Our biggest stories of 2020

More younger students are going to online colleges, a growing role for OPMs and other deep dives from the year.

By Hallie Busta • Dec. 22, 2020

What makes MacKenzie Scott's gifts to colleges different from other donations

The billionaire philanthropist doesn't appear to have a personal connection to the schools and has said the money comes with no strings attached.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 18, 2020

Is the pandemic changing how much the public values college?

The health crisis has some questioning whether a degree is worth the money, new research shows. Efforts are underway to fix that.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 18, 2020

4 questions for colleges now that the US has a coronavirus vaccine

Still, it will likely be several months before most students and employees are vaccinated, experts say.

By Hallie Busta , Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 15, 2020

How one president helped his small college close a deficit and get off probation

Bernard Bull is leaving Goddard College, in Vermont, after guiding the school to stronger financial footing.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 15, 2020

Is Cal State's plan for in-person classes next fall an early indicator?

The 23-campus system has been among the first to announce how it will deliver courses each term during the pandemic.

By Hallie Busta • Dec. 10, 2020

College of the Year: The California State University system

One of the nation's most prominent systems opted early to stay online this fall, enabling it to plan ahead.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Dec. 9, 2020

President of the Year: Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College

Artis balanced health and equity concerns when opening campus this fall, a move observers say makes her a model for college leaders nationwide.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 9, 2020

Watchdog of the Year: The Daily Tar Heel

Student journalists at UNC-Chapel Hill are holding officials there accountable for their pandemic response, putting a spotlight on campus media nationwide.

By Hallie Busta • Dec. 9, 2020

The Higher Ed Dive Awards for 2020

Communication is a theme among this year's winners, who are cited for strong leadership during a tough period.

By Higher Ed Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

Catholic college petition shows continued resistance to budget cuts

Students and employees are urging schools to preserve jobs and academic programs in one of the latest examples of the growing collective action.

By Natalie Schwartz • Dec. 1, 2020

What role could colleges have in distributing coronavirus vaccines?

As the pharmaceutical industry inches toward a vaccine, experts predict campuses could be used as administration sites.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 30, 2020

Colleges are changing the status quo to make curriculum more inclusive

Protests this summer increased pressure on institutions to replace words with actions, but internal procedures and budgets can be limiting factors.

By Kelly Field • Nov. 24, 2020

Several large universities plan to increase coronavirus testing in the spring

After seeing outbreaks during the fall term, some colleges are rolling out more stringent safety protocols.

By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 24, 2020

Northeast governors urge coronavirus testing at colleges before break

Public health experts advise testing students before they leave as a way to stem the virus's spread, but not all colleges are requiring it.

By Hallie Busta • Nov. 18, 2020

PASSHE presidents exit as system gears up for overhaul

The network of struggling Pennsylvania institutions plans to combine six universities into two entities, likely with one leadership team and faculty each.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 18, 2020

College unions were on the rise before the pandemic, a trend unlikely to slow

Private nonprofit university workers, in particular, took to collective bargaining from 2013 to 2019, a new report shows.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 17, 2020

Over 50 liberal arts colleges team up to fight systemic racism on campus

The new alliance was formed in partnership with the University of Southern California's Race and Equity Center.

By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 12, 2020

Pandemic hasn't knocked college esports off its game

The booming industry of competitive online gaming that schools entered only a few years ago is still going strong in the shift online.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated Nov. 16, 2020

As Thanksgiving break nears, colleges prepare to cut students loose

Some residential campuses will bring students back after the holiday weekend. Here's what public health experts say they should consider.

By Hallie Busta • Nov. 10, 2020

President Speaks: How Southern New Hampshire is getting tuition to $10K per year

Paul LeBlanc gives an update on the university's progress toward a goal of offering students a lower price point and a wider range of modalities.

By Paul LeBlanc • Nov. 10, 2020

Ahead of his departure, Cal State Chancellor Tim White talks coronavirus, fall planning

The head of the 23-university system is retiring in January. He explains why he decided early that the universities would be online this term.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 28, 2020

Did colleges' quick move online ready faculty for a long-term shift?

You can't "unexpand what people now know," one instructor said. But logistics, cost and burnout are likely barriers to permanent virtual expansion.

By Hallie Busta • Oct. 20, 2020

Is it safe for colleges to send students home for winter break?

Many schools plan to end in-person classes before Thanksgiving. We asked public health experts what should factor into their wind-down plans.

By Hallie Busta • Oct. 16, 2020

A few colleges loosened fall grading policies. Will others follow?

Students nationwide are urging their schools to adopt pass/fail systems as they continue to adapt to the pandemic.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 15, 2020