From the top executive stepping down at a prominent online program management company to another legal setback for the U.S. Department of Education, here are the top-line figures from some of our biggest stories of the week.
By the numbers
11
The months that Paul Lalljie led 2U as the company’s chief executive before stepping down last week. The troubled online program manager has launched a search for his permanent replacement and, in the meantime, has made CFO Matt Norden the company’s interim leader.
4 million
The number of borrowers that were expected to receive full student loan forgiveness from the Biden administration’s latest proposal to provide debt relief. But a federal judge in Missouri has temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Education from carrying out its plan in response to a lawsuit filed by seven conservative-led states.
16
How many public colleges are participating in Utah’s new guaranteed admissions initiative. Under the program, called Admit Utah, graduating high school students will be promised admission to at least one of the state’s public institutions before they even apply.
19.1%
The percentage increase between 2021 and 2023 in median state appropriations per full-time-equivalent student among community colleges rated by S&P Global Ratings. Analysts recently said rising state funding and promising enrollment figures offer reason for optimism in the sector.
5
The number of laws state governments have enacted this year that directly restrict educational speech in college classrooms, according to an annual report from free expression group Pen America. States enacted an additional five laws that Pen America said undermine academic freedom, such as restricting tenure.
