higher-education33.3 min read
Lincoln University Alumni Demand $549M From Missouri for Decades of Funding Gaps
2 days ago•Source: The Washington Post
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45.02 min•3 days ago
Cornell hires Sally Yates to lead independent probe into campus sexual misconduct
Cornell University has appointed former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of its sexual misconduct policies following national outrage over a 2024 gang-rape allegation. While data shows rising reports of sexual violence on campuses, Cornell faces criticism for low disciplinary rates compared to statewide figures. The probe will examine the university's response to the 'Jane Doe' case and broader prevention practices, as New York officials also investigate the incident.
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Dartmouth Provost’s AI Use Sparks Academic Integrity Crisis
The Chronicle of Higher Education•16 days ago
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UCLA Reclaims No. 1 Public-University Title in 2026 US News Rankings, Ties Berkeley
Daily Bruin•18 days ago
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UT Austin Drops Ethnic, Race, and Gender Majors AmidAdministrative Cuts
The University of Texas at Austin is eliminating majors focused on Africans and the African diaspora, Mexican Americans/Latinos, and women and gender, replacing them with a new cross‑disciplinary department and requiring professors to propose a new major by semester’s end. Students already enrolled can finish their degrees, but the provost’s office reportedly rejected the department’s plan to keep the majors. The move, done without public notice, follows a state law giving campus presidents broad discretion to cut programs and fits a broader pattern of political pressure on race/gender studies in Texas higher education. Professors cannot appeal the decision, and critics say the cuts send a message about the value of these programs while consolidations continue at other Texas universities.
Court blocks DHS plan to cap foreign student stays ahead of rollout
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s DHS rule that would limit stays for foreign students, journalists and exchange visitors to four years, one day before it was set to take effect, citing potential economic and educational harms and leaving the mandate in limbo nationwide as lawsuits from labor and education groups unfold.
UI student in Hawkeye Band taken off life support after heat collapse
University of Iowa third-year Derek Phillips, a Hawkeye Marching Band member, collapsed in 94-degree heat during the Sept. 5 game and suffered cardiac arrest; he was admitted to UI Health Care where doctors reported severe brain damage, leading his family to remove life support. UI officials offered counseling and support for students, and The Daily Iowan issued a correction clarifying that Phillips had not died as of the life-support decision; this is an ongoing developing story.
Private schools’ tax breaks at risk over race considerations, under new federal plan
The Treasury Department and IRS proposed a rule to revoke private schools’ tax-exempt status if they weigh race in admissions or policies, aiming to curb racial discrimination in education; the measure could affect up to about 18,000 schools and may take effect in May, following a Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious admissions.
Six-figure sticker shock: colleges push the annual price of attendance past $100K
Fifteen colleges now charge six figures for the total annual cost of attendance (tuition, housing, books and fees), up from just two a year ago, according to the Princeton Review. However, the actual net price families pay can be much lower after financial aid, and experts say sticker prices are likely to keep rising as operating costs grow and aid policies evolve.
Penn State frat cocaine case: ringleader arraigned, bail denied
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, allegedly led a cocaine-trafficking ring tied to two Penn State fraternities; he was arraigned and denied bail on multiple felony charges. Authorities say cocaine was packaged at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi houses in 2023–2024, with 14 people charged—mostly current or former students. Abbatiello and 13 others face counts including possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy; co-defendant Thomas Robinson allegedly supplied the cocaine, and his father is charged with concealing evidence.
UMich to Mask Freshman Grades to Ease Stress
The University of Michigan announced it will mask first-semester grades for students in its liberal arts college starting Fall 2027 to ease stress for freshmen, a tactic already used by some other colleges.
Professors sue Texas A&M system over race and gender teaching limits
Four Texas A&M professors and the AAUP filed a federal lawsuit to block the system’s restrictions on teaching about race, gender and sexuality in core courses, arguing the policy violates the First Amendment and is vague, and seeking reinstatement of canceled courses.
Brown University President Paxson to depart in 2027, launching a new strategic chapter
Brown University will have Christina H. Paxson step down as president in June 2027, earlier than her term extension to 2028, as the school begins a new strategic planning process and opens a national search for her successor. Paxson’s 15-year tenure guided Brown through the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaza protests, federal scrutiny and a Trump-era funding agreement, plus a campus shooting that left two students dead and others injured. Under her leadership Brown expanded its endowment, boosted financial aid, invested heavily in Providence (including the Jewelry District and Brown University Health), and strengthened ties to Rhode Island, even as some faculty debated decisions. The corporation will oversee a national search to identify Brown’s next leader.
It’s not AI—America’s looming labor shortage is the real story
Experts say the United States faces a historic labor shortage driven by population shifts and a skills gap among new graduates, not AI. AI’s rise is masking deeper issues in health care, construction, and other sectors that struggle to find workers. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce warns the trend could slow economic growth for years, while states pursue policies to attract and train skilled workers.