As colleges increasingly adopt AI tools throughout the recruitment and enrollment process, institutions need clear guardrails to ensure these technologies expand opportunity rather than reinforce existing inequities.

SHAPE AI Initiative Releases Guidance on AI Use In College Recruitment and Enrollment — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 27, 2026 Media Contact: press@defendstudents.org SHAPE AI Initiative Releases Guidance on AI Use In College Recruitment and Enrollment Washington, DC – S...

defendstudents.org

Today, Student Defense released a new guide on the Dos and Don’ts of AI in College Recruitment & Enrollment”

New reporting from @theeduledger.bsky.social focuses on the need for higher ed to adopt comprehensive AI policies. The article features our “Dos and Don’ts of AI in College Application Evaluation”: www.theeduledger.com/institutions...

Higher Ed’s AI Policy Gap Is Wider Than Academic Integrity

As colleges debate student use of AI, an EDU Ledger new poll suggests many institutions still lack clear guardrails for using the technology in admissions, advising, hiring, and student support.

theeduledger.com

The PSLF program was created as a promise from the United States government to its citizens: if you give back to America, America will give back to you.

Court Strikes Down the Department of Education’s Rule Restricting Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligibility  — Student Defense

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, the American Immigration Council, The Door — A Center of Alternatives, Inc., and the League of United Latin American Citizens Institute, Inc., v....

defendstudents.org

BREAKING: Today, a federal court struck down the Department of Education’s rule that would restrict eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

In @usnews.com, Alina Tugend highlights our “Dos and Don’ts of AI in College Application Evaluation” as her latest “EdTech innovation rave.”

NEW: Student Defense sued the Department of Education for failing to release records on its use of AI in rulemaking and in the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman’s office.

Student Defense is one of @Humanity AI’s inaugural group of grantees! Humanity AI is supporting a diverse group of organizations committed to putting people at the center of AI development.

Student Defense Receives $500k Investment from Humanity AI to Advance SHAPE AI Work — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org  Student Defense Receives $500k Investment from Humanity AI to Advance SHAPE AI Work Washington, D.C. — Stu...

defendstudents.org

NEW: A federal judge denied the Trump Administration's motion to dismiss our lawsuit challenging the dismantling of the Department of Education.

The agency Trump wants to close is hiring

Top leaders at the Education Department have made it known they feel their agency is “unnecessary.” But that’s not keeping them from hiring a lot more people.

politico.com

NEW: Student Defense is proud to support the Student-Centered Enrollment Management Principles, a new initiative to improve price transparency in higher ed.

We’re calling for Minnesota to incorporate text message outreach into the SNAP administration process, reducing bureaucratic burdens for eligible recipients.

Student Defense Calls For Minnesota to Incorporate Text Message Outreach Into SNAP Administration Statewide — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org 303-646-7816 Student Defense Calls For Minnesota to Incorporate Text Message Outreach Into SNAP Administration Sta...

defendstudents.org

NEW: Student Defense is calling on all Minnesota agencies to increase text message outreach for SNAP recipients, including college students.

In a Senate hearing Tuesday, Senator Dick Durbin pushed ED Sec. McMahon on why 12,0000 former Westwood College students are still awaiting student loan discharges promised in August 2022. He used Student Defense client Victoria Vences’s story as an example of someone defrauded by the former school.

A new article by @forbes.com Contributor Dr. Aviva Legatt spotlights Student Defense’s Student AI Bill of Rights, calling it “the most concrete student-facing framework yet for what transparency, oversight, data sovereignty, safe use, and AI literacy should look like on campus.”

How Higher Ed Can Put The Student AI Bill Of Rights To Work

94% of higher ed staff use AI at work. 46% can't name a governing policy. The Student AI Bill of Rights closes the gap if institutions wire it into procurement.

forbes.com

A new piece from eCampusNews highlights our recently released Student AI Bill of Rights: “This is not a minor policy proposal, and campus leaders should resist treating it like one.”

