to defend students’ rights in court and track civil rights data.
By Naaz Modan • May 27, 2025 -
Trump administration revokes Harvard’s ability to enroll international students
Thousands of foreign students attending Harvard must now "transfer or lose their legal status," according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
By Laura Spitalniak • May 22, 2025 -
‘A shell of itself’: Federal judge pauses efforts to wind down Education Department
Higher education advocates praised the ruling, while the agency promised to immediately challenge the preliminary injunction.
By Kara Arundel • May 22, 2025 -
The reconciliation bill cleared the House. Here’s how it would change higher ed.
Critics worry that the spending package, now headed to the Senate, would have a “historic and negative impact” on college access.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 22, 2025 -
Data breach reporting lags in education, study finds
The sector reportedly takes an average of 4.8 months to report attacks — higher than for business, government and healthcare.
By Anna Merod • May 22, 2025 -
US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
McMahon defends $12B proposed cut to the Education Department
During a budget hearing, some Republicans indicated support for dismantling the agency, while Democrats panned the proposed cuts.
By Natalie Schwartz • May 21, 2025 -
House probe alleges Harvard University has research ties to ‘foreign adversaries’
The inquiry is part of an onslaught of investigations and financial penalties the institution is facing after it rebuked the Trump administration’s demands.
By Natalie Schwartz • May 20, 2025 -
The image by UMBCPA is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Maryland regents allow furloughs and salary cuts for public universities
The state’s higher education system is facing big funding shortfalls at both the state and federal levels.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 20, 2025 -
Colleges could be targeted anew under fraud law, DOJ says
The agency created a civil rights initiative to seek out violations of the False Claims Act, which could include diversity initiatives.
By Ben Unglesbee • May 20, 2025