Special ed, CIOs, and Byrd-Bennett’s guilty plea: The week’s most-read education news

Fall behind? Catch up on the fallout from the Perkins program's demise and more right here.

By Roger Riddell • Oct. 16, 2015

Texas concealed carry law for campuses causes strain statewide

The legislature has already approved the law, with private colleges maintaining the ability to opt out.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 16, 2015

CFPB investigation touches for-profit accreditor

It is unclear whether the investigation is centered on the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools or the for-profit colleges it oversees.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 16, 2015

Mitchell talks funding, accreditation, and alternative providers at LinkedIn seminar

The under secretary of education weighed in on a range of issues facing higher ed today, providing his predictions for the future of the industry.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 15, 2015

Ed Dept pilot opens aid to alternative credentialing

The long-brewing program will remain limited to about 10 applications from applicable partnerships.

By Roger Riddell • Oct. 14, 2015

How much are college sports to blame for rising cost of education?

While tuition at state universities has risen significantly across the board, data shows tuition at schools with strong football programs has risen even more steeply.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 14, 2015

Ed Dept sends millions to for-profit colleges accused of fraud

The federal government has not cut off funding to schools targeted by state attorneys general, the CFPB, the DoJ, or the SEC.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 14, 2015

Bootcamp COO questions why peer programs are chasing accreditation

Would accreditation and access to federal student loans would infect the sector with motivations beyond student outcomes?

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 13, 2015

Tenure, no retirement age keep many faculty in place indefinitely

More than half of faculty plan to work past 70, and while they can still be productive, they limit departments' flexibility block younger hires.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 13, 2015

Pennsylvania state colleges increase tuition, fees in pilots

The state’s higher education governing board approved the new price structures, which include per-credit-hour cost increases.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 12, 2015

Wisconsin Regents waive out-of-state student cap at UW-Madison

University leaders argued the cap prevents them from recruiting talented out-of-state students who could stay after graduation and improve the state's economy.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 12, 2015

Colleges offering Perkins Loans may owe billions to feds

When Congress failed to extend the program earlier this month, it set 1,700 institutional partners up to eventually return billions in federal grants.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 12, 2015

U of Phoenix banned from recruiting on military bases

While the Department of Defense investigates recruiting practices, it has also barred the enrollment of students with Tuition Assistance Program funding.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 12, 2015

Brown vetoes proposed higher ed oversight agency for California

The agency would have replaced the California Postsecondary Education Commission, which was defunded in 2011.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 9, 2015

House Republicans criticize higher ed's largest endowments

Suggestions made during a hearing this week included cutting tax benefits and further regulating how wealthy universities spend endowment returns.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 9, 2015

In the wake of tragedy, campuses consider areas of improvement

Shootings like the one at Umpqua Community College prompt wider reviews of security procedures across higher ed.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 8, 2015

Big ideas research gaining popularity, but maybe only making a splash

Initiatives aimed at solving the world’s biggest problems have received big money, but critics say they’re overly ambitious and mere marketing ploys.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 8, 2015

Excelsior to develop open-source college-level skills assessment with $1.9M from Ed Dept

The First in the World Program grant will provide financing for two years of development and piloting, after which the product will be available to all.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 7, 2015

Century Foundation research finds fault with for-profits converting tax status

A new paper includes four case studies of colleges that became nonprofits, arguing that a primary reason for conversion was avoiding regulation.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 7, 2015

Illinois college presidents facing compensation-limiting legislation

Recent scandals at two colleges have prompted a flood of bills attempting to limit executive compensation and perks at public institutions.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 7, 2015

Support for accreditors follows latest criticism from WSJ

An editorial arguing accreditation bodies operate like a cartel prompted a wave of support and a call for a halt to name-calling.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2015

NACAC to ban questions about where students most want to go

The National Association for College Admission Counseling approved new ethical guidelines that will prevent members from asking students to rank prospective institutions.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2015

Inspector General audit prompts additional concern over CBE's future

The office has again shown concern over the level of student-teacher interaction in competency-based education programs.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 6, 2015

College Scorecard lacks a 'value-added' measure

The Obama administration’s scorecard highlights schools with high-paid graduates, but critics say it doesn’t separate correlation from causation.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2015

Resource barrier presents security hurdle for community colleges

Two-year schools attempt to serve students before and after tragedy on significantly smaller budgets than their four-year peers.

By Tara García Mathewson • Oct. 4, 2015