Policy & Legal: Page 3

  • The Capitol Building in the background, with trees in front of it.
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    Sara Samora/Higher Ed Dive
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    The reconciliation bill cleared the House. Here’s how it would change higher ed.

    Critics worry that the spending package, now headed to the Senate, would have a “historic and negative impact” on college access.

    By • May 22, 2025
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    JuSun via Getty Images
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    Data breach reporting lags in education, study finds

    The sector reportedly takes an average of 4.8 months to report attacks — higher than for business, government and healthcare.

    By Anna Merod • May 22, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    McMahon defends $12B proposed cut to the Education Department

    During a budget hearing, some Republicans indicated support for dismantling the agency, while Democrats panned the proposed cuts.

    By • May 21, 2025
  • Students walk through the campus of Harvard University.
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    Sophie Park via Getty Images
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    House probe alleges Harvard University has research ties to ‘foreign adversaries’

    The inquiry is part of an onslaught of investigations and financial penalties the  institution is facing after it rebuked the Trump administration’s demands. 

    By • May 20, 2025
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    The image by UMBCPA is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Maryland regents allow furloughs and salary cuts for public universities

    The state’s higher education system is facing big funding shortfalls at both the state and federal levels.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • U.S. flag flies above the Department of Justice building
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Colleges could be targeted anew under fraud law, DOJ says

    The agency created a civil rights initiative to seek out violations of the False Claims Act, which could include diversity initiatives.

    By • May 20, 2025
  • A building on Grand Canyon University's campus, in Phoenix.
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    "Grand Canyon University" by davidpinter is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    Education Department walks back $37.7M fine against Grand Canyon University

    Brian Mueller, the university’s president, said the ruling supports that the large Christian institution was “wrongly accused” of misleading doctoral students. 

    By • May 20, 2025
  • The facade of the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. with a reflection of the U.S. flag
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    Timothy Epple via Getty Images
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    Federal judge blocks Energy Department’s 15% cap on indirect research costs

    Colleges and higher education groups suing the agency are likely to prove the policy violates federal law, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled.

    By • May 19, 2025
  • Harvard University, Lamont Library, Harvard library
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    Sophie Park / Stringer via Getty Images
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    Harvard University devotes $250M to sustain research hit by federal cuts

    The institution’s leaders said they have received multiple grant terminations since the Trump administration froze over $2.2 billion of its federal funding.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • The side of a building with white stone and windows is shown. Letters on the building read: U.S. Department of Education
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Education Department retracts CTE grants for Native American and Hawaiian students

    The agency said the nearly $21.6 million grant competitions do not “align with the objectives established by the Trump Administration.”

    By Naaz Modan • May 15, 2025
  • A wide shot of the House Ways and Means Committee meeting.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    House panel advances bill to raise college endowment tax up to 21%

    Republicans proposed a tiered system on wealthy private institutions’ investment income, though experts say higher rates could harm student aid.

    By • May 14, 2025
  • College students climb up the stairs to a campus building.
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    Vladimir Vladimirov via Getty Images
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    State and local funding for public colleges up 18% from pre-pandemic levels, SHEEO says

    States could face hard budgetary decisions ahead as federal stimulus funding runs dry, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association said.

    By • May 14, 2025
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    Davel5957 via Getty Images
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    Denver Public Schools gets the OK to award associate degrees

    Set to launch in 2026, programs offered through the district’s technical college would provide a higher credential for registered apprentices.

    By Briana Mendez-Padilla • May 13, 2025
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    APCortizasJr via Getty Images
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    Trump administration nixes another $450M of Harvard University’s grants

    The federal government escalated attacks against the Ivy League institution, calling it a “breeding ground for virtue signaling and discrimination.” 

    By • May 13, 2025
  • The side of a building with white stone and windows is shown. Letters on the building read: U.S. Department of Education
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    How could cuts to the Education Department impact HBCUs?

    Downsizing or shuttering the agency may harm the “long-term sustainability” of some historically Black colleges and universities, one expert said. 

    By Danielle McLean • Updated May 13, 2025
  • Grand Canyon University
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    The image by GrandCanyonU is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Judge greenlights racketeering lawsuit against Grand Canyon Education

    Plaintiffs say the educational services provider misrepresented program costs, but the company says students couldn't have been "caught by surprise."

    By • May 12, 2025
  • New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a podium.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    New York’s adult learners can now attend community college for free

    The Opportunity Promise Scholarship covers the costs of tuition and books for state residents between ages 25 to 55 who are pursuing in-demand degrees.

    By • May 12, 2025
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    56% of adults disapprove of Trump’s approach to colleges, AP-NORC poll finds

    Half of Republicans supported withholding federal funding unless colleges comply with the president’s policies. But 73% of Democrats opposed the tactic.

    By • May 9, 2025
  • A White man wearing a blue suit and glasses looks out of frame pensively. He is standing in front of an American flag on a flag pole.
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    Indiana governor sued by state ACLU over university board control

    The lawsuit takes aim at last-minute provisions added to the state’s budget that allow Gov. Mike Braun to appoint all nine Indiana University trustees.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • David Cole reads from a paper while testifying.
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    House Committee on Education and Workforce Democrats. (2025). [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Republican lawmakers grill 3 more college presidents over antisemitism concerns

    During the tense Wednesday hearing, some Democrats accused the panel’s GOP members of attempting to quell protected speech. 

    By • Updated May 8, 2025
  • The entrance to the National Science Foundation's building.
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    National Science Foundation faces lawsuit over 15% indirect research cap

    The legal challenge is at least the third levied against a federal agency in recent weeks for limiting reimbursement rates for colleges' indirect costs.

    By • May 7, 2025
  • The front facade of a courthouse is shown, bearing the words "John Minor Wisdom United States Court of Appeals Building Fifth Circuit"
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    Rex_Wholster via Getty Images
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    Trump administration court filing may spell end of overtime final rule

    The U.S. Department of Labor is still reconsidering the Biden-era effort to expand overtime pay eligibility, according to court documents.

    By Ryan Golden • Updated May 14, 2025
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    APCortizasJr via Getty Images
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    Trump administration cuts off Harvard University from future research grant funding

    The institution “should no longer seek GRANTS from the federal government, since none will be provided,” U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon wrote.

    By • May 6, 2025
  • Podcast cover image featuring the title "EdTech Evolution" with logos for VitalSource and Higher Ed Dive, and an icon of a digital grade report.
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    Danielle Ternes/Higher Ed Dive
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    Sponsored by VitalSource

    [Podcast] EdTech Evolution

    Explore how digital tools are transforming accessibility and engagement in today’s evolving higher ed landscape.

    By Higher Ed Dive's studioID • May 6, 2025
  • A brick building with a sign that says "Kansas State University"
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    Wolterk via Getty Images
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    Kansas State professor sues university for alleged transgender bias

    A supervisor at the public institution forced a transgender faculty member to drastically cut short his medical leave for a hysterectomy, the lawsuit said.

    By Laurel Kalser • May 6, 2025