Dozens more colleges get delay in submitting race and sex admissions data

A federal judge extended the deadline for several private colleges and higher education groups to submit data to the U.S. Department of Education.

By Natalie Schwartz • April 8, 2026

Southern Oregon University gets $15M lifeline from the state

The public institution was facing a looming cash crunch. Now it needs a plan to balance its budget and operate in the future without increased state help.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 8, 2026

Explore the 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, coursework and elsewhere.

By Higher Ed Dive staff

What’s inside the Education Department’s draft proposals to overhaul accreditation?

The proposed changes would ease the pathway for new accreditors and require agencies to have standards requiring intellectual diversity among faculty. 

By Natalie Schwartz • April 8, 2026

Kansas governor must veto anti-DEI college bill, PEN America says

Conservative lawmakers added a ban on required "DEI-CRT" courses to the state's budget package, which now sits on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 7, 2026

Court blocks Education Department’s data demands for 17 states’ colleges

A judge issued a preliminary injunction, citing the agency’s rushed timeline for collecting large swaths of new data on race and sex in admissions.

By Ben Unglesbee • April 6, 2026

How higher ed would fare in Trump’s latest budget proposal

It seeks to eliminate key student access programs, cut $354 million in grants for minority-serving institutions and trim U.S. Department of Education funding. 

By Natalie Schwartz • April 3, 2026

DOL seeks to hike H-1B visa holder wage rates to curb ‘abuse’ of program

Employers should expect the changes, which revive a regulatory effort from the first Trump era, to disrupt their skilled worker hiring plans, one attorney said.

By Ryan Golden • April 3, 2026

Indiana public colleges to cut or merge about 580 programs due to state law

A new statute took effect last year that seeks to cull academic offerings that produce low numbers of graduates.

By Natalie Schwartz • April 3, 2026

Oregon public colleges to face state review of operations, programs

Gov. Tina Kotek signed into law a measure mandating a study recommending ways to put the state's institutions on better financial footing.

By Natalie Schwartz • April 2, 2026

Penn must turn over Jewish employee records to EEOC, judge rules

The agency has requested extensive data — including employee contact information and survey responses — as part of a federal antisemitism probe.

By Laura Spitalniak • April 1, 2026

Higher ed groups urge GSA to rescind anti-DEI certification proposal

The General Services Administration proposed new certification requirements for federal funding recipients like colleges, raising alarms in the sector. 

By Natalie Schwartz • April 1, 2026

More colleges get delay on submitting new admissions data

A federal judge gave members of two higher education groups until April 14 before they must submit data on their applicants and admits by race and sex.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 31, 2026

DOJ lawsuit dismissed over Minnesota tuition and aid laws for undocumented students

The Trump administration has sued seven states over policies allowing undocumented students to receive in-state tuition at public colleges.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 30, 2026

Kentucky Senate passes bill making it easier to cut faculty

Faculty groups have slammed the measure, which would allow boards to terminate instructors who teach programs with low enrollment or revenue.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 27, 2026

Trump order directs federal contractors to dump DEI — or risk canceled contracts

Agencies must insert a clause by April 25 in their contracts that requires colleges and other partners to abstain from "discriminatory" DEI activities.

By Emilie Shumway , Natalie Schwartz • March 27, 2026

Education Department now has 10 interagency agreements: Here are the details

Supporters say outsourcing will reduce federal bureaucracy. Critics claim it adds confusion to federal grantmaking and technical support services.

By Kara Arundel • March 27, 2026

University of Alabama students sue over suspended magazines

Plaintiffs say the university’s cancellation of two publications over their focus on women and Black audiences violated the First Amendment.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 24, 2026

Inside the ‘minefield’ of Indiana’s intellectual diversity law

The measure aims to promote diverse viewpoints in classrooms. But some experts say it's part of a troubling trend to restrict certain speech in classrooms.

By Danielle McLean • March 24, 2026

DOJ sues Harvard in bid to recoup federal grants, cut off future access

In Friday court filings, the Trump administration again accused the university of failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from antisemitism and harassment.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 20, 2026

Education Department to shift student loan duties to Treasury

The U.S. Department of Treasury plans to take “operational responsibility” for defaulted loans before eventually managing the entire $1.7 trillion portfolio. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 19, 2026

Higher ed organizations press Congress to quickly fill Pell funding gaps

Over 60 groups signed a letter to top lawmakers raising concerns about a multi-billion dollar shortfall in fiscal 2026 and beyond for the key student aid program.

By Ben Unglesbee • March 19, 2026

Education Department official warns 2 accreditors over DEI standards

Under Secretary Nicholas Kent raised concerns about the agencies' diversity, equity and inclusion requirements even though they have been suspended.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 18, 2026

Iowa Senate panel blocks anti-DEI bill targeting private colleges

The state Legislature is still weighing a bevy of legislation that could dramatically reshape Iowa's public universities.

By Laura Spitalniak • March 17, 2026

Does requiring professors to post their syllabi threaten free speech?

Some First Amendment experts defended these requirements, but others view them as politically motivated and meant to suppress certain classroom topics.

By David Weisenfeld • March 17, 2026

Federal judge again bumps deadline for new race and sex admissions data

Colleges covered by a lawsuit from 17 attorneys general now have until April 6 to fulfill the U.S. Department of Education's reporting requirements.

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated March 24, 2026