ICYMI: An interesting (but perhaps discouraging) read from @emmawhitford.bsky.social on how students are cheating using AI and how college leaders are responding. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

Brown Professor Suspects Most of His Class Used AI to Cheat

Brown University leaders’ response to the alleged cheating incident has been “meek,” the professor said.

insidehighered.com

Naturally, there's a higher ed angle to the World Cup as colleges host some of the national teams. @jessicablake.bsky.social has the details. www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

How Colleges Are Helping World Cup Teams Prepare

At least 12 colleges and universities from coast to coast will host international players as they prepare to compete on soccer’s biggest stage.

insidehighered.com

I took a break from the policy beat to write about the overlap between higher ed and the iconic @officialsurvivor.bsky.social! Turns out, the two have a lot in common. Thanks to @chubicki.bsky.social, @rickdevens.bsky.social and more for their insight. www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

Tribal Council in the Lecture Hall: Why Higher Ed Loves Survivor

As the reality TV series reaches the finale of its 50th season, Inside Higher Ed spoke to more than half a dozen faculty contestants about what drew them to the show and how they’ve incorporated their...

insidehighered.com

Read the latest on Trump's efforts to crack down on alleged race-based admissions from my teammates @knottkatherine.bsky.social and Johanna. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

UCLA Med School Accused of Racial Discrimination in Admissions

Trump’s Justice Department has ramped up enforcement of the Supreme Court ban on race-conscious admissions practices. Its UCLA finding shows what could be in store for other universities under investi...

insidehighered.com

BREAKING: The Education Department has finalized its rule on loan caps for graduate and professional degrees. The regulations, which narrowly define who qualifies as professional and limit who has access to higher loan amounts, are set to take effect July 1. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

ED Rejects Call to Expand Access to Higher Grad Loan Caps

Under the final rule, the agency is sticking with its plan to categorize 11 degree programs as professional, giving them access to the $200,000 limit.

insidehighered.com

In January, Undersecretary Kent told accreditors, “it’s better to be at the table than on the menu.” So what does it mean when fewer colleges and accreditors are at the table for #negreg? Story by @jessicablake.bsky.social www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

In Accreditation Talks, Colleges, Accreditors Have Fewer Votes

A fraction of the number of college and university leaders have a seat at the negotiating table compared to a similar rule-making effort in 2019, an Inside Higher Ed analysis finds.

insidehighered.com

The Education Department says that its current headquarters, the Lyndon B. Johnson building, is 70 percent vacant and justifies downsizing. But staff who work in the building tell @insidehighered.com that's not the case. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Questions Raised Over Claims of Vacant Space at ED

Current and former employees say some ED staffers are sharing desks and that the administration has added cubicles in recent months.

insidehighered.com

I started my day listening to a speech from ED undersecretary Nicholas Kent who had a lot to say about higher ed's need for a "hard reset." And while the college leaders in the room appeared to agree that there are problems within the system, many took issue with Kent's approach to solving them.

Under Secretary Kent Says Higher Ed Needs a “Hard Reset”

The top higher ed official, Nicholas Kent, flaunted the speed and breadth of the administration’s higher ed reforms in a room full of skeptical sector leaders.

insidehighered.com

The Dear Colleague letter, a key tool in Trump’s attack on DEI, had been blocked for months. Then, ED dropped its appeal, killing the policy for good. Some DEI advocates declared it a “major win,” but other legal experts say the war is far from over. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

ED’s DEI Guidance Is Dead, but Trump’s Crackdown Isn’t

Diversity advocates say the courts have been clear—Trump has no justification to ban DEI. But other legal experts say the administration has plenty of other tools it can use to accomplish the same goa...

insidehighered.com

ICYMI: A new report from the Congressional Budget Office projects that by the end of FY 2026, the Pell Grant program will be short $5.5 billion; that number skyrockets to $11.5 billion in FY 2027 if Congress doesn’t make cuts or put in new money. For students, this could mean dramatic grant cuts.

