State legislatures face pressure to cut liberal arts spending

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin joined a chorus of critics when he said last month that students majoring in French Literature should not get state subsidies for their education costs.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 23, 2016

Extra advising for first-gen college students improves outcomes

First-generation students do not have the built-in support from family that comes with important wisdom as they navigate higher ed, which means colleges should provide it.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 22, 2016

Ed Dept defends Title IX guidance amid Senate criticism

Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights, responded to a letter from Sen. James Lankford, chairman of the subcommittee on regulatory affairs and federal management.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 22, 2016

Coursera, Google, and data: The week's most-read education news

Stay ahead of the pack with the latest on Google's decision to shut down Play for Education, the challenges of attracting and retraining underrepresented students, and more here.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 19, 2016

Carnegie Mellon wins $750M settlement in patent fight

The Marvell Technology Group and Marvell Semiconductor Inc. agreed to end a years-long legal battle over two patents based on the work of a Carnegie Mellon professor and former student.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 19, 2016

Ed Dept proposes new loan forgiveness rules

A panel of negotiators is considering changes to the student loan forgiveness policies that will create a federal standard for assessing borrower appeals for debt relief.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 18, 2016

Debate over free community college in California rages on

The state has one of the least expensive community college tuition rates in the nation, and as legislators debate the feasibility of a Promise program, critics abound.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 18, 2016

Education deserts should factor into higher ed's equity conversation

A new report from the American Council on Education urges higher ed leaders to address the challenges posed by education deserts when it comes to equity and access.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 17, 2016

Institutions with large endowments once again facing Congressional scrutiny

Two congressional committees sent letters to dozens of wealthy colleges and universities this week, asking about their endowments and how they use the earnings from them.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 17, 2016

Scalia’s death holds implications for affirmative action

The Supreme Court Justice's replacement could shift the balance on the hot-button topic.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 16, 2016

U of Tennessee faces lawsuit over campus sexual assault

Six women filed the suit, alleging a culture that increases the likelihood of sexual assault, especially by football players, and an adjudication process that is biased against victims.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 12, 2016

Higher Learning Commission warns Illinois legislators about budget standoff

The regional accrediting agency has sent letters to the state’s public colleges and universities, asking for more information about their financials amid the state’s ongoing budget crisis.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 11, 2016

Berkeley reveals $150M deficit, 6% of its budget

Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks laid out a series of initiatives the institution is considering to improve its financial situation, given consistently low state funding.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 11, 2016

Gates Foundation and IHEP partner for new higher ed data framework

The focus on a national metrics framework that takes nontraditional students into account aims to create a far superior foundation for higher education data to improve decision-making.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 11, 2016

Eduvation Spotlight: Hollins U's President Gray raises women's college's profile

Now in her 12th year, Nancy Gray has found success using alumnae engagement, strong internship programs, and campus traditions to empower her student body.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 10, 2016

Obama's final budget proposal would send billions to higher ed

While there are plenty of positives for higher ed in Obama's 2017 budget proposal, many of the programs and initiatives are sure to die at the hands of the Republican-controlled Congress.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2016

Michigan's public universities band together for funding appeal

In the midst of multiple state crises, the Michigan Association of State Universities has published a list of policy priorities ahead of Gov. Rick Snyder’s 2016-17 budget.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2016

Study blames increasing tuition on federal student aid

While some blame expensive amenities, bloated administrations, or state disinvestment in higher ed for the rise in tuition, a working paper from NBER pegs the increase to federal aid.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 10, 2016

LSU deterioration highlights impact of years of budget cuts

The state has funded new construction in its years of slashed budgets, but LSU is seeing severe deterioration amid a $510 million backlog for deferred maintenance.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 9, 2016

Ed Dept announces new student aid enforcement unit

The unit is designed to respond more quickly to complaints about illegal actions in the higher ed sector, where many outstanding complaints are targeted at for-profit colleges.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 9, 2016

Ed Dept announces new requirements for accreditors

Accrediting agencies must provide more information about sanctions assigned to colleges and more clearly report punitive actions.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 8, 2016

Louisiana has cut higher ed more than any other state, and it shows

The budget for state universities is down 55% since the start of the recession, and, on a per-student basis, the state’s two-year colleges get about half as much as when Jindal took office.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 5, 2016

Financial exigency for Chicago State U amid Illinois budget standoff

The majority-black university has said it would run out of money without state funding by March, and the latest step paves the way for drastic action from administrators.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 5, 2016

Campuses may be ill-equipped to handle sexual assault, but it’s the law

While there is an argument to be made over the proper role of institutions in sexual assault adjudication, meeting the expectations of existing law can be helped by outside adjudicators. 

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 4, 2016

Student protesters continue to force change on campuses across the country

Two buildings at Georgetown have new names, as does the Byrd Stadium at the University of Maryland, and Brown University faculty have changed Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

By Tara García Mathewson • Feb. 4, 2016