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Featured Higher Education Stories


Treasury to Handle Defaulted Student Loans in Education Department Restructure
The Education Department says the Treasury Department will take over collecting on defaulted student loans as the first phase of a three-step plan to spin off key functions from the department; supporters say Treasury is better equipped to manage debt collection, but critics worry the change will confuse borrowers and signal broader dismantling of Education Department.

UT System Sets Rules to Minimize 'Controversial' Topics in Courses
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Texas A&M professor sues over firing tied to gender-identity lesson
The Texas Tribune•2 months ago
Texas A&M Ends Women's and Gender Studies Degree Amid Campus Review
The Texas Tribune•2 months ago
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Spanberger's Virginia shake-up prompts UVa board resignations
Incoming Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger urged resignations from several University of Virginia board members, including its leaders and a major donor, prompting at least four resignations as Democrats take top state posts; UVa rector Rachel Sheridan described the university's efforts as being 'paralyzed through purposeful political warfare.'

Brown University Under Investigation for Security Concerns After Shooting
The U.S. Education Department will investigate Brown University to determine if it complied with the Clery Act regarding crime reporting and safety procedures following a mass shooting that resulted in two deaths and nine injuries.

Harvard's Endowment Grows Despite Political and Funding Challenges
Harvard University is facing a $113 million deficit despite receiving record-breaking donations this year, as it resists pressure from the Trump administration.

Harvard Faces Challenges Amid Political and Social Tensions
The Trump administration's budget cuts have significantly impacted over 1,500 young scientists at Harvard, including graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who rely on federal funding for salaries, stipends, and tuition support.

"UPenn President's Resignation Sparks Speculation on Harvard's Claudine Gay"
After University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned following her testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Harvard President Claudine Gay is facing mounting calls for her resignation. Gay's refusal to directly answer a question about Harvard's policies on bullying and harassment in relation to calls for the genocide of Jews has sparked backlash. While Gay claims to have the support of the Harvard Corporation, their silence on the matter has left her presidency uncertain. Faculty members have expressed support for Gay, but her fate ultimately lies in the hands of the Corporation.

UPenn Donors Withdraw Funds Over Palestine Writes Literature Festival
Donors at the University of Pennsylvania are expressing their anger and frustration over various issues, including the university's response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, a Palestinian conference, DEI initiatives, and transgender rights. The tensions have been simmering for some time, with donors feeling that the university has shifted to the left. Some influential alumni, including Marc Rowan and Ronald S. Lauder, have called for the resignation of the university president and chairman of the board of trustees. Donors have also been cutting funding, citing concerns about the university's direction and declining number of Jewish students. The donor outcry has sparked a debate about the influence of donors on university policies and academic freedom.

MSU Board Chair Vassar Faces Calls for Resignation Amidst Allegations
Rema Vassar, the chair of the Michigan State University board, plans to recommend a university culture and climate assessment in response to allegations made against her, which she has called "fabrications" and "untruths." Trustee Brianna Scott sent a letter calling for Vassar's resignation or removal, citing bullying and overstepping her authority. Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed concern over the allegations. Vassar believes a culture assessment will address the underlying issues and guide the new president in healing the university. The allegations have highlighted divisions among Black political leaders, and an investigation has been triggered by the university's Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance.