Leadership


  • George Mason University's campus
    Image attribution tooltip
    John M. Chase via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Virginia Democrats accuse George Mason board leader of ‘untenable ethical conflict’

    The lawmakers called for Charles Stimson to recuse himself in negotiations with the Trump administration, but he reportedly rebuffed those demands. 

    By Sept. 10, 2025
  • ECU sign on campus
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by COGpio is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    East Carolina University eyes $25M in cuts

    The three-year savings goal would be met through permanent cuts, academic program changes and operational restructuring, the public institution said.

    By Updated Sept. 9, 2025
  • A view of two campus buildings at George Mason University
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Ron Cogswell is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    George Mason University’s board looks to negotiate with Trump administration

    The governing body wants a resolution to claims by the U.S. Department of Education that the public institution violated civil rights law.

    By Sept. 3, 2025
  • South façade of the Cobb Gate at the University of Chicago.
    Image attribution tooltip
    urbsinhorto1837 via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    University of Chicago braces for job cuts amid effort to shed $100M in costs

    The private institution is taking dramatic steps like pausing doctoral enrollment for several programs as it faces rising expenses and federal policy shifts. 

    By Sept. 2, 2025
  • North-facing view of Catholic University of America.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Catholic University of America
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    Catholic University’s president on balancing budget cuts with growth

    The institution laid off 7% of its staff this year, but leaders first raised money for separation packages and a plan for future growth.

    By Sept. 2, 2025
  • .
    Image attribution tooltip

    Alex Brandon/AP

    Image attribution tooltip

    George Mason University leader rebukes Trump administration’s apology demand

    President Gregory Washington’s lawyer called the U.S. Department of Education's allegations of Title VI violations "a legal fiction" in a Monday letter.

    By Aug. 26, 2025
  • Old Main academic building on campus of Utah State University, Logan Utah.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Robert_Ford/iStock via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Utah State University to face state audit amid concerns about former leader’s spending

    An initial review raised concerns about the public institution’s “governance, leadership, and culture of policy noncompliance.”

    By Aug. 20, 2025
  • Historic Capitol Building on the University of Iowa Campus
    Image attribution tooltip
    dosecreative via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    University of Iowa launches ‘proactive’ committee to hunt for revenue and boost efficiency

    Officials said they're launching the initiative, dubbed Resparc, “from a position of financial health” as the higher ed sector faces choppy waters.

    By Aug. 19, 2025
  • MAGA hats sit next to an executive order being signed by President Donald Trump
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACUBO '25

    ‘Everything, everywhere, all at once’: How Trump has upended higher ed finance in 2025

    Experts at the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ annual conference broke down the wave of policy changes the sector is facing.

    By July 31, 2025
  • Santa Ono, incoming president of the University of Michigan
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by U423310 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    ‘Who’s going to want these jobs?’: How the role of college president is changing

    Public policy professor James Finkelstein spoke with Higher Ed Dive about the increased political and private sector influence on higher education’s top role.

    By July 30, 2025
  • An image of the campus of california state university fullerton
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by The California State University system
    Image attribution tooltip
    NACUBO '25

    How Cal State is betting on shared services amid funding cuts

    Campuses are increasingly collaborating on backend services to save costs and become nimbler in a tough financial environment.

    By July 28, 2025
  • George Mason University sign
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Ron Cogswell is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    ‘Inadequate and deeply troubling’: George Mason AAUP votes no confidence in board

    The group blasted the governing body, alleging it failed to defend the university and its president amid successive investigations by the Trump administration.

    By July 23, 2025
  • A view of two campus buildings at George Mason University
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Ron Cogswell is licensed under CC BY 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trump administration opens a fourth probe into George Mason University

    The federal government is ratcheting up pressure on the institution through a flurry of investigations, with the latest focused on its admissions practices. 

    By July 22, 2025
  • A Temple University building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Temple University to lay off 50 employees

    The public institution is cutting 190 positions in an effort to slash its $60 million deficit in half.

    By July 21, 2025
  • Stone hall surrounded by grass and weeds on a sunny day.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by TulGuy is licensed under CC BY 1.0
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column // College Closure Files

    Bacone College shut down after 145 years. What went wrong?

    The Oklahoma institution had shaky finances for years. And some insiders have accused it of straying from its mission of serving Native American students. 

    By July 14, 2025
  • University of Virginia
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joel Carillet via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    ‘Outrageous’: Democratic lawmakers speak out against UVA president’s forced resignation

    Jim Ryan abruptly stepped down following reports that the U.S. Department of Justice was pressuring him to resign over the university’s diversity efforts.

    By July 1, 2025
  • Image of college campus gate, closed.
    Image attribution tooltip
    EvgeniiAnd/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Column // Merger Watch

    How can college officials know if they’re ready to lead ‘Big Scary Change’?

    They should consider if they hold views counter to successfully leading an institution through a merger or acquisition, one consolidation expert says.

    By Ricardo Azziz • June 30, 2025
  • A few students sit outside Temple University's library.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Anna Kapustina via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Temple University eyes job reductions amid $60M deficit for FY26

    The public institution’s president said that enrollment is starting to rebound after a steep drop since 2017, but costs have increased much more quickly.

    By June 20, 2025
  • A college campus with a building in the background during fall.
    Image attribution tooltip
    sshepard via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    4 ways colleges can prepare for an uncertain future

    Federal funding and enrollment have been upended. But college leaders can take steps to ready their institutions for a changing landscape, consultants say. 

    By Lilah Burke • June 9, 2025
  • A sign reading "The Pennsylvania State University" at the entrance of the institution's main campus.
    Image attribution tooltip
    wellesenterprises via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Penn State University’s board greenlights plan to close 7 campuses

    A 25-8 vote sets in motion the plan to pare down the university’s commonwealth campuses to 13 after spring 2027.

    By May 27, 2025
  • Harvard University, Lamont Library, Harvard library
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sophie Park / Stringer via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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 Old Main building in the campus of University of Arizona in downtown Tucson, Arizona, USA. University of Arizona is a public education institution founded in 1885 with a student enrollment of more
    Image attribution tooltip
    aimintang via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    University of Arizona has balanced budget in sight after massive deficits

    A preliminary budget plan for fiscal 2026 would cut 3.2% across the board, with the largest reductions hitting administration and university support.

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Podcast cover image featuring the title "EdTech Evolution" with logos for VitalSource and Higher Ed Dive, and an icon of a digital grade report.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Danielle Ternes/Higher Ed Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    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
  • Two people discussing and working on a project together
    Image attribution tooltip

    Elon University

    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Elon University

    Undergraduate research thrives through faculty collaborations

    Intentionally building strategies for interdisciplinary research benefits both students and faculty.

    April 14, 2025