Sara Weissman
@saraweissman.insidehighered.com
Senior reporter at Inside Higher Ed. Runs on coffee. Covering post-traditional students and the institutions that serve them + religion and higher ed.
As a part of its new dress code, Tuskegee University is barring students from wearing bonnets or du-rags in classes or the campus dining hall. The move has polarized opinions on and off campus.
Tuskegee University Dress Code Sparks Debate
The historically Black university is barring students from wearing bonnets or du-rags in classes or the campus dining hall. The move has polarized opinions on and off campus.
insidehighered.com
Nevada's tuition waiver program for Native American students has been touted as a success. But higher ed system leaders say state funding hasn’t kept up with demand for the program.
Nevada Universities Struggle to Fund Native Tuition Waiver
The state’s tuition waiver program for Native American students has been touted as a success. But Nevada higher ed system leaders say state funding hasn’t kept up with the demand for the program.
insidehighered.com
Starting in fall 2027, Compton College students need to meet a set of academic requirements to get free meals and other supports. College leaders say the move will increase completion rates. But basic needs experts are worried.
Compton College Ties Basic Needs to Academic Milestones
Starting in fall 2027, students need to meet a set of academic requirements to get free meals and other supports. College leaders say the move will increase completion rates. But basic needs experts a...
insidehighered.com
Starting next year, Compton College will make some basic needs supports for students dependent on their meeting certain academic goals. Is this a good idea? @saraweissman.insidehighered.com @insidehighered.com investigates: www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
Compton College Ties Basic Needs to Academic Milestones
Starting in fall 2027, students need to meet a set of academic requirements to get free meals, housing help and other supports. College leaders say the move will increase completion rates. But basic n...
insidehighered.com
As states work to implement the new policy, only a trickle of programs have qualified. But experts say it’s too early to tell Workforce Pell’s full impact.
Workforce Pell Is Live. How’s It Going for States?
As states work to implement the new policy, only a trickle of programs have qualified. But experts say it’s too early to tell Workforce Pell’s full impact.
insidehighered.com
For decades, the Office for Civil Rights investigated whether educational institutions’ policies disparately impacted minority groups in discriminatory ways. Not anymore.
ED Scraps Tool to Investigate Discrimination
For decades, the Office for Civil Rights investigated whether educational institutions’ policies disparately impacted minority groups in discriminatory ways. Not anymore.
insidehighered.com
I had a great time on the Rural Towns Project Podcast talking with Dax Jacobson about my story on rural apprenticeships (and my favorite road trip music). Link to the story in the comments.
Learning about rural apprenticeship programs and how they might work in places like Blanding, Utah with Inside Higher Ed reporter Sara Weissman
Podcast Episode · The Rural Towns Project Podcast · July 19 · 33m
podcasts.apple.com
California added the Black-Serving Institution designation two years ago. Now, new research reveals heartening numbers on Black student attainment, as well as some areas for improvement.
New Data on California’s Black-Serving Institutions
The state added the BSI designation two years ago. Now, new research reveals heartening numbers on Black student attainment, as well as some areas for improvement.
insidehighered.com
Great talking with our student success reporter @joshuabay.bsky.social this week about all things non-traditional students (or post-traditional students).
Joshua Bay@joshuabay.bsky.social · 3w agoMy latest for @insidehighered.com: In this week’s Voices of Student Success episode, IHE senior reporter @saraweissman.insidehighered.com explores how higher ed demographics have changed and what institutions must do to adapt
For years, major rabbinical schools saw head counts dwindle. Now some are welcoming large incoming classes after creating new pipelines to the rabbinate.
An Enrollment Reprieve for Rabbinical Schools
For years, major rabbinical schools saw head counts dwindle. Now some are welcoming large incoming classes after creating new pipelines to the rabbinate.
insidehighered.com
The United Methodist Church has moved toward LGBTQ+ inclusion in recent years. Asbury Theological Seminary has not. The church decided their differences were irreconcilable.
United Methodist Church Drops Asbury Theological Seminary
The United Methodist Church has moved toward LGBTQ+ inclusion in recent years. Asbury Theological Seminary has not. The church decided their differences were irreconcilable.
insidehighered.com
Gaby Pacheco, one of the advocates who spearheaded the creation of DACA, says the program has had an outsize impact on immigrant students since it was announced 14 years ago. But today, it’s facing “death by a thousand cuts.”
Leader in Push for DACA Reflects on Its Anniversary
Gaby Pacheco, president and CEO of the TheDream.US, says the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has had an outsize impact on immigrant students since it was announced 14 years ago. But tod...
insidehighered.com
Colleges and funders are replacing race-based scholarships with race-neutral alternatives as the Trump administration targets these programs, raising questions about their future. My latest:
Will Race-Based Scholarships Survive?
Colleges and funders are replacing race-based scholarships with race-neutral alternatives as the Trump administration targets these programs, raising questions about their future.
insidehighered.com
Laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition have been targeted by the Trump administration. Two recent federal rulings offer a glimpse into how the wider legal battle is playing out.
Why Court Orders Differ on Legality of Tuition Equity Laws
Laws that allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition have been targeted by the Trump administration. Two recent federal rulings offer a glimpse into how the wider legal battle is playing out.
insidehighered.com
Two-year colleges are calling for a funding increase for a National Science Foundation workforce program. They worry rapid-fire changes at the NSF could hamper the program’s positive impact on their institutions.
