National News
How bad is California’s housing crisis? A first-in-the-nation bill would let students live in cars
A progressive Democratic lawmaker is seeking a simple but jarring remedy of last resort for California’s college students navigating the state’s housing crisis: Let them sleep in their cars.
As ‘Bot’ students continue to flood In, community colleges struggle to respond
Community colleges have been dealing with an unprecedented phenomenon: fake students bent on stealing financial aid funds. While it has caused chaos at many colleges, some Southwestern faculty feel their leaders haven’t done enough to curb the crisis.
Student visa terminations have quickly hit over half of all states. What’s behind it.
NBC News -
As schools like Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and more say their international students’ visas are being revoked, lawyers say it’s all part of the larger plan to reduce immigration.
The controversial and obscure law being used against immigrant student protestors
NPR -
Since last year, some pro-Palestinian protestors have been accused of antisemitism and of supporting terrorist organizations. Protestors deny this, arguing that criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and U.S. support should not be equated with antisemitism.
Struggling Alabama college makes announcement about its future
Talladega College, one of the oldest historically Black colleges in Alabama, recently got a loan from Hope Federal Credit Union, based in Mississippi. The college has had financial difficulties for at least a year, but leaders say there’s a bright path forward.
House bill seeks to prevent college athletes from being employees of schools, conference or NCAA
U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) introduced a bill Tuesday to bar college athletes from being classified as employees. The move comes amid ongoing debates in Congress over athlete compensation and employment rights.
DEI, encampment bans: How Arizona lawmakers are supporting Trump’s higher education agenda
One bill looking to pull state funding from colleges that teach about diversity, equity and inclusion, and another that would reinforce bans on encampments on university grounds are coming up for final votes in the Legislature.
Trump administration freezes $1 billion in funding for Cornell University, $790 million for Northwestern University
”The money was frozen in connection with several ongoing, credible and concerning Title VI investigations,” a Trump administration official said, referring to a federal statute that prohibits discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding.
Course sharing boosts retention and revenue for colleges, says new report
As colleges and universities grapple with declining enrollment and increasing financial pressure, a new report points to a collaborative solution: course sharing.
Bienvenidos! Some colleges are targeting a long-neglected group: Hispanic students
NPR -
Universities and colleges have historically not done well at enrolling Hispanic students, who lag behind their white peers in college attendance. Now their own success may largely depend on it.
Harvard, UCLA, Stanford among schools across U.S. reporting student visa revocations
ABC News -
The student visas of five individuals currently attending or recently graduated from Harvard University have been revoked, according to Harvard. Since the beginning of Trump's second term, the State Department has revoked over 300 student visas nationwide.
New program will make college classes accessible for students with an intellectual disability
Lake Superior College will be the first higher education institution in Minnesota to provide expanded college offerings for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities thanks to a new state grant.
Newsom lays out plan for CA career education
The plan lays out the state’s approach to job training and education programs, but critics have said the proposals are unclear. At the same time, some for-profit career colleges and trade schools face issues with licensing or other violations.
Black colleges ponder their future as Trump makes cuts to education dollars
The nation’s historically Black colleges and universities are wondering how to survive as the Trump administration downsizes the scope and purpose of the U.S. Department of Education—while cutting away at federal funding for higher education.
OpenAI, anthropic target college students with latest education AI announcements
CNBC -
Anthropic debuted Claude for Education, a specialized version of its popular chatbot designed for college students, while OpenAI announced that it would make ChatGPT Plus free for U.S. and Canadian college students through May.
Who loses when Trump cuts funding to universities?
NPR -
Some educators say the administration's moves to cut funding at colleges and universities amounts to a war on higher education. But the loss of those funds will be felt far beyond the college campuses.
U.Va. researcher: Most schools are unable to fully support students returning to class after mental health ER visit
More and more students are going to hospital emergency departments for mental health related visits, but schools don’t have evidence-based practices to support them when they return to class, according to a University of Virginia researcher.
