Policy & Legal
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Antisemitic beliefs rare among faculty, Brandeis University study finds
Despite media attention and Trump’s attacks on universities, most professors neither discuss hot topics in class nor engage in activism around them.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 24, 2025 -
‘A dangerous precedent’: Critics slam Columbia’s agreement with Trump administration
While some stakeholders praised the deal, others warned it could spur federal officials to pursue more attacks on other colleges.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 24, 2025 -
‘Inadequate and deeply troubling’: George Mason AAUP votes no confidence in board
The group blasted the governing body, alleging it failed to defend the university and its president amid successive investigations by the Trump administration.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 23, 2025 -
Tennessee launches direct admissions pilot with student aid component
The initiative aims to ease the path to higher education by providing financial aid information along with automatic acceptance to participating colleges.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 23, 2025 -
Trump administration opens a fourth probe into George Mason University
The federal government is ratcheting up pressure on the institution through a flurry of investigations, with the latest focused on its admissions practices.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 22, 2025 -
Judge pauses Mississippi’s DEI ban at public colleges and schools
Accounts from educators and students fearing discussion of certain topics signal “possible widespread suppression of speech,” the judge wrote.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 22, 2025 -
Deep Dive
What does Trump’s executive order on foreign gift reporting mean for colleges?
Institutions that don’t fully comply with Section 117 could end up in the Trump administration’s crosshairs and miss out on federal grants, experts suggested.
By Danielle McLean • July 22, 2025 -
Stanford researcher sues over termination, alleging antisemitism
A university spokesperson said officials take antisemitism allegations seriously but added a “thorough investigation” found these to be unsubstantiated.
By Laurel Kalser • July 21, 2025 -
Retrieved from Laxmatt // Wikimedia Commons.
George Mason University faces federal probe into hiring and promotion practices
The U.S. Department of Justice’s probe marks the third new federal investigation opened against the public Virginia institution this month.
By Laura Spitalniak • July 18, 2025 -
Energy Department delays multiple rules after public pushback
The proposals, quietly introduced in May, would have gone into effect for colleges and schools this week had critics failed to register their complaints.
By Naaz Modan • July 18, 2025 -
Columbia University formally adopts controversial antisemitism definition
Acting President Claire Shipman said the Office of Institutional Equity will use the definition to help investigate discrimination and harassment.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 18, 2025 -
Trump 2.0 brings layoffs and budget cuts at 8 major colleges
With uncertainty around research funding, international students and financial aid, institutions are shrinking budgets as they try to weather financial turmoil.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 17, 2025 -
Labor Department to take on day-to-day management of CTE programs
Career and technical education is among the workforce development programs to be jointly administered with the U.S. Department of Education.
By Roger Riddell • July 16, 2025 -
How Trump is deploying multiple agencies to set education policy
Rule changes for U.S. Department of Energy grants to colleges are primed to alter policies. Other federal agencies could be next.
By Naaz Modan • July 14, 2025 -
Supreme Court green-lights Education Department layoffs
The decision is a significant victory for the Trump administration as it seeks to close the department to the greatest extent possible.
By Naaz Modan • Updated July 14, 2025 -
Moody’s: Trump’s tough international student policies could hit some colleges hard
Visa processing slowdowns and travel bans could mean lost revenue, tighter margins and financial stress.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 11, 2025 -
House panel pushes colleges to cut ties with Chinese scholarship program
Seven institutions, including the University of Notre Dame and Dartmouth College, have until July 22 to comply with an extensive document request.
By Laura Spitalniak • July 10, 2025 -
George Washington University hints at layoffs amid federal policy upheaval
The private nonprofit is facing an “unsustainable compounding deficit” and uncertainty about research funding, top officials said in a community message.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 9, 2025 -
‘Strong evidence’ Harvard doesn’t meet accreditation standards, feds say
The Trump administration on Wednesday directed the Ivy League institution's accreditor to review the university’s compliance and report back on the findings.
By Laura Spitalniak • July 9, 2025 -
Will the next Supreme Court term close the transgender athletic debate?
A pair of cases could establish precedent on whether transgender student athletes can compete on teams aligned with their gender identity.
By Naaz Modan • July 9, 2025 -
Florida university system’s board to vote on creation of accrediting agency
The Commission for Public Higher Education’s business plan reveals officials are aiming for the new agency to accredit colleges by June 2026.
By Natalie Schwartz • July 9, 2025 -
Boston University to lay off 120 staffers amid budget challenges
The private institution faces federal funding uncertainty along with operational headaches such as rising costs.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 8, 2025 -
‘One big mistake’: Higher ed sounds warning over GOP budget law
From higher endowment taxes to student loan limits, colleges and students will face a dramatically new landscape with the passage of a new spending law.
By Ben Unglesbee • July 7, 2025 -
Trump’s OCR steps up pace for dismissing complaints
With newly limited staffing, the federal office charged with protecting students’ civil rights has increased its case dismissals — to the alarm of former employees.
By Naaz Modan • July 7, 2025 -
Retrieved from Harrier233 / Wikimedia Commons.
15 Florida colleges keep access to grant funding after House bid fails
A proposal from the Florida House would have restricted private colleges' eligibility for the popular Effective Access to Student Education program.
By Laura Spitalniak • July 7, 2025