State Policy

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    Retrieved from The Florida Channel on September 04, 2026
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    Florida bans undocumented students from selective public universities

    By approving the policy Thursday, the State University System of Florida’s board effectively shut undocumented students out of its 12 institutions.

    By • Sept. 4, 2026
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    Opinion

    Not enough students know about work-based learning opportunities

    Proving the effectiveness of paths such as apprenticeships can help students know their options, writes an Urban Institute senior fellow. 

    By Karen Gardiner • Sept. 3, 2026
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    Tennessee’s free community college program ‘pays for itself,’ working paper finds

    The Tennessee Promise program — the first of its kind in the country — successfully boosted college enrollment and attainment, analysis showed.

    By Jamaal Abdul-Alim • Sept. 1, 2026
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Texas governor pushes for 3-year degree pathways

    Greg Abbott directed the state’s higher education board to convene a working group to provide recommendations on accelerated programs by year’s end.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
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    The image by Ben P L is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    University of Utah to shutter Sandy location in January

    Fall classes will continue as scheduled for the 660 students who have already signed up, the university said.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
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    The image by RJN is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    University of Houston slashes 40% of courses from its core curriculum

    The Texas institution cut about 100 classes, including in women’s and LGBT studies, to comply with a state law mandating general education reviews.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    UT Austin plans massive overhaul to core curriculum

    A task force called for making the university's general education more narrow and focused on topics such as Western civilization and broad U.S. history.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
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    University of Nebraska board approves cutting programs with low enrollment

    The eliminations come after a bruising budget-saving push to eliminate degrees last year at the system’s Lincoln campus.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
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    RoosterHD via Getty Images
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    The Heritage Foundation releases sweeping model bill to overhaul higher ed

    The conservative think tank framed the proposal as a way for state lawmakers to “codify the principles” of the Trump administration’s higher ed compact.

    By • Aug. 7, 2026
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    AAUP sues Texas A&M System over teaching limits on race and gender

    The American Association of University Professors and four faculty members allege that those restrictions violate free speech rights. 

    By • Aug. 4, 2026
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    $23M awarded to Massachusetts colleges, state facilities for clean energy projects

    The state grants will cover up to 45% of the cost for large-scale projects, such as implementing energy efficiency measures.

    By Joe Burns • July 31, 2026
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    The image by Jess P. Jordan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Texas community college funding model faces ‘growing pains’

    Although leaders praised the performance-based formula, they asked lawmakers to provide sufficient money for it.

    By • July 30, 2026
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Texas public colleges can consider CLT in admissions, state official says

    Institutions can immediately consider Classic Learning Test scores for certain applicants as the state higher education board looks to revise its policies. 

    By • July 28, 2026
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    Courtesy of Ian Couch courtesy of the Washington State Office of the Governor
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    Washington governor eyes FAFSA requirement for high school students

    Since taking office last year, Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson has prioritized increasing the state’s completion rate of the federal aid form.

    By • July 15, 2026
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    Penn State, Temple and Pitt get boost from new performance-based funding

    A new $10 million pool of performance-based funds adds money to long-stagnant appropriations but falls short of higher education leaders’ hopes.

    By • July 15, 2026
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    University of Nebraska System braces for unexpected $36M state funding cut

    “There are limits to what can be achieved through continued reductions,” the system’s president said as ever-deepening austerity measures loom.

    By • July 13, 2026
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    What does the Supreme Court’s transgender athlete ruling mean for higher ed?

    The landmark decision has big implications for transgender students — and the Title IX and litigation landscape for colleges.

    By David Weisenfeld • July 13, 2026
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    The image by Johan Hendrikse is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    AAUP sues over Texas Tech classroom instruction limits

    The national faculty group, alongside a local affiliate, asked a judge to block the directives and rule them unconstitutional.

    By • July 8, 2026
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    Florida loses appeal over college accreditation

    A panel of three federal judges rejected Florida’s argument that the system unconstitutionally delegates “unchecked authority” to private agencies.

    By • July 7, 2026
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    Permission granted by Will Simpson Photography
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    Florida’s Stop WOKE act struck down for colleges on appeal

    Tuesday’s ruling called the state’s attempt to limit classroom discussion "a breathtaking assertion of power to ban unpopular ideas from public discourse."

    By • July 7, 2026
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    Florida state board bans undocumented students from college system

    One analysis estimates that the policy could cost the 28-institution system $15 million a year in lost tuition and fee revenue. 

    By • July 2, 2026
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Stuart Bell confirmed as University of Florida president after chaotic approval process

    The former University of Alabama leader faced a delayed system-level vote and right-wing pushback over his past support for diversity efforts.

    By • July 1, 2026
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    Virginia and Ohio join effort to design 3-year bachelor’s degrees

    While some say such degrees could increase college affordability, two groups blasted them as “stripped-down curriculum that prioritizes speed.”

    By • June 29, 2026
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    The image by Farragutful is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    North Carolina Republicans ban DEI at public colleges

    The new law took effect immediately and came after legislators overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.

    By • June 29, 2026
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    Ohio bill would broaden power of university civics center directors

    The politically created academic centers have drawn fierce criticism from faculty, who say they expand state intrusion into higher education.

    By • June 26, 2026