CBO: Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall

If Congress doesn’t add money to the Federal Student Aid account by Sept. 30, students could face dramatic grant cuts or eligibility restrictions.

insidehighered.com

The new budget bills include significant changes that may restrict how Trump doles out federal funds. Experts from both parties agree, Congress is sending a message. “The changes to the bill show that even Republicans are concerned about their lack of ability to hold those strings of the purse.”

How Congress’s Budget Could Hamper Trump ED Agenda

Democratic lawmakers pushed for several guardrails in an attempt to restrict how the White House doles out federal funds.

insidehighered.com

Here's what you need to know about today's government shutdown. It's anticipated to be short term and look more like a pause than a full shutdown, especially compared to the historic 43 day halt that took place in the fall. But nothing is guaranteed. Read more from @knottkatherine.bsky.social:

What to Know About the Government Shutdown and Budget Deal

The government shutdown should be brief, and higher ed advocates see a number of wins in the legislation to fund the Education Department and other agencies.

insidehighered.com

Accreditation may just be the word of the year at the Education Dept. And @insidehighered.com will be following the topic closely as the Trump administration tries to overhaul longstanding norms for academic oversight. Here’s our two latest stories from me and @byjoshmoody.bsky.social:

Education Dept. Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules

ED officials have said for months that they want to tackle the regulations governing accreditors. A Monday announcement offers more specifics on their agenda.

insidehighered.com

The killings by federal agents in Minneapolis have fueled demonstrations. Area institutions are stepping up security, moving classes online and more. Read more from @ryanequinn.bsky.social: www.insidehighered.com/news/student...

Minneapolis-Area Universities Respond to ICE, CBP, Protests

The killings by federal agents in Minneapolis have fueled demonstrations. Area institutions are stepping up security, moving classes online and more.

insidehighered.com

Over the past 4 months, @usdeptofed.bsky.social used a series of negotiations with key higher ed experts to gain unanimous approval for major changes to federal student aid. But ED’s tactics for doing so have raised concerns. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

High-Stakes Policy Talks Shed Light on ED’s Playbook

In negotiating loan caps, a Pell Grant expansion and accountability measures, the Education Department made few concessions and yet secured unanimous agreement. Here’s how they did it.

insidehighered.com

ICYMI: Financial aid experts are expressing concern as the Trump administration delays its annual FSA Conference. A source within the Education Department told me the event is just being pushed back until March. But a department spokesperson has yet to confirm that statement.

Jessica Blake@jessicablake.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Normally the @usdeptofed.bsky.social hosts a financial aid conference the first week of December to provide administrators with updated education on regulations. But that hasn’t happened this year. So @insidehighered.com talked with financial aid experts about why that's concerning.

Normally the @usdeptofed.bsky.social hosts a financial aid conference the first week of December to provide administrators with updated education on regulations. But that hasn’t happened this year. So @insidehighered.com talked with financial aid experts about why that's concerning.

Federal Aid Conference Delayed, University Employees Lament

Financial aid administrators are upset that the Education Department has not scheduled its annual training for them. But one official says it’s now slated for March.

insidehighered.com

Is your feed overloaded with content about what counts as a professional degree and how it will affect access to student loans? Mine too. But some folks weren't getting the facts right. So I wrote about it in hopes of countering some misinformation. Share the news and fact check your sources!

What to Know About the Definition of Professional Degree

Social media critics have focused on the fact that certain female-dominated careers, like nursing, are “no longer” recognized as professional. But the term didn’t mean much before Congress passed new ...

insidehighered.com

LATEST: Education Secretary Linda McMahon held an all-staff meeting at the department Tuesday after announcing her next major step toward dismantling it. @insidehighered.com obtained an audio recording of that meeting. Read more about what she had to say:

McMahon Says ED Agreements Are Temporary

In a recording obtained by Inside Higher Ed, the secretary explained why she’s moving several grant programs to other federal agencies and how it could benefit students.

insidehighered.com

A DEEPER LOOK: Several higher ed leaders said they care most about ensuring grant dollars reach the students and institutions Congress intended them for, not what agency they are housed under. But the question is can they still count on receiving those funds after the outsourcing takes effect.

