Policy & Legal
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What’s inside the Senate megabill for higher education?
The chamber narrowly passed its version of the sweeping domestic policy package, which would reshape federal student lending.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 1, 2025 -
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OpinionThe Senate’s higher ed measures are a good start. Here’s what could improve them.
The reconciliation bill could do more to hold college programs accountable for how much they charge, argues an official at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy.
By Kelly McManus • July 1, 2025 -
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HHS accuses Harvard of violating antidiscrimination law after antisemitism probe
The latest salvo from the Trump administration threatens "the loss of all federal financial resources.”
By Ben Unglesbee • July 1, 2025 -
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Brown University preps for ‘significant cost-cutting’ amid federal funding disruption
The Ivy League institution's top officials signaled possible staff reductions along with scaled back capital spending and other measures.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 30, 2025 -
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Stanford University expects layoffs in coming year
The private nonprofit is cutting $140 million from its budget as it grapples with “significant budget consequences” from federal policy shifts.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 27, 2025 -
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DOJ sues Minnesota over in-state tuition for undocumented students
The move follows similar lawsuits against Kentucky and Texas as the Trump administration targets laws that states have had on their books for years.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 26, 2025 -
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Key higher ed provisions in reconciliation bill violate Senate rules, official finds
Expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs and consolidating student loan programs were among the proposals flagged by the chamber’s parliamentarian.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 26, 2025 -
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6 public university systems unveil plans to launch new accrediting agency
In his announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed the current system as an "accreditation cartel" and decried diversity standards at accreditors.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 26, 2025 -
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Federal judge orders OCR to reinstate laid-off employees — for now
The reduction in force left the office "incapable of addressing the vast majority" of complaints, the ruling said.
By Naaz Modan • June 26, 2025 -
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University of Connecticut eyes workforce cuts to manage funding shortfalls
Faced with cuts to state and federal funding, leaders are clamping down on hiring and reviewing temporary positions, along with other austerity measures.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 24, 2025 -
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Judge strikes down National Science Foundation’s 15% funding cap for research overhead
With the new ruling, efforts to cap research overhead reimbursement have now been blocked at four federal agencies.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 24, 2025 -
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Do states have ‘statutory right’ to Education Department data and guidance?
The agency is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow its reduction in force — even as its laid-off employees remain on administrative leave.
By Naaz Modan • June 20, 2025 -
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TrackerTracking the Trump administration’s moves to cap indirect research funding
We’re keeping tabs of the agencies that have tried to limit reimbursement for overhead costs to 15% — and the legal challenges against them.
Updated June 24, 2025 -
Laura Spitalniak/Higher Ed Dive
Tennessee State operations get $96M boost from reallocated state funds
Tennessee's comptroller cited his confidence in the beleaguered university's current leadership team when signing the deal Tuesday.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 18, 2025 -
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Federal judge strikes down NIH directives against DEI research
The American Civil Liberties Union called the ruling "a major victory for public health.” Federal officials are exploring their legal options, including an appeal.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 17, 2025 -
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AAUP and AFT appeal after judge tosses lawsuit over canceled Columbia funds
The judge ruled that the unions lacked standing to sue and sided with the Trump administration’s case.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 17, 2025 -
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Senate panel’s proposal would hike endowment tax less than House bill
The chamber’s Finance Committee proposed an 8% top rate — much lower than the 21% rate passed by House lawmakers.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 17, 2025 -
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Why did the Energy Department issue a Title IX rule?
The proposed athletics rule would rescind a prior requirement on coed sports tryouts — but only for colleges receiving U.S. Department of Energy grants.
By Kara Arundel • June 16, 2025 -
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University of Nebraska looks to cut another $20M from its budget
Amid state and federal funding challenges, the public Midwestern institution has already cut tens of millions of dollars in spending in recent years.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 13, 2025 -
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Harvard spars with Trump administration over order protecting its international enrollment
The Ivy League institution argued that the federal government may seek to circumvent a pending preliminary injunction through “creative relabeling.”
By Laura Spitalniak • June 13, 2025 -
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Tennessee and SFFA sue over funding for Hispanic-serving institutions
The U.S. Department of Education’s longtime HSI grant program undercuts equal opportunity and is discriminatory, the state and advocacy group argued.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 12, 2025 -
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Higher education overhaul: How GOP senators’ plan differs from House bill
The two versions agree on consolidating repayment plans and adding accountability for student outcomes, but vary in key ways.
By Natalie Schwartz • June 12, 2025 -
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Michigan representative introduces proposal to explicitly ban antisemitism
If passed, the legislation would formally ban educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, in addition to other protected classes.
By Caroline Colvin • June 12, 2025 -
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Northwestern freezes hiring and cuts budgets to combat ‘increasing strain’ on finances
The highly selective university faces funding threats from the Trump administration along with rising costs and proposed policy changes.
By Ben Unglesbee • June 11, 2025 -
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Proposed Ohio budget would increase influence of university ‘intellectual diversity’ centers
If passed, the bill would create the Ohio Civics Board and give the centers' current directors oversight of the selection of their successors.
By Laura Spitalniak • June 10, 2025
