Policy & Legal: Page 8


  • JD Vance walks out of a metal detector at the U.S. Capitol.
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    What’s inside the Senate megabill for higher education?

    The chamber narrowly passed its version of the sweeping domestic policy package, which would reshape federal student lending. 

    By July 1, 2025
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    Opinion

    The Senate’s higher ed measures are a good start. Here’s what could improve them.

    The reconciliation bill could do more to hold college programs accountable for how much they charge, argues an official at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy. 

    By Kelly McManus • July 1, 2025
  • Trendline

    Artificial Intelligence

    As AI continues its forward march in education and the workplace, colleges are grapplling with how best to incorporate the emerging technology into admissions, courrsework and elsewhere

    By Higher Ed Dive staff
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    Harvard v. Trump

    HHS accuses Harvard of violating antidiscrimination law after antisemitism probe

    The latest salvo from the Trump administration threatens "the loss of all federal financial resources.”

    By July 1, 2025
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    Brown University preps for ‘significant cost-cutting’ amid federal funding disruption

    The Ivy League institution's top officials signaled possible staff reductions along with scaled back capital spending and other measures.

    By June 30, 2025
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    Stanford University expects layoffs in coming year

    The private nonprofit is cutting $140 million from its budget as it grapples with “significant budget consequences” from federal policy shifts.

    By June 27, 2025
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    DOJ sues Minnesota over in-state tuition for undocumented students

    The move follows similar lawsuits against Kentucky and Texas as the Trump administration targets laws that states have had on their books for years.

    By June 26, 2025
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    Key higher ed provisions in reconciliation bill violate Senate rules, official finds

    Expanding Pell Grants to short-term programs and consolidating student loan programs were among the proposals flagged by the chamber’s parliamentarian.

    By June 26, 2025
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    6 public university systems unveil plans to launch new accrediting agency

    In his announcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed the current system as an "accreditation cartel" and decried diversity standards at accreditors.

    By June 26, 2025
  • The outside of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. is shown on a close day. People are walking on the sidewalk in front of the building.
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    Federal judge orders OCR to reinstate laid-off employees — for now

    The reduction in force left the office "incapable of addressing the vast majority" of complaints, the ruling said.

    By Naaz Modan • June 26, 2025
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    The image by Jimmy Emerson is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    University of Connecticut eyes workforce cuts to manage funding shortfalls

    Faced with cuts to state and federal funding, leaders are clamping down on hiring and reviewing temporary positions, along with other austerity measures.

    By June 24, 2025
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    Judge strikes down National Science Foundation’s 15% funding cap for research overhead

    With the new ruling, efforts to cap research overhead reimbursement have now been blocked at four federal agencies. 

    By June 24, 2025
  • U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon stands in front of Senate Appropriations Committee's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee with papers in her hand
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    Do states have ‘statutory right’ to Education Department data and guidance?

    The agency is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow its reduction in force — even as its laid-off employees remain on administrative leave.

    By Naaz Modan • June 20, 2025
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    Tracker

    Tracking the Trump administration’s moves to cap indirect research funding

    The U.S. Department of Defense appealed a ruling that vacated the agency’s policy to cap reimbursement for indirect research costs at 15% for colleges. 

    Updated Dec. 11, 2025
  • A 500-pound bronze statue of a tiger stamped with the Tennessee State University seal.
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    Laura Spitalniak/Higher Ed Dive
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    Tennessee State operations get $96M boost from reallocated state funds

    Tennessee's comptroller cited his confidence in the beleaguered university's current leadership team when signing the deal Tuesday.

    By June 18, 2025
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    Federal judge strikes down NIH directives against DEI research

    The American Civil Liberties Union called the ruling "a major victory for public health.” Federal officials are exploring their legal options, including an appeal.

    By June 17, 2025
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    AAUP and AFT appeal after judge tosses lawsuit over canceled Columbia funds

    The judge ruled that the unions lacked standing to sue and sided with the Trump administration’s case.

    By June 17, 2025
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    Senate panel’s proposal would hike endowment tax less than House bill

    The chamber’s Finance Committee proposed an 8% top rate — much lower than the 21% rate passed by House lawmakers. 

    By June 17, 2025
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    Why did the Energy Department issue a Title IX rule?

    The proposed athletics rule would rescind a prior requirement on coed sports tryouts — but only for colleges receiving U.S. Department of Energy grants.

    By Kara Arundel • June 16, 2025
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    University of Nebraska looks to cut another $20M from its budget

    Amid state and federal funding challenges, the public Midwestern institution has already cut tens of millions of dollars in spending in recent years.

    By June 13, 2025
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    Harvard v. Trump

    Harvard spars with Trump administration over order protecting its international enrollment

    The Ivy League institution argued that the federal government may seek to circumvent a pending preliminary injunction through “creative relabeling.”

    By June 13, 2025
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    Tennessee and SFFA sue over funding for Hispanic-serving institutions

    The U.S. Department of Education’s longtime HSI grant program undercuts equal opportunity and is discriminatory, the state and advocacy group argued.

    By June 12, 2025
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    Michigan representative introduces proposal to explicitly ban antisemitism

    If passed, the legislation would formally ban educational institutions from discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, in addition to other protected classes.

    By Caroline Colvin • June 12, 2025
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    Higher education overhaul: How GOP senators’ plan differs from House bill

    The two versions agree on consolidating repayment plans and adding accountability for student outcomes, but vary in key ways. 

    By June 12, 2025
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    Northwestern freezes hiring and cuts budgets to combat ‘increasing strain’ on finances

    The highly selective university faces funding threats from the Trump administration along with rising costs and proposed policy changes.

    By June 11, 2025
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    Proposed Ohio budget would increase influence of university ‘intellectual diversity’ centers

    If passed, the bill would create the Ohio Civics Board and give the centers' current directors oversight of the selection of their successors.

    By June 10, 2025