Policy & Legal

NYU agrees to improve student housing accessibility under ADA

An agreement with the Justice Department covers some 4,000 student housing units across more than 30 facilities the nonprofit university owns and leases.

By Rick Seltzer • Nov. 23, 2022

UC Berkeley agrees to make online content accessible to settle Justice Department lawsuit

The university’s videos, podcasts and MOOCs are inaccessible to people with hearing, vision and manual disabilities, the agency says. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated Nov. 25, 2022

ABA proposal to end admissions testing requirements passes next hurdle

The change would not take effect until fall 2025 if it wins final approval in a vote scheduled for February.

By Laura Spitalniak • Nov. 18, 2022

Federal attorneys can now recommend student loan discharges in bankruptcy proceedings

Officials tout new student loan bankruptcy process as more fair and accessible, but consumer advocates say much depends on how it's put in place.

By Rick Seltzer • Nov. 17, 2022

Federal judge temporarily halts enforcement of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act in public colleges

The law stops faculty from discussing certain race-related topics, a prohibition the judge called “dystopian.”

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 17, 2022

Judge approves Sweet v. Cardona student debt relief settlement, but likely appeal looms

The deal would cancel $6 billion in student loans for students who say the Education Department didn't respond to allegations 151 colleges misled them.

By Rick Seltzer , Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 17, 2022

Discover concludes student loan probe

While the card company said it has finished its own investigation into its student loan servicing practices, it may still be subject to regulatory probes.

By Caitlin Mullen • Nov. 16, 2022

Congress passes bill voiding NDAs in cases of sexual assault, harassment; Biden expected to sign

The act would allow those who experienced sexual assault or harassment in the workplace — and who signed NDAs — to talk about their experiences.

By Emilie Shumway • Nov. 16, 2022

Final arguments unfold as Sweet v. Cardona settlement nears conclusion

U.S. District Judge William Alsup heard arguments this week from the Biden administration as well as colleges that oppose the deal.

By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 11, 2022

Federal judge declares Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan unlawful

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, a Trump appointee, vacated the program in his ruling, saying it infringes on Congress’ powers.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Updated Nov. 11, 2022

Off-campus students lack equitable access to broadband, researchers say

College leaders should include internet costs when calculating a student's financial need, study suggests.

By Laura Spitalniak • Nov. 10, 2022

Blunder renders Harvard’s $15M insurance policy useless in Supreme Court case

A federal judge ruled the Ivy League institution failed to properly alert an insurer about the case.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 9, 2022

A rising share of student loan borrowers are struggling to pay their other debts, watchdog says

But the Biden administration’s debt relief plan could help a large chunk of these borrowers, according to a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau analysis.

By Natalie Schwartz • Nov. 3, 2022

Education Department failed to properly report on policy experiments at colleges, agency watchdog says

The department said by the end of the year it will produce for Congress a comprehensive summary of all the recent trials.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Nov. 2, 2022

Supreme Court justices question when race-conscious college admissions can end

During oral arguments for two highly watched lawsuits, conservative justices also repeatedly asked the parties to define diversity.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 31, 2022

Education Department releases final rules on borrower defense to repayment, closed school discharge

New regulations set to take effect July 1 are an effort to hold colleges accountable while supporting students, officials say.

By Rick Seltzer • Oct. 31, 2022

Education Department finalizes 90/10 rule, college ownership regulations

The agency also finished work on a policy that will allow incarcerated students to receive federal Pell Grants.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 28, 2022

Education Department touts new flexibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, income-driven repayment plans

The agency will credit borrowers for past payments, even late or partial ones, on PSLF and income-based plans.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 25, 2022

What colleges need to know about problems with student loan servicing

Watchdogs say colleges should consider the student loan landscape they’re asking students to enter. Here are key findings from a recent CFPB report.

By Lilah Burke • Oct. 25, 2022

Texas universities want to take back degrees for cheating. Can they?

The case stems from two public colleges attempting to revoke degrees more than a decade ago after academic misconduct allegations arose.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Oct. 24, 2022

A running list of lawsuits against Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan

The administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene after an appeals court blocked the president’s plan to forgive debt.

By Natalie Schwartz • Updated Nov. 21, 2022

Most Americans oppose laws that restrict faculty speech, poll finds

Younger people and Republicans were less likely to object to such restrictions, according to new polling data.

By Laura Spitalniak • Oct. 17, 2022

Education Department ramps up oversight of college banking deals following critical CFPB report

New report indicates more must be done to keep students from being guided to "school-endorsed products with junk fees," the CFPB's director says.

By Rick Seltzer • Updated Oct. 14, 2022

DeVry sues Education Department after it sought to recoup $23M in loan relief

Regulators' attempt to claw back borrower defense funds “will set a dangerous precedent that could profoundly impact every institution,” DeVry said.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 11, 2022

How the Education Department is defending student loan forgiveness in court

The Biden administration laid out its arguments supporting the plan in advance of a Wednesday hearing for a lawsuit seeking to stop it.

By Natalie Schwartz • Oct. 11, 2022