Boston, Mass. – A new wave of state-level action is reshaping how public colleges can use artificial intelligence–based exam proctoring, after lawmakers in several states advanced bills over the past three days that would restrict or ban certain automated monitoring tools on privacy and civil rights grounds. The proposals, introduced
Harvard University President Alan M. Garber has thrust campus culture and classroom norms back into the spotlight after arguing that higher education “went wrong” when it normalized faculty activism in the classroom, a shift he suggested has chilled debate and made some students less willing to challenge prevailing views. The
Sweeping changes to the federal student aid system will take effect July 1, 2026, fundamentally reshaping how students finance college and graduate education in the United States. The reforms, enacted as part of a broad federal budget and tax package approved by Congress in 2025, represent one of the most
The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 95,000 visas in 2025, including over 8,000 held by international students, marking a sharp escalation in visa enforcement and introducing new uncertainty for U.S. colleges and universities already under pressure from declining international enrollment. The increase comes as
Federal education officials have launched a formal review of Brown University’s campus safety policies and emergency response practices following the December 13 mass shooting that killed two students and injured nine others. The U.S. Department of Education is examining whether Brown complied with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety
A growing share of U.S. families are rethinking whether a traditional four-year college degree remains the best option after high school, as concerns about cost, debt, and job outcomes drive renewed interest in trade and technical education. According to a recent national survey from American Student Assistance, 35% of
San Marcos, TX – Texas State University is facing criticism from civil rights organizations after initially canceling a planned visit by the Black History 101 Mobile Museum and later indicating that the decision may be reconsidered. The museum, a traveling exhibition featuring historical artifacts and educational displays documenting African American history,
The Maestro educational group has expanded its presence in higher education with the integration of Bottega University, which now operates as Maestro University. A notice on Bottega University’s website states that “Bottega University is transitioning to Maestro University”, indicating that the institution has been moved under the Maestro name
The Big 12 Conference is nearing a $500 million private capital partnership that would mark one of the most significant financial restructurings in the history of U.S. college athletics. According to reporting by the Financial Times, the conference is in advanced talks with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital
Providence, RI – A shooting at Brown University during the final exam period left two students dead and nine others injured, according to BBC News. While the incident itself shocked the Ivy League campus and the broader higher education community, it has also prompted renewed scrutiny of how colleges prepare for,
Merced, CA – The University of California, Merced has received a landmark $38 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, marking the largest single philanthropic gift in the university’s history. Scott, an acclaimed author and philanthropist, is widely known for her major philanthropic initiatives through Yield Giving as well as for
Cambridge, MA - A new federal civil rights complaint has been filed against Harvard University, alleging that the institution unlawfully supported a race-restricted scholarship program in violation of federal nondiscrimination laws. The filing adds new pressure to universities as legal challenges increasingly target diversity-focused programs beyond admissions. What the Complaint
International students
New data released this week shows a sharp decline in the number of international students starting at U.S. colleges this fall. According to the Fall 2025 Snapshot on International Student Enrollment from the Institute of International Education, new international enrollment fell by 17 percent compared with last year. The
Texas higher education
Houston, TX - More than 100 Texas colleges and universities have lost approximately $64 million in federal funding after recent cuts to Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grants, according to new reporting. The loss affects a wide range of public and private institutions that rely on the federal program to support student
non-profit colleges
A new round of financial analyses released this month points to rising instability among non-profit colleges, with experts warning that more institutions may face consolidation, mergers, or closure in 2026. Recent reporting indicates that demographic shifts, enrollment declines, and financial pressures are converging to create increasingly difficult operating conditions for
enrollment decline
San Antonio, TX – In response to a dramatic drop in enrollment over the past decade, Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has announced a major academic restructuring, eliminating multiple programs and pivoting toward new career-focused degree offerings. The changes come as the university seeks to stabilize financially and align
Higher ed trends
As 2025 draws to a close, recent moves by U.S. universities show a higher education sector under pressure but also rapidly evolving. In just the past week, institutions have announced large-scale expansions, responded to heightened federal scrutiny, restructured identity-based programs, and advanced new initiatives focused on artificial intelligence (AI)
University Expansion
College Station, TX - On December 1, 2025, Texas A&M University unveiled a $25 million initiative to hire approximately 167 new tenure and tenure-track faculty members across its campuses over the next two years. The program, called "Foundation for Good (FFG)", is designed to expand class
DEI crackdown
Tuscaloosa, AL - On December 3, 2025, the University of Alabama announced the suspension of two student-run magazines, Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice, citing compliance with recent federal guidance regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices at federally funded institutions. What Happened * The magazines - Nineteen Fifty-Six, which centered on Black
civil rights
Evanston, IL - On November 28, 2025, Northwestern University reached an agreement with the U.S. federal government, under which the university will pay US$ 75 million over three years in exchange for restoring frozen research funding - nearly US$ 790 million - and ending ongoing federal investigations into allegations