Students need more than AI access--they need AI rights

Regarding students, the challenge for higher ed is not if AI will be used, but if it will be used with rights, consent, and accountability.

ecampusnews.com

In North Carolina, more than 46% of students at five colleges face some level of food insecurity. Food insecurity is one of the most significant barriers to college completion, yet NC defaults to six months of FNS benefits — even though federal law only requires recertification once a year.

AI is rapidly transforming higher education — and students need to be protected. That’s why we launched the Student AI Bill of Rights, which outlines clear standards for how colleges should use AI responsibly.

NEW: Student Defense is calling on North Carolina to support students and combat hunger by extending its default Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program’s certification period from 6 months to 12 months.

Student Defense Calls For North Carolina To Extend Its Food Assistance Certification Period to 12 Months — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org 303-646-7816 Student Defense Calls For North Carolina To Extend Its Food Assistance Certification Period to 12 ...

defendstudents.org

We’re proud to share that Student Defense VP & Chief Legal Counsel @danzibel.bsky.social has been appointed to @umichlaw.bsky.social AI Advisory Council.

NEW: Today, as part of our SHAPE AI initiative, we released a first-of-its-kind Student AI Bill of Rights: a framework to protect students as colleges rapidly increase AI use.

This week, we filed a reply brief in our lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s PSLF rule. The proposed rule lets the administration deny relief to public servants working at organizations it disagrees with.

Challenging the Trump Administration Over Its New PSLF Eligibility Rule — Student Defense

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, American Immigration Council, The Door — A Center of Alternatives, Inc., and the League of United Latin American Citizens Institute, Inc., v. the...

defendstudents.org

NEW: We just filed a final brief in our lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s PSLF rule. In the brief, we argue that ED can’t replace a clear law with a vague, politicized rule that allows the government to deny relief to public servants based on where they work.

Colorado requires most SNAP recipients to recertify eligibility every six months, even though federal law only requires it once a year. Eligible students and families are losing benefits they’re qualified for because of bureaucratic burdens.

NEW: We're calling on Colorado to extend its SNAP certification period from 6 to 12 months. Food insecurity is one of the biggest barriers to college completion. 2/3 of eligible college students in Colorado aren't accessing SNAP benefits, and the state's bureaucratic hurdles are part of the problem.

Student Defense Calls For Colorado To Extend SNAP Certification Period to 12 Months — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 26, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org 303-646-7816 Student Defense Calls For Colorado To Extend SNAP Certification Period to 12 Months DENVER ...

defendstudents.org

At Student Defense, we often use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as part of our strategy to protect students and borrowers. These government records help us hold agencies accountable by shedding light on the decisions that affect students.

Last week, the Trump administration asked a federal judge to dismiss our lawsuit challenging its new Public Service Loan Forgiveness rule.

Recent reports show agencies have launched hundreds of AI projects in the past year, following White House directives to “accelerate” AI use across departments. www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...

Advocacy Group Raises Concern About AI in Federal Student Aid

Student Defense, a legal advocacy group, is utilizing public records requests to explore how the Trump administration is using artificial intelligence when it comes to federal student aid. The group f...

insidehighered.com

On Friday, we launched an investigation into how the Trump Administration is using AI in offices that serve students. We’ve filed 12 FOIAs, we’re working with Congressional oversight staff, and we’ve set up a tipline for federal employees with information on how AI is being used across departments.

NEW: We just announced an investigation into the Trump Administration’s use of AI and its impact on students. We’ve filed 12 FOIAs (Freedom of Information Act) and we’re working with Congressional oversight staff to reveal how AI tools are being used for federal student aid programs.

Student Defense Announces Investigation Into the Trump Administration’s Use of AI To Administer Federal Student Aid Programs  — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2026   MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org 303-646-7816 Student Defense Announces Investigation Into the Trump Administration’s Use of AI To Admin...

defendstudents.org

NEW: We just filed a Motion for Class Certification on behalf of former students in their case against Grand Canyon University’s affiliate, Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (GCE).

Former Students File Motion for Class Certification In Case Against Grand Canyon Education — Student Defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 27, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT press@defendstudents.org 303-646-7816 Former Students File Motion for Class Certification In Case Against Grand Canyon Education R...

defendstudents.org