Community Colleges Advocate for NSF Program
Two-year colleges are calling for a funding increase for a National Science Foundation workforce program. They worry rapid-fire changes at the NSF could hamper the program’s positive impact on their i...
insidehighered.com
The Trump administration gutted minority-serving institution grants again, dropping the windfall on a capacity-building program for underresourced institutions. MSIs may be able to get some of that funding, advocates say, but it’s still a blow.
Strengthening Institutions Program Grows at MSIs’ Expense
The Trump administration gutted minority-serving institution grants again, dropping the windfall on a capacity-building program for underresourced institutions. MSIs may be able to get some of that fu...
insidehighered.com
The Education Department estimates Workforce Pell could benefit over 100,000 students in the second year of the program. Experts say implementation will start slow but ramp up.
ED Projects Nearly 200K Will Receive Workforce Pell
The Education Department estimates Workforce Pell could benefit over 100,000 students in the second year of the program. Experts say implementation will start slow but ramp up.
insidehighered.com
This story took me from central New York to the Ozarks. Grateful to apprentices for letting me peek in on their lives and to experts and program providers for sharing so much about what it takes to do apprenticeships right for rural and underserved learners. My latest:
Rural Opportunity Through Apprenticeship
From special education classrooms in rural Missouri to manufacturing plants in central New York, apprenticeship programs and their higher ed partners are helping workers earn while they learn, fill cr...
insidehighered.com
As some Jewish studies programs experience new growth and investments in antisemitism education and other initiatives, scholars think about their role and what's next for the field.
Jewish Studies Weighs How to Move Forward Post–Oct. 7
As some Jewish studies programs experience new growth and investments in antisemitism education and other initiatives, scholars think about their role and what's next for the field.
insidehighered.com
New research from the Brookings Institute highlights better and worse ways to craft a free college program. Here’s how researchers think lawmakers can get it right.
How to Design a Successful Free College Program
New research from the Brookings Institute highlights better and worse ways to craft a free college program. Here’s how researchers think lawmakers can get it right.
insidehighered.com
The Brandeis Center is calling on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate Williams College, alleging it violated the Fair Housing Act by neglecting an Orthodox Jewish student’s religious dietary and housing needs.
Williams College Accused of Fair Housing Act Violation
Advocates hope it sends a message to other higher ed institutions to shore up religious accommodations in campus housing.
insidehighered.com
Fort Lewis College has spent years taking stock of its history as a federal Indian boarding school and collaborating with local tribes to make amends. Now its first indigenous leader plans to continue the work she helped launch.
A New Indigenous President, an Ongoing Reconciliation
Fort Lewis College has spent years taking stock of its history as a federal Indian boarding school and working with local tribes to make amends. Now its first Indigenous leader plans to continue the w...
insidehighered.com
The fate of Maine's free community college program hung in the balance. But after fierce advocacy efforts from college leaders and students, the state is permanently funding it.
Maine’s Free College Program Is Here to Stay
The fate of the state’s free community college program hung in the balance. But after fierce advocacy efforts from college leaders and students, Augusta is permanently funding it.
insidehighered.com
A survey of Gen Z students showed many searched TikTok for scholarships. It led them to new opportunities but also misinformation.
Students Turning to TikTok to Find Scholarships
A survey of Gen Z students showed many searched TikTok for scholarships. It led them to new opportunities—but also misinformation.
insidehighered.com
Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation that would grant them new oversight over the commonwealth’s historically Black land-grant university and transition it into a polytechnic institution. The final bill is less restrictive than the original. www.insidehighered.com/news/institu...
New Bill Tightens Control Over Kentucky State University
Kentucky lawmakers passed legislation that would grant them new oversight over the commonwealth’s historically Black land-grant university and transition it into a polytechnic institution.
insidehighered.com
Once synonymous with hard hats and tool belts, apprenticeships are branching into health care, artificial intelligence, business services, advanced manufacturing and more. Read the latest from our series on apprenticeship:
The Apprenticeship Glow-Up
Once synonymous with hard hats and tool belts, apprenticeships are branching into health care, artificial intelligence, business services, advanced manufacturing and more.
insidehighered.com
Historically Black land-grant university leaders hope to secure more funding and opportunities for their students as they ramp up collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Historically Black Land-Grants Celebrate USDA Agreement
College leaders hope to secure more funding and opportunities for their students as they ramp up collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
insidehighered.com
The founder of Generation Hope, an organization that supports parenting students, discusses her new book on how to combat the challenges these students are up against.
The Fight for Parents’ Access to Higher Ed
The founder of Generation Hope, an organization that supports parenting students, discusses her new book on how to combat the challenges these students are up against.
insidehighered.com
If signed into law, a Utah bill recently passed by the State Legislature would permit students to opt out of coursework that goes against their conscience or religious beliefs.
Utah Could Allow Conscientious Objection to Class Assignments
If signed into law, a bill recently passed by the State Legislature would permit students to opt out of coursework that goes against their conscience or religious beliefs.
insidehighered.com
Federal agents detained a student at a Columbia University residential building without ever showing a warrant, according to the university. The incident shows the limits for institutions in resisting ICE.
If ICE Won’t Show a Warrant, What Can Campuses Do?
Federal agents detained a student at a Columbia University residential building without ever showing a warrant, according to the university. The incident shows the limits for institutions in resisting...
insidehighered.com