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A working paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research in May shows that Tennessee's Promise program, while increasing enrollment and graduation rates, has achieved fiscal self-sufficiency due to increased earnings of graduates. The program is the first statewide tuition-free community college initiative in the United States, and the study describes it as 'self-sustaining.'
Houston Community College (HCC) system leaders will present a report at Wednesday's board meeting, calling for increased funding for deferred maintenance to address approximately 450 repair and upgrade needs totaling nearly $80 million. Although facilities are in good condition, the maintenance backlog far exceeds annual funding levels.
Judge Noël Wise of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled last Friday that the Trump administration's policy of deporting lawful immigrants based on speech under two provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act is unconstitutional. The policy led to the revocation of hundreds of student visas and affected institutions such as the Stanford University student newspaper. The judge noted that free speech belongs to all people in the United States, and the government has no right to deprive it.
The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a review of admissions policies at multiple universities, finding that six institutions, including the UCLA School of Medicine, engaged in race-based discriminatory admissions practices, and threatened to file lawsuits if voluntary settlements cannot be reached.
This week's higher education developments were intense: Education Department staff recommended revoking the ABA's federal accreditation; Broward College reached a $430,000 separation agreement with its former president; the Education Department and student journalists filed appeals in significant cases; MIT, the University of Chicago, and Florida universities adjusted their AI usage policies.
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington over laws that allow some undocumented students to receive in-state tuition and state financial aid. The Department of Justice argues that these policies illegally provide benefits to undocumented students that are not extended to all U.S. citizens. Currently, the Department of Justice has sued 21 states and successfully overturned similar policies in five states.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday directed the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board to form a working group to study the feasibility of three-year bachelor's degree pathways, with recommendations due by the end of the year. The move is primarily driven by cost considerations and aligns with new explorations of compressed degree timelines in multiple states across the nation.
The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) has launched the MI College Match direct admission program, with 20 in-state colleges participating. Students can upload their transcripts through a free online portal and receive automatic admission offers without needing essays or recommendation letters. The portal opened on Wednesday, and students who complete their materials by September 21 will receive admission letters by October 5.
A Massachusetts family has objected to the bankruptcy property sale of Anna Maria College, claiming the college had promised to gift them a 2.4-acre parcel of land. The college closed earlier this year and is currently selling its properties to repay debts.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) released a report stating that artificial intelligence can provide reasonable solutions for almost all written assignments in undergraduate courses, recommending that the university accelerate the course adjustment process and oppose reliance on AI detection tools.