Policy & Legal: Page 2

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    Federal judge dismisses legal challenge to gainful employment rule

    Although the Biden-era rule survived litigation, the Trump administration is considering making changes to the regulations.

    By • Oct. 3, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    NIH temporarily restores UC grants under court order

    But in court filings this week, the federal agency reported some difficulties identifying which of the researcher grants it canceled needed to be reinstated.

    By • Oct. 3, 2025
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    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, courrsework and elsewhere

    By Higher Ed Dive staff
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    The image by Warren LeMay is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Washington University lays off over 300 employees

    The private St. Louis institution has also cut nearly 200 unfilled positions as it grapples with federal cuts, rising expenses and a heightened endowment tax.

    By • Oct. 2, 2025
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    Maddie Meyer via Getty Images
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    Harvard v. Trump

    HHS moves to cut Harvard off from all federal grants and contracts

    The agency's Office for Civil Rights on Monday recommended blocking the university's access to the funding to protect the public interest.

    By • Oct. 1, 2025
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Education Department can cut half of OCR staff for now, appeals court rules

    The order comes as the agency was complying with a prior court order to return its laid-off Office for Civil Rights staffers back to work.

    By Naaz Modan • Sept. 30, 2025
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    California State University faces systemwide EEOC probe over antisemitism concerns

    The federal agency has begun contacting faculty and staff members to “review allegations of antisemitism,” Chancellor Mildred García told the system. 

    By • Sept. 30, 2025
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    The image by Johan Hendrikse is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Texas Tech orders colleges to align instruction with Trump administration’s gender views

    The directive from Chancellor Tedd Mitchell immediately drew backlash from free speech advocates, with one attorney describing it as “obvious censorship.”

    By • Sept. 29, 2025
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    The image by Anup Khanal is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    University of South Dakota must reinstate professor on leave over Kirk comments, judge orders

    U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier said the instructor had a “fair chance of prevailing” in his lawsuit alleging the institution violated his free speech rights.

    By • Sept. 26, 2025
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    Education Department officially launches 2026-27 FAFSA form

    U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the rollout as the earliest in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid’s history. 

    By • Sept. 26, 2025
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    The image by Finetooth is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    Southern Oregon University to cut 23 programs and lay off 18 employees

    The public institution "is no longer a comprehensive university" and must pare down its academic offerings, according to a new board-approved plan.

    By • Sept. 25, 2025
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    Federal judge orders NIH to restore grants to UCLA

    The ruling also directs three federal agencies to reinstate grants cut en masse from University of California campuses under the Trump administration.

    By • Sept. 24, 2025
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    NACAC 2025

    Digging into diversity in college admissions

    Researchers pointed to disparities by race among prospective and admitted students during a Friday presentation at an annual admissions and counseling conference.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
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    Sophie Park via Getty Images
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    Harvard v. Trump

    Education Department gives Harvard 20 days to turn over admissions data

    The agency also put the university under increased federal oversight, arguing its finances are at risk due to the Trump administration’s own attacks.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
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    Permission granted by Lackawanna College
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    Opinion // President Speaks

    Lessons from a college merger on higher education’s next chapter

    Colleges that stay agile can withstand the shifting higher ed landscape and serve students better, according to Lackawanna College’s president.

    By Jill Murray • Sept. 22, 2025
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    Deep Dive

    What does the end of Grad PLUS loans mean for higher ed?

    The end of the 20-year program could push more students to the private loan market and force colleges to end some of their graduate offerings. 

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
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    The image by Cindy Kurman is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Kent State professor’s ‘Twitter tirade’ — not bias — caused opportunities to be revoked, court finds

    The professor lost out on a leadership role and lighter teaching load due to their online behavior, not because of retaliation, the three-judge panel ruled.

    By Emilie Shumway • Sept. 18, 2025
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    UC employees, unions sue Trump administration over ‘financial coercion’

    The government is seeking $1 billion and expansive access to University of California records, among other things, to settle antisemitism allegations.

    By • Sept. 17, 2025
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Invoking Charlie Kirk’s death, Texas launches new panels on campus speech

    The GOP-led committees will issue reports on “bias, discourse, and freedom of speech” amid concerns around free speech and expression in the state.

    By • Sept. 16, 2025
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    ACLU of Indiana sues Indiana State over termination of student worker funds

    The public university last month revoked funding for students to work at the Pride Center, a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit, citing recent federal guidance.

    By • Sept. 16, 2025
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    Alamy
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    Week in review: Professors fired over videos and comments on social media

    We’re rounding up last week’s stories, from posts on X leading to instructor terminations to looming regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.

    By • Sept. 15, 2025
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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 • Sept. 11, 2025
  • Linda McMahon arrives to the U.S. Department of Education's building in Washington, D.C., for her first day in office.
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    US Department of Education. (2025). "03042025 SLM First day in the Office-3" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
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    Education Department cancels $350M in grants for minority-serving institutions

    U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon decried the funding as promoting “government-mandated racial quotas.”

    By • 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 • 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 • Sept. 10, 2025