Policy & Legal
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Energy Department withdraws controversial Title IX athletics rule
The department's efforts, which could have been a trial run for other agencies to set education policy, were stymied by public opposition.
By Naaz Modan • Sept. 12, 2025 -
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Federal judge declines to restore $1B in grants cut by NSF
The lawsuit over the agency’s mass grant terminations will proceed, but plaintiffs will have to seek monetary relief in another court.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 11, 2025 -
US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Education Department cancels $350M in grants for minority-serving institutions
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday decried the funding as promoting "government-mandated racial quotas."
By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 11, 2025 -
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Texas A&M fires professor after viral video, raising free speech concerns
The termination came the day after a state lawmaker shared the clip and accused the professor of perpetuating "DEI and LGBTQ indoctrination.”
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 10, 2025 -
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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 Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 10, 2025 -
Caroline Colvin/Higher Ed Dive
DOL says it’s thinking about overtime as it provides timelines for regulations
The agency said it intends to revisit its overtime regulations but did not disclose a deadline by which to issue an update on the subject.
By Ryan Golden • Sept. 10, 2025 -
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How many undocumented students are enrolled at US colleges?
More than 500,000 students without legal status attend colleges nationwide, but Trump administration policies could hinder their enrollment.
By Danielle McLean • Sept. 9, 2025 -
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Education Department seeks to offer ‘proactive’ federal student loan guidance
The agency is revamping the Office of the Ombudsman to increase financial literacy and share the risks and benefits of student loans to potential borrowers.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 8, 2025 -
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Education Department wants to streamline process for pulling federal funds from colleges
A coming regulatory proposal could make it easier to terminate financial assistance to institutions that the agency finds have violated civil rights laws.
By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 5, 2025 -
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University of California would need $5B if it lost federal funding, leader says
The public university system’s president warned of a “distinct possibility” that the Trump administration would take further action against it.
By Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 5, 2025 -
Courtesy of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
‘Blatantly unconstitutional’: Student groups sue over Texas law limiting campus protests
The state enacted a law earlier this year that bans expressive activities “protected by the First Amendment” at public colleges from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 4, 2025 -
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Federal judge strikes down Trump administration’s $2.2B funding freeze at Harvard
Comments from President Donald Trump showed his concerns about the university were "untethered from antisemitism," the judge wrote.
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 3, 2025 -
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 Ben Unglesbee • Sept. 3, 2025 -
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DOJ sues Illinois over in-state tuition for undocumented students
A spokesperson for Gov. JB Pritzker pushed back on the lawsuit, saying the state's policies "are consistent with federal laws.”
By Laura Spitalniak • Sept. 3, 2025 -
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GOP-led House panel proposes 15% cut to Education Department
The Appropriations Committee’s plan would fulfill several of President Donald Trump’s wishes, though it would keep the maximum Pell Grant at $7,395.
By Natalie Schwartz • Sept. 2, 2025 -
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Ohio enacted a law to regulate online program managers. Here’s what it does.
The state became the second to create legislation to oversee companies that help colleges launch and run online programs.
By Danielle McLean • Sept. 2, 2025 -
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Trump administration proposes 4-year cap on international student visas
The proposed rule has been panned by student advocates, one of whom argued it represents a "dangerous overreach by government into academia.”
By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 28, 2025 -
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6 higher education trends to watch for in the 2025-26 academic year
We're keeping tabs on major sector news, including regulatory shifts, research funding cuts and challenges to in-state tuition for undocumented students.
By Natalie Schwartz , Laura Spitalniak , Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 28, 2025 -
Ohio University to cut 11 academic programs to comply with new law
A sweeping higher education law enacted this year requires the state’s public colleges to end undergraduate programs that award low numbers of degrees.
By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 27, 2025 -
Alex Brandon/AP
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 Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 26, 2025 -
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Cornell University plans to restructure later this year amid federal funding declines
The Ivy League institution's leaders said efforts to save costs and centralize operations will “inevitably” lead to workforce reductions.
By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 25, 2025 -
Judge strikes down Minnesota dual enrollment program’s ban on faith statements
Two Christian colleges sued the state over the 2023 law, arguing it infringed on their religious freedom.
By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 25, 2025 -
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George Mason University violated civil rights law, Education Department alleges
The agency singled out the university’s president and called for him to publicly apologize "for promoting unlawful discriminatory practices."
By Natalie Schwartz • Aug. 22, 2025 -
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‘Wrong and deeply disappointing’: Supreme Court halts order restoring NIH grants
The high court's decision potentially made it much more difficult for researchers to have their grants reinstated.
By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 22, 2025 -
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Haverford College faces Education Department investigation into antisemitism
The probe into the Pennsylvania liberal arts college is only the latest in a string from the Trump administration as it seeks to crack down on higher education.
By Laura Spitalniak • Aug. 21, 2025
