The Latest
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This week in numbers: Gannon and Ursuline finalize plans to combine
We’re rounding up recent stories, from further consolidation in the higher education sector to a controversial severance payment for an outgoing leader.
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State AG looks to halt $1.9M payment to Western New Mexico University president
Joseph Shepard resigned amid scrutiny over his spending of university money. The attorney general called his severance package “a gross misuse of funds.”
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What do FAFSA completion rates look like post-pandemic?
Lower shares of middle-income students in the class of 2023 completed the federal financial aid form than those who graduated before the health crisis.
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Top regents at Western New Mexico University depart amid state scrutiny
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called for the entire board to resign after a state audit found "a concerning lack of compliance" with university spending policies.
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House Republicans prioritize bill to restrict transgender students’ sports participation
Lawmakers reintroduced a proposal that would prevent transgender women from competing on college sports teams aligning with their gender identity.
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Dartmouth basketball players withdraw labor union bid
The decision may be connected to the incoming Trump administration, which is unlikely to back the athletes’ union petition, one attorney wrote.
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Q&A
How NACUBO is helping colleges navigate choppy financial waters
Top leaders of the National Association of College and University Business Officers share how they hope to reenvision the role of college executives.
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Gannon University and Ursuline College announce official merger deal
The nonprofit institutions will combine to form "the largest Catholic system of higher education along Lake Erie" by December 2026.
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Tuition reimbursement cannot be factored into wage garnishment, DOL says
Workers who receive tuition assistance will not have that employer reimbursement included in their wage garnishment.
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Ed Department changes reporting requirements for online colleges
Colleges offering distance education programs will be required to report which students receive federal financial aid starting July 2027.
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This week in 5 numbers: The rise in AI education
We’re rounding up our top stories of the week, from the colleges pivoting to artificial intelligence to the death of an influential education policymaker.
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Keystone College staves off accreditation loss for now
The financially troubled Pennsylvania nonprofit will retain its status as its accreditor hears its appeal.
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Why more colleges are embracing AI offerings
College officials are hoping to teach valuable skills and attract students, but investing in artificial intelligence can be expensive.
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Opinion
Trump wants to nix the Education Department. He should rebrand it instead.
The president-elect should reimagine the agency as the Department of American Competitiveness, one communications expert argued.
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Jimmy Carter, who oversaw the Education Department’s creation, dies at age 100
Before a private interment in Plains, Georgia, there will be public observances in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., according to The Carter Center.
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Biden withdraws Title IX athletics, debt forgiveness proposals
Both regulations faced significant legislative and legal challenges, and were unlikely to survive under a Trump presidency.
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Final rule to overhaul H-1B visa eligibility requirements takes effect Jan. 17
Employers should be prepared for potential disruption caused by the rule, attorneys for law firm Fragomen wrote this week.
Updated Jan. 2, 2025 -
House antisemitism probe demands stronger federal oversight of colleges
The 43-page report accused some colleges of failing to prevent antisemitism and the U.S. Department of Education of not imposing “real consequences.”
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Audit sheds light on state-issued credit card misuse in the Connecticut college system
Chancellor Terrence Cheng showed poor judgment when using an institutional credit card to make purchases but didn't violate system policy, the audit found.
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Idaho education board bans DEI across state’s 4-year colleges
Some of the affected colleges had already moved to wind down their diversity, equity and inclusion centers ahead of the unanimous vote.
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Column // Merger Watch
Declining K-12 enrollment spells trouble for higher education’s future
Given demographic trends, the sector will likely become more competitive and experience more closures, one consolidation expert argues.
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Brown University to slow faculty, staff growth as it attacks $90M budget hole
The Ivy League institution is rolling out several measures to tackle the deficit over the next five or so years, officials said.
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Columbia College Chicago to cut 11 programs, up to 25 faculty jobs
A finalized plan to pare down and consolidate the private nonprofit’s offerings is meant to “keep our college competitive,” its president said.
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Deep Dive
Inside University of the District of Columbia’s plan to transform
The historically Black college — Washington's only public university — wants to widen its appeal and raise its profile.
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California nixes degree requirements for 30K state jobs
The move is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s broader push to create better career pathways for residents, including those who don’t have college diplomas.