Dismantling of ED Prompts Flurry of Reactions

Numerous higher ed leaders, advocates and politicians weighed in on McMahon’s plan to ship several ED programs to other agencies. Here’s a snapshot of what they said.

insidehighered.com

As promised, here's more coverage from @insidehighered.com. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the day. Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.

McMahon Says “Clock Is Ticking” on Education Department

Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.

insidehighered.com

@insidehighered.com has received multiple tips that the Department of Education will be signing a number of interagency agreements later today. The agreements would move the responsibilities of key offices to other departments. Stay tuned for more coverage.

U.S. Department of Education@usdeptofed.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The clock is ticking...

We’re at day 4 of this week’s neg reg, and the department offered a slight expansion of its list of professional programs. More from @jessicablake.bsky.social here: www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

ED Releases Proposal for Defining Professional Programs

The Department of Education released its latest proposal Wednesday for determining which post-baccalaureate degree programs get access to what amount of federal loans under Congress’ One Big Beautiful...

insidehighered.com

I’m back at ED for another week of rulemaking! The committee is still talking about student loan caps and they still have yet to reach consensus on which students should get what amount of money. But they’re slowly starting to gain some momentum. Here’s a story with the latest updates:

ED Panel Makes Some Progress on Loan Caps

But some industries such as aviation are still pushing to get included in the department’s final definition for professional programs.

insidehighered.com

ICYMI: I asked more than a dozen higher ed experts, how dead is the Dept. of Ed? Some tried to stay optimistic, describing the agency as diminished not dead. Others feared the damage has already been done. But across the board, most say ED is in critical condition.

Under McMahon, ED Is Diminished but Not Dead, Experts Say

Inside Higher Ed spoke with more than a dozen politicians, higher education experts and former department employees; their thoughts on the agency’s status varied, but many tried to remain hopeful.

insidehighered.com

“The truth is, the Knight Institute is doing just fine. It’s our democracy that I’m more worried about,” @jameeljaffer.bsky.social tells @insidehighered.com's @jessicablake.bsky.social. He shares more about our work taking on the Trump administration below ⬇️. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Amid Trump’s Assault on Free Speech, Advocates Stay Busy

Three nonprofit legal organizations say their caseload has ramped up significantly since Trump took office. But so has public support for their work.

insidehighered.com

There's been lots of discussion about what the Office of Special Education's major reduction in force will mean for K-12 schools, but what about colleges and universities? I sat down with Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities, to find out.

How Will Latest ED Layoffs Affect Students With Disabilities?

Inside Higher Ed spoke with a leading advocate for students with learning disabilities to hear what the consequences will be across colleges and universities.

insidehighered.com

NEWS — The White House says it has invited the five institutions that haven't said whether they'll agree to the compact to a meeting this afternoon. One source sees the meeting as a way to "regain momentum by threatening institutions to sign." www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

White House to Meet with Universities Regarding Compact

The scheduled meeting follows increasingly forceful pushback to the wide-ranging proposal.

insidehighered.com

#BREAKING: The Department of Education has delayed the semiannual convening of its accreditation advisory committee, NACIQI, for the second time this year, according to an email obtained by @insidehighered.com.

NACIQI Meeting Delayed by Government Shutdown

In an email to committee members Tuesday, department officials said the meeting will now take place in December.

insidehighered.com

Here's the latest from @insidehighered.com on the second round of layoffs at the Department of Education:

Trump Fires More Education Dept. Employees

The Trump administration threatened to lay off federal workers because of the government shutdown. An unspecified number of employees got pink slips Friday.

insidehighered.com