Policy & Legal: Page 2

Maryland to give state HBCUs $577M to end long-running lawsuit

The schools can use the funds, which will be spread over 10 years, to develop new programs and support students.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 24, 2021

Midwest accreditor's latest move highlights shift in college oversight

The Higher Learning Commission plans to pilot differential accreditation based on institution type and mission, but details are scant so far.

By Hallie Busta • March 19, 2021

Lawmakers reintroduced the College Transparency Act. Could it pass this time?

Advocates for the bill to track colleges' student-level outcomes say growing bipartisan support could usher it through Congress. 

By Natalie Schwartz • March 19, 2021

Ed Dept gives colleges more flexibility to use federal relief funds

New guidance allows institutions to use the money on expenses incurred any time during the pandemic, a shift from the last administration.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 19, 2021

Iowa bills would ban 'divisive concepts' in public colleges' diversity training

The measures are similar to restrictions that the Trump administration issued and that President Joe Biden has since rescinded.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 18, 2021

Tennessee governor seeks to shut down Confucius Institutes at state colleges

The legislation introduced by Bill Lee would also require institutions to report foreign gifts worth more than $10,000.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 17, 2021

California lawmakers weigh 2 bills to ease students' path to a bachelor's

One proposal would permanently allow the state's community colleges to offer four-year degrees, while the other would bolster an existing transfer program.

By Natalie Schwartz • March 12, 2021

Kansas lawmakers press proposal to mandate tuition refunds

The measure would require colleges to pay back students for instructional days that were canceled or made virtual by the pandemic.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 12, 2021

The new relief bill has $350B for local and state governments. Will colleges benefit?

Targeted funding in the coronavirus rescue package could help states avoid drastic cuts to higher education.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 11, 2021

New Biden executive order calls for review of Title IX rule

The evaluation will determine whether the Trump-era regulation aligns with the new administration's priorities.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 08, 2021

Deep Dive

As Pell Grants open up for incarcerated students, programs ready for growth

Advocates are hopeful the change will increase access to a college education in prison, but they warn of persistent challenges.

By Joy Resmovits • March 05, 2021

Ed Dept advisory group recommends pulling ACICS' federal recognition

A final decision about the fate of the national accreditor's ability to oversee colleges will be made by a senior department official.

By Hallie Busta • UPDATED: March 5, 2021 at 4:02 p.m.

115 House Democrats ask Cardona to reverse the Ed Dept's Title IX rule

Lawmakers are asking the newly minted Education Secretary to work with the Justice Department to block the regulation, which took effect last August.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • UPDATED: March 3, 2021 at 5:01 p.m.

Florida governor pushes for oversight of colleges' ties to foreign entities

Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is promoting legislation requiring schools to disclose gifts from sources outside the U.S. worth $50,000 or more.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 02, 2021

Senate confirms Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary

The Connecticut public schools chief lauded community colleges and career and technical training during his earlier confirmation hearing.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • March 01, 2021

Biden signs coronavirus relief legislation, sending $40B to colleges

The measure also overhauls the 90/10 rule and requires states to maintain their levels of education spending.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • UPDATED: March 11, 2021 at 2:29 p.m.

Higher Learning Commission may be the next regional accreditor to expand service area

The accreditor, which historically has overseen colleges in the middle of the country, may allow qualifying schools to skip candidacy status.

By Hallie Busta • Feb. 26, 2021

Anti-affirmative action group sues Yale over its use of race in admissions

Students for Fair Admissions is also asking the Supreme Court to take up a similar complaint against Harvard.

By Hallie Busta • Feb. 25, 2021

Congress is deciding the future of the 90/10 rule. Here's what you need to know.

The relief package lawmakers are considering includes a measure that would further restrain how much federal aid for-profit colleges can receive.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 24, 2021

Vermont State Colleges merger plan moves forward

The system will pursue "significant administrative consolidation" as part of a proposal to unite its three residential colleges.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Feb. 23, 2021

New Hampshire governor's budget pitch would send millions of dollars less to colleges post-merger

Chris Sununu, a Republican, has said his proposal to combine the state's two- and four-year networks would help students access classes.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Feb. 22, 2021

Biden pares back Trump apprenticeship program

The administration is asking the Labor Department to end a system that shifted oversight of programs from the federal government to colleges and employers.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 18, 2021

Iowa lawmakers advance bills that would kill tenure at public universities

The measures follow a temporary policy change by the Kansas board of regents last month that would make it easier to lay off tenured faculty.

By Hallie Busta • Feb. 16, 2021

Report finds nearly 1M unique credentials on offer in US

Nonacademic groups account for more than half of the programs, while colleges provided almost 360,000.

By Natalie Schwartz • Feb. 11, 2021

New Hampshire governor proposes merging two- and four-year college systems

Other states are considering consolidation as the health crisis exacerbates long-standing budget pressures.

By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf • Feb. 11, 2021