National News
College campuses on heightened state of alert following string of threats
MSNBC -
A midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy was shot after mistaking a law enforcement officer for a threat. The incident follows a wave of violent threats against college campuses nationwide.
Democratic senator warns colleagues of ‘distorted system’ if college sports bill passes
ABC News -
The bill would provide limited antitrust exemption for the NCAA, override state laws governing paying players in favor of one national statute and remove the possibility of athletes being considered employees of their schools.
Charlie Kirk’s tour invited political debates on college campuses
ABC News -
Charlie Kirk launched his “American Comeback Tour” this fall, inviting students to debate him at college campuses across the country. The Turning Point USA founder, credited with mobilizing young voters, died during the tour’s first stop in Utah.
How Ohio State’s president is navigating an ever-changing higher education landscape
Ohio State President Ted Carter is balancing federal probes, new state laws, and campus pushback, aiming to preserve autonomy while navigating challenges around diversity and free speech.
Video of clash over gender-identity content in Texas A&M children’s lit class leads to firing, removals
After the video fueled outrage, a professor was fired and two college leaders removed from their administrative roles for approving content inconsistent with the course’s description.
In Trump era, Black students turn to HCBUs to preserve their history
As Trump pressures elite universities, HBCUs are seeing more Black students drawn to campuses that affirm their history and identity. But limited financial aid remains a major challenge.
Harvard is back to school for a year students and staff say will be a test case in free speech
NBC News -
While a judge recently ordered federal funding restored, international students in particular remain anxious about immigration enforcement and political expression.
How Ohio universities are embracing artificial intelligence
Ohio State University is launching a new artificial intelligence initiative this semester and is drafting guidelines on AI and plagiarism.
Tennessee technical colleges getting $1.5 billion facelift
Axios -
Administrators say upgrades underway now will boost capacity and weave in technology that better prepares students for the workplace.
How technology can transform accreditation and drive continuous improvement
UB Staff -
Accreditation’s decade-long review cycles often miss problems, but a new AEI report says technology-driven monitoring could modernize oversight and better serve students.
Sen. Brandon Creighton’s switch from lawmaking to Texas Tech leader signals a new era for higher ed
More Texas universities are turning to politicians to lead their systems, preferring political clout over academic credentials.
Harvard faces uncertainty ahead even after major court victory
UB Staff -
A federal judge restored $2 billion in research funding for Harvard, ruling the Trump administration’s freeze was unlawful and politically motivated. The White House said it will immediately appeal, keeping other universities on edge.
California’s newest homelessness solution is letting college kids sleep in their cars
SFGATE -
California is considering a bill to let homeless community college students sleep in their cars on campus. Supporters call it a needed safety net, while critics argue it’s costly and inhumane.
Colleges can now limit federal loans to students in certain programs
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” will let colleges cap federal student loans in certain majors starting in July 2026. Supporters say it will help students in lower-paying fields avoid unmanageable debt and protect schools from high default rates.
Virginia colleges take varied approach to AI education
Govtech -
Virginia colleges are taking varied approaches to AI, with professors setting classroom policies. Some ban AI-generated work, while others emphasize responsible use as a support tool.
Gen Z is more optimistic, if not fully engaged
Student engagement soars in 2025: 50% say school lets them do their best, up from 40% in 2023, survey finds.
College athletes will be paid by schools this season, but their future is messier than ever
NBC News -
A court settlement has opened the door for schools to share revenue with athletes, but clarity hasn’t followed. Instead, political fights, payment caps and questions about athletes’ rights are fueling one of the messiest transitions in college sports history.
Colleges face financial struggles as Trump policies send international enrollment plummeting
AP News -
Trump’s crackdown on international students has left colleges facing steep financial strain, with schools like the University of Central Missouri cutting costs and raising tuition to cope.
Indiana University allowing students to use AI with ChatGPT Edu rollout
WTHR -
The university’s deployment of the AI platform to 120,000 students, faculty and staff marks ChatGPT Edu’s second-largest launch ever.
