All articles tagged with #higher ed
Andreessen Horowitz and major tech firms have launched The Horowitz Andreessen Academy, a $42 million, unaccredited two-year alternative to college in San Francisco. The program targets ages 16-22, offering AI-focused training, industry mentorship, and access to computing power, with the first cohort starting in fall 2027.
Renowned UNC-Chapel Hill coronavirus researcher Ralph Baric will retire in June. His work helped advance COVID-19 vaccines and related diagnostics, contributing to the Moderna vaccine and other treatments, but also drew scrutiny over the virus’s origins and gain-of-function research. The retirement was announced by Gillings School leaders via email, with no reason given, as Baric’s career–including debates about Wuhan Institute of Virology connections and past funding concerns–continues to be reassessed.
The University of Southern California canceled its valedictorian's speech due to concerns over her pro-Palestine activism, sparking controversy over free speech and safety. Critics argue that the decision prioritized vague assertions of security over the student's rights, penalizing her for her views while giving opponents a "heckler's veto." This move raises concerns about campus authoritarianism and the need for universities to uphold freedom of expression in the face of threats.
Despite the Supreme Court's rejection of President Biden's initial student debt cancellation plan, his administration has successfully wiped out $136.6 billion in federal student loan debt for 3.5 million borrowers through critical changes to existing federal student loan programs, including revamping the Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs, and targeting relief for lower-income borrowers. The administration is also cracking down on shady colleges and pursuing a new rule that could potentially cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in debt for millions of Americans, despite facing persistent judicial resistance.