Policy & Legal
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Ohio’s Central State University placed under fiscal watch
Although enrollment remains strong, the historically Black institution has struggled with rising costs and the end of federal pandemic relief funds.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 29, 2024 -
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Connecticut governor seeks probe into college system after ‘controversial spending’
The request follows a news investigation finding the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities’ leader spent public money on pricey meals and chauffeurs.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 29, 2024 -
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Lawsuit targets Illinois college scholarships aimed at increasing teacher diversity
The case marks a new step in the debate over race-conscious policies, with plaintiffs claiming the program discriminates against nonminority candidates.
By Naaz Modan • Oct. 29, 2024 -
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Harvard University suspends library access for faculty protesters
One legal expert questioned the institution’s decision to penalize participants despite their study-in appearing to be "totally non-disruptive.”
By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 25, 2024 -
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Trying again: Education Department pitches new debt relief proposals
The proposal is the Biden administration's most recent attempt to enact widespread loan forgiveness before his presidency ends in January.
By Natalie Schwartz , Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 25, 2024 -
Johnson & Wales University debuts 3-year bachelor’s programs
Officials at the private Rhode Island institution cast the programs, which will be available in fall 2025, as a way for students to save both time and money.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 25, 2024 -
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Vanderbilt University gets approval for $520M Florida graduate campus
The Tennessee university's expansion into West Palm Beach would bring billions in resources to the area, it said.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 23, 2024 -
Massachusetts colleges should revamp admissions, advisory panel recommends
Gov. Maura Healey formed the council ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overthrow of race-conscious admissions and praised its guidance Wednesday.
By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 21, 2024 -
Walden University’s $28.5M class-action settlement with students gets court approval
Plaintiffs alleged the for-profit college drew out the capstone phase of a doctorate program that targeted women and Black students in its recruitment.
By Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 18, 2024 -
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State politics are swaying college choice, survey finds
Students from both sides of the aisle are increasingly citing sociopolitical motivations when ruling out states from their college search.
By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 15, 2024 -
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How have statewide race-conscious admissions bans impacted college and labor outcomes?
A new working paper examines what happened in four states that barred these practices within their borders over two decades ago.
By Danielle McLean • Oct. 15, 2024 -
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TrackerWhere the 2024 presidential candidates stand on higher education issues
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have pitched policy plans that could affect everything from accreditation to student loans.
By Natalie Schwartz , Laura Spitalniak , Ben Unglesbee • Oct. 14, 2024 -
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AAUP: DEI statements can be valuable to faculty recruiting
The increasing attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts often conflate "institutional values with imposed orthodoxies,” the group said.
By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 11, 2024 -
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States enact 5 laws directly censoring college classroom speech in 2024
A Pen America report describes new legislation as “some of the most pernicious assaults on educational speech” ever encountered.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 10, 2024 -
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Brown University rejects proposal to divest
The decision deals a major blow to the student-run Brown Divest Coalition, which had organized a pro-Palestinian encampment in the spring.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 9, 2024 -
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Federal judge dismisses Florida lawsuit challenging accreditation system
The ruling rejected the state’s arguments that congressional lawmakers had ceded “unchecked power” to private agencies over educational standards.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 8, 2024 -
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Utah launches statewide guaranteed admissions initiative
All 16 of the state's public colleges and universities are participating in the program, the Utah System of Higher Education said Friday.
By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 8, 2024 -
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Missouri judge blocks Biden from carrying out new plan for student debt relief
The ruling deals yet another blow to the U.S. Department of Education’s loan forgiveness efforts.
By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 4, 2024 -
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Apprenticeship group urges employers, community colleges to team up
A report calls on stakeholders to let go of assumptions that apprenticeships are only for the trades.
By Kate Tornone • Oct. 2, 2024 -
Retrieved from House Committee on Education & the Workforce.
Scathing GAO reports blame Education Department leaders for FAFSA mess
A monthslong investigation found the department failed to properly oversee vendors and communicate with colleges and students.
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 24, 2024 -
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Arizona State to add tuition surcharge, close 1 campus after state funding cuts
With a $24 million reduction in public funds, the Arizona university warned of impacts to students.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 24, 2024 -
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Could a new Pell program eliminate racial disparities in student debt?
A wealth-based supplemental financial aid program would even the playing field for Black and Latine students, a new analysis shows.
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 24, 2024 -
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University of California faces unfair labor charge alleging free speech supression
Several faculty groups accuse the system of chilling academic instruction and retaliating against those who participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 20, 2024 -
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House lawmakers pass Republican bill over campus free speech and accreditation policies
A group of higher education associations said the bill would impose costly mandates on colleges that would undermine the legislation’s own goals.
By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 20, 2024 -
UMGC sued over Coursera payments
National Student Legal Defense Network took aim at “enrollment-based” compensation the university gives the company — and the guidance allowing for it.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 20, 2024
