Lumina Foundation is committed to increasing the proportion of Americans with high-quality degrees, certificates and other credentials to 60 percent by 2025.
As Republicans on Capitol Hill look to potentially spend billions on mass deportations, tax cuts, and other Trump administration priorities, the House GOP is hunting for ways to save money elsewhere. But some of the slashes they’re suggesting could harm colleges, universities, and students, higher education advocates say.
Potential cuts may include repealing Biden’s student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, increasing the scope and rate of endowment taxes, and requiring colleges to help pay back student loans.
Community colleges everywhere face growing demands for mental and physical health services from their students, many of whom depend on the access to affordable health care provided by their college to stay on track to graduate. At the same time, most community colleges face precarious or inadequate funding for health services, which limits their ability to meet the needs of students.
A new report examines the extent to which Medicaid is serving and can serve as a significant recurring funding source to bolster the health services resources available to community college students.
Ohio lawmakers have introduced a 75-page bill that would give the state more control over what happens at the state’s public colleges and universities.
The Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, which is largely based on legislation first introduced in 2023, would ban colleges’ diversity, equity, and inclusion work, make a three-credit course on civics mandatory for students to graduate, and prohibit faculty members from striking. Critics say it’s an attempt to force institutions to embrace more conservative voices.
As immigration enforcement ramps up under the new Trump administration, colleges and universities across the country are grappling with how to respond. Around 400,000 college students nationwide are undocumented.
Some colleges are releasing information regarding what ICE can and cannot do on their campuses. Northern Illinois University published a resource page specifying which areas of campus are publicly accessible, such as library common areas, hallways of academic buildings, and cultural centers. Other colleges announced plans to comply with law enforcement, but it’s not yet clear what compliance will look like.
Technical skills are the lifeblood of the workforce, with community colleges at the forefront of short-term programs that equip students with in-demand abilities and skills.
While technical know-how remains indispensable, employers are placing increased emphasis on the so-called “human skills” taught in liberal arts—intangibles that encompass critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and comfort with ambiguity or change.
With more than two dozen executive orders issued in the past week, President Donald J. Trump has moved swiftly to reverse Biden-era policies and advance his own priorities—many of which carry significant implications for colleges and universities.
This podcast breaks down the early days of the Trump administration’s second term and its impact on higher education. Key topics include new executive actions on immigration that could affect international and undocumented students, the administration’s sweeping approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion restrictions, and how colleges and universities can respond strategically in an uncertain policy environment.