Report shows impact of anti-DEI law on Texas’ LGBTQ+ college students
The study found that 52% of students surveyed considered leaving their school after the law took effect, and 78% considered leaving Texas entirely. Of the 21 staff and faculty members surveyed, about one-quarter said they have considered leaving Texas.
You can’t survive on ramen and Natural Light: Lawmakers confront college food insecurity
More than one in five graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota said they worried about having enough food until they had money to buy more, the university’s 2024 College Student Health Survey found.
Some foreign college students are being targeted for deportation. What rights do they have?
ABC News -
While the number of impacted students appears to be small—about 300 students targeted last week—the actions have sparked fear and questions about the rights these students have, especially free speech.
Trump officials bar undocumented Oregon students from college completion programs
Colleges and universities in Oregon and California can no longer allow students without permanent legal status access to some federally funded programs meant to help disadvantaged students earn degrees, according to a recent decision from the U.S. Department of Education.
No need to apply: Cal State is automatically admitting high school students with good grades
Now in the program’s first year, Cal State joins other public universities across the country in a growing national movement to automatically admit eligible students. Last fall, more than 17,400 high school seniors got the good news of their acceptance.
Ohio Gov. DeWine signs higher ed bill regulating classroom discussion and banning diversity efforts
S.B. 1 will set rules around topics involving “controversial beliefs” such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity and inclusion programs, immigration policy, as well as marriage or abortion. The bill would only affect Ohio’s public universities.
Trump team considering blocking ‘pro-Hamas’ colleges from having any foreign students: report
The endeavor is yet another attempt by the White House to take aggressive action on immigration and campus antisemitism, in what some view as an effort that suppresses free speech in colleges.
Virginia establishes food pantry program for public colleges
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday signed a bill approving Virginia lawmakers’ plan to create the Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program, which will provide free food to college students.
Department of Education prepares to reopen income-driven repayment plans
The Education Department plans to reopen applications for income-driven student loan repayment programs as soon as Wednesday, allowing borrowers to once again cap monthly payments based on their income.
Utah college courses will focus on Western civilization and ‘rise of Christianity’ after Gov. Cox signs controversial bill
Utah State University will start a pilot program to overhaul general education curriculum with the new focus. That’s expected to be expanded to schools statewide by 2029.
Does less than 25% of Education Department spending go to students? No
Poynter -
In 2024, 71% of the $200 billion education budget went to college student aid, while 25% supported K12 schools, including low-income districts and special education, according to global media nonprofit Poynter.
The 5 most politically active colleges in America
Despite shifts in political activism, U.S. colleges remain centers of protests, petitions and campaigns. Each year, the Princeton Review ranks schools by political engagement. See which campuses top the list.
Colleges and universities have received nearly $60 billion in foreign gifts and contracts, watchdog finds
Americans for Public Trust, a right-leaning watchdog, found nearly $60 billion in foreign funds went to U.S. colleges, with a third going to 10 elite schools—raising concerns over national security and disclosure compliance.
What could happen to financial aid without the Department of Education
CNBC -
Critics of the order are skeptical that whatever remains of the Department of Education — particularly as its workforce has already been reduced by half — will be able to carry out the administrative work necessary to keep funds flowing.
As Columbia University students return from spring break, new policies could reshape life on campus
The university announced several changes demanded by the Trump administration to overhaul its disciplinary policies, sharply restrict protests, ban masks, sanction student groups in violation and immediately review its Middle East studies programs and admissions.
U.S. Education Department insiders warn student loan system at risk: ‘The gatekeepers are gone’
Mass firings spark concern as Education Department employees say cuts set stage for widespread fraud and abuse.
With hundreds fewer workers, can the Federal Student Aid office still function?
Current and former staffers, financial aid officers and previous education secretaries are doubtful the office that helps students pay for college won't be disrupted by mass layoffs and resignations.
Facing anti-DEI investigations, colleges cut ties with nonprofit targeted by conservatives
AP News -
The U.S. Education Department said it was investigating dozens of universities for alleged racial discrimination, citing ties to nonprofit organization, The PhD Project. Public reaction from the universities’ leadership has been minimal and cautious.