Trump administration plans to limit how long foreign students can study in the U.S.
Politico -
The proposed rule would allow foreign students and exchange visitors to stay for the duration of their program, not to exceed a four-year period.
Colleges see significant drop in international students as fall semester begins
NPR -
Last year more than a million international students studied in the U.S., contributing about $43 billion into the U.S. economy. But researchers predict a drop of about 150,000 new international students this fall, leading to a decline of about 15% overall.
Utah launches Nucleus Institute to bring together higher education, industry and government
KSL.com -
The Nucleus Institute is the reimagining of the Utah Innovation Lab, creating a focused governance model, a new investment structure and a strategic framework to guide statewide innovation through higher education, private sector engagement and other emerging sectors.
A ‘college for all’ push thrived in New Orleans after Katrina. It wasn’t for everyone
NPR -
After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans schools emphasized college for all, but many students faced financial and personal struggles. Now, the KIPP charter school network has shifted its focus to both college and career options to better support students' diverse needs.
At some colleges, move-in day includes students’ dogs and cats
ABC News -
For students, the companionship can help reduce stress, anxiety and homesickness. The colleges also see benefits for student engagement and helping them build connections with one another.
Colleges across the country deal with shooting hoaxes as classes resume
NBC News -
Several universities across the U.S. issued shelter-in-place alerts on the first day of fall classes after reports of armed individuals on campus. Police later determined most were hoaxes or “swatting” calls—using temporary numbers and voice-masking apps—with no evidence of gunmen or violence found.
For international students, it’s back to school but not back to normal
WBUR -
Immigration and higher education experts said they haven't seen many international students turned away at the border yet. But these changes have bred uncertainty among new and returning scholars, said immigration attorney Dan Berger.
Justice Department backs lawsuit seeking to end grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional
CBS News -
The Justice Department backed a lawsuit to end grants reserved for colleges where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic, calling the program an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity. Congress created the grants in 1998 to address lower enrollment and graduation rates among Latino students.
How scammers are siphoning college financial aid with stolen student identities
UB Staff -
Sophisticated criminal networks are using stolen student identities to pose as applicants at U.S. colleges, draining tens of millions of dollars in financial aid and crowding out legitimate students, recent reports show.
Groups urge U.S. colleges to end campus surveillance to protect protesters
ABC News -
A coalition of more than 30 privacy and civil rights groups is calling on U.S. universities to dismantle campus surveillance and data collection in order to protect student protesters from government retaliation.
These programs help poor students with college. Trump wants to pull the funding
NPR -
The Trump administration has proposed cutting $1.2 billion in TRIO funding, which supports low-income and first-generation students. Advocates warn the move could limit college access despite the programs’ long record of success.
Trump ignores legacy admissions in push for college ‘fairness’
The Hill -
President Trump’s push for “fairness” in college admissions has not included changes to legacy preferences, which remain in place at many universities. While his administration has focused on transparency and “merit-based” reforms, critics note that legacy policies continue to receive little federal attention.
New college program allows Illinois students to apply to these schools with only a GPA
The program, called One Click College Admit, allows Illinois high school seniors and community college transfer students to apply for and receive college acceptance into 10 of the state's public universities by meeting only a single requirement for admission: grade point average.
DEI closures at colleges leave students with ‘a different reality’
The Hill -
The student experience is changing at universities after multiple diversity, equity and inclusion programs, offices and centers have been shut down. Experts say antisemitism and racism are among top concerns for students.
AI in the classroom is important for real-world skills, college professors say
As a new academic year begins, U.S. professors are divided over the role of generative AI in student learning amid concerns about cheating, misinformation and long-term impacts on human intelligence. While some instructors are embracing the tools, others remain deeply skeptical.
Confusion reigns as Texas colleges scramble to comply with ban on in-state tuition for undocumented students
The state isn’t providing schools with guidance and advocates say students who still qualify for lower rates are being asked to pay thousands more.
