How can colleges teach students to have challenging conversations?

As some institutions try to clamp down on classroom discussion, others are providing students with skills to discuss difficult subjects with their classmates.

By Danielle McLean • Updated May 18, 2026

How universities are saving water

College facility teams are responding to drought warnings by upgrading their institutions’ water management systems and irrigation practices, reports show.

By Joe Burns • May 12, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Mental Health and Wellness

This Trendline examines how colleges can address rising mental health concerns and support at-risk groups, such as transgender students and college athletes. 

By Higher Ed Dive staff

Week in Review: Kent State, Southern Oregon eye deep cuts

We’re rounding up recent stories, from why Bard College’s longtime president is stepping down to a new partnership aimed at measuring higher ed reforms.

By Laura Spitalniak • May 11, 2026

UCLA medical school faces federal civil rights accusation

The Trump administration on Wednesday alleged that the highly selective school illegally gives preference to Black and Hispanic applicants.

By Laura Spitalniak • May 7, 2026

Week in Review: Financial stress at Saint Augustine’s, Southern Oregon University

We’re rounding up recent stories, from program cuts at East Carolina University to the U.S. Department of Education’s new student loan regulations.

By Ben Unglesbee • May 4, 2026

The library’s next chapter: a strategic role in solving higher education’s affordability crisis

Why libraries are higher ed’s overlooked affordability lever: three ways to cut costs and expand access.

April 27, 2026

Texas A&M breaks ground on $226M semiconductor R&D facility

The project stems from a 2023 Texas law meant to help colleges develop semiconductor programs.

By Sara Samora • April 20, 2026

Week in Review: Hampshire College to shutter, others at risk

We’re rounding up recent stories, from buyout offers at Syracuse University to leadership changes at high-profile public institutions.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 20, 2026

AI is remaking the workforce. How can colleges ensure students thrive?

Skills training and public-private partnerships are key in a rapidly changing job landscape, higher ed leaders said this week at the annual ASU+GSV Summit.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 16, 2026

Week in review: What’s inside Trump’s latest budget plan?

We’re rounding up recent stories, from a decline in per-student state funding to alarms about the U.S. Department of Education’s plans for accreditation. 

By Natalie Schwartz • April 13, 2026

Education Department rescinds Title IX pacts protecting LGBTQ+ students

The resolution agreements, which the agency called "illegal," were reached under previous Democratic administrations.

By Naaz Modan • April 8, 2026

4 ways higher ed can lead in uncertain times

How can higher ed respond to change? Explore practical ways to prepare students to think critically and adapt.

April 6, 2026

Week in review: The messy math of program evaluations

We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from massive program cuts in Indiana to a Kentucky bill that would make it easier to fire faculty.

By Natalie Schwartz • April 6, 2026

Syracuse University to eliminate 93 academic programs

The cuts are meant to right-size the private nonprofit’s offerings and align them with student demand, according to the institution’s provost.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 2, 2026

Week in review: University of North Texas slashes dozens of programs

We’re rounding up recent stories, from an analysis of changes in net tuition prices to the Trump administration’s latest attacks on Harvard University.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 30, 2026

Kentucky State could get dramatic academic overhaul under state proposal

A bill in the state’s General Assembly would declare financial exigency at the university and transform it into a polytechnic institution.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 27, 2026

NIH grant terminations disproportionately hurt women, early-career researchers

The federal agency's abrupt cancellation of about 2,300 grants weakened the U.S. research training pipeline, per a new peer-reviewed analysis.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 26, 2026

Week in review: 2 accreditors warned over DEI standards

We’re rounding up recent stories, from the The New School turning to layoffs to the U.S. Department of Education offloading some student loan duties. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 23, 2026

DOJ sues Harvard in bid to recoup federal grants, cut off future access

In Friday court filings, the Trump administration again accused the university of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from antisemitism and harassment.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 20, 2026

Entry-level jobs should be entry level

A director of undergraduate career services at the University of Iowa contends that misleading job posts are losing employers smart and motivated applicants.

By Cindy Meis • March 19, 2026

Week in review: Leadership whiplash at Ohio State

We’re rounding up the latest stories, from 17 states suing the Trump administration over new data requirements to the latest wave of college cuts.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 16, 2026

Iowa House passes bills to dramatically shift operations at public universities

Majority votes from the state's conservative lawmakers advanced legislation that would significantly reshape how Iowa colleges can operate.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 13, 2026

Own your model: Why small, residential colleges must reclaim control of the undergraduate experience

Small colleges don’t need to abandon their core model in order to survive.

By Rize Education • March 9, 2026

Week in review: Cuts hit The New School, University of Iowa

We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from a Florida bill to further limit out-of-state students at some public universities to colleges cutting jobs or programs. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 9, 2026

The hidden cost of the textbook tax

Textbook costs and the hidden institutional levers to improve college affordability.

March 2, 2026