Policy & Legal
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Penn undergoes another round of budget-tightening measures
The Ivy League institution directed leaders of its schools and centers to reduce “certain expenditures” by 4% amid federal policy headwinds.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 30, 2026 -
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Accreditors brace for more change under the Trump administration
At the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s conference, leaders shared how they’re trying to chart a path forward amid political uncertainty.
By Ben Unglesbee • Updated Jan. 30, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineArtificial 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 -
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The trends, policies and lawsuits that will shape higher ed in 2026
We’re rounding up our outlooks for the year ahead, with expert insight on what college leaders should be watching.
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 30, 2026 -
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Deep Dive4 policy trends that should be on college leaders’ radars in 2026
From accreditation to civil rights probes, we’re rounding up policy shifts we’ll be watching — and expert predictions on how they’ll unfold — for the year ahead.
By Ben Unglesbee , Natalie Schwartz , Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 29, 2026 -
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Texas governor pauses new H-1B visas at public colleges
Under Gov. Greg Abbott’s moratorium, colleges have until March 27 to fulfill state data requests about the workers they employ under the visa program.
By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Nevada higher ed leaders approve hefty tuition hike for public colleges
The 8-5 vote by the state college system’s governing board will ultimately raise tuition by 12% at four-year institutions and 9% for two-year colleges.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 28, 2026 -
US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Education Department moves to overhaul accreditation regulations
The agency wants to make it easier for new accreditors to gain recognition and to curb diversity, equity and inclusion standards, per a Federal Register notice.
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 27, 2026 -
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Deep Dive5 higher ed lawsuits to watch in 2026
The Trump administration is at the center of major unfolding litigation, from efforts to cap overhead research funding to attacks on Harvard University.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 27, 2026 -
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Week in review: A look back at higher ed under Trump 2.0’s first year
We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from pushback against President Donald Trump’s government in court to the latest congressional budget moves.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 26, 2026 -
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Deep DiveDoes Northwestern’s $75M Trump deal stifle speech?
First Amendment experts break down the free speech implications of the heavily scrutinized agreement to restore the university’s research funding.
By David Weisenfeld • Jan. 26, 2026 -
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Education Department halts effort to implement controversial anti-DEI letter
The agency dropped its appeal of a court ruling against guidance aimed at ending race-based programs in colleges and schools.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 22, 2026 -
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Florida proposal seeks 1-year pause on H-1B hires at public universities
The draft policy comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis directed the state’s public university system to end what he described as “H-1B abuse.”
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 22, 2026 -
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University of Pennsylvania rebuffs EEOC demand for employee records
The Ivy League institution said it is objecting to creating lists of workers that would “reveal their Jewish faith or ancestry” over safety and other concerns.
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 22, 2026 -
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Federal policy uncertainty is disrupting planning, college leaders say
Concerns loom large about institutional autonomy and long-term financial viability, an American Council on Education survey found.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 21, 2026 -
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Congress moves to reject Trump plan to slash Education Department funding
A bipartisan 2026 spending proposal from both legislative chambers would preserve funding for a litany of student support programs.
By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 20, 2026 -
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Deep DiveTrump 2.0’s impact on higher ed: The first year in 8 numbers
A chaotic 2025 brought dozens of federal college probes, thousands of revoked international student visas, and billions in threatened research funding.
By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 20, 2026 -
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Week in review: Federal lawmakers reject drastic cuts to scientific research
We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from one California arts college announcing its closure to insights from the latest enrollment data.
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 19, 2026 -
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Portland State agrees to reinstate 10 laid-off faculty members
Although officials are complying with a recent arbitration order, the university’s president contends the reductions were “necessary and appropriate.”
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 16, 2026 -
Retrieved from U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions.
Education Department launches 18 Title IX transgender athlete investigations
The new string of investigations into some colleges and schools comes on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the issue this week.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 14, 2026 -
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Supreme Court weighs state restrictions on transgender student athletes
Justices heard back-to-back oral arguments Tuesday over two cases that could determine whether such bans are constitutional.
By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 14, 2026 -
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Texas just made it easier for students to report DEI, faculty senate violations
The Students First portal is meant to give "the public easy access to file complaints" about colleges, a new state oversight office said.
By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 13, 2026 -
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Senate advances bills rejecting Trump’s efforts to slash research funding
The White House sought cuts of 40% or more at some agencies, but lawmakers from both parties are pushing to hold science spending relatively steady.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 13, 2026 -
Laura Spitalniak/Higher Ed Dive
How Oregon’s top higher ed board wants to solve university deficits
The state's Higher Education Coordinating Commission recommended "institutional integration" and regular audits of academic programs.
By Laura Spitalniak • Jan. 13, 2026 -
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Supreme Court to hear arguments in transgender student athlete cases
Justices on Tuesday will weigh whether Title IX protects transgender athletes or bans them from participating on teams aligning with their gender identity.
By Naaz Modan • Jan. 12, 2026 -
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California public colleges would get millions in new funding under Newsom plan
Gov. Gavin Newsom's fiscal 2027 budget proposal represents a sharp turnaround from last year, when he advocated for big higher ed cuts.
By Ben Unglesbee • Jan. 12, 2026
