Colleges and Universities

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Campus protests

 

A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the University of California, Los Angeles, cannot allow pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing classes and other parts of campus. This marks the first time a US judge has ruled against a university over the demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses earlier this year. In a lawsuit filed in June, three Jewish students at UCLA alleged that they experienced discrimination on campus during the protests because of their faith and that the school failed to ensure access to campus for all Jewish students. UCLA argued that it has no legal responsibility over the issue, but the judge ruled that the university is prohibited from providing classes and access to campus buildings if Jewish students are blocked from them.

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? Columbia prez resigns

Columbia University president Minouche Shafik resigned yesterday following months of criticism from students, donors and members of Congress over how she handled pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

• Why it matters: Shafik is the third Ivy League president to step down following backlash to congressional testimony earlier this year on alleged campus antisemitism, Axios' April Rubin and Sareen Habeshian write.

Elite colleges have struggled to balance the right to protest with student safety. No school exemplifies that more than Columbia, the epicenter of the student protest movement last spring.

• Shafik said her departure from the role — weeks before the fall semester begins — "would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead."

 

Columbia University

 

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik is stepping down months after protests over the Israel-Hamas war gripped the campus. In a letter sent Wednesday to the Columbia community, Shafik cited progress during her tenure but said it has "also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community." Pressure was building for Shafik to step down after months of student-led demonstrations at the school's New York campus that spread to colleges across the country. Shafik came under criticism after authorizing arrests on campus and for her House testimony over the university's handling of antisemitism.

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This College’s 38-Acre Land Donation to a Christian School Drew Little Attention. Experts Say It Appears to Violate the Law.

In 2004, a public junior college in North Texas abandoned plans to lease some of its land to a religious organization for $1 a month after the state attorney general warned that the effort could violate the law.

https://www.propublica.org/article/weatherford-college-donates-land-community-christian-school?

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Protests return to GW

Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

George Washington University is the site of pro-Palestenian demonstrations again as the academic year begins. The big picture: Student protests over the war in Gaza reached an inflection point in the spring, and universities are preparing for a reinvigorated movement this fall ahead of the election. School administrations, which faced criticism for crackdowns on demonstrators, will be under increased scrutiny over how they respond. State of play: About 100 demonstrators marched last Thursday to the GWU president's on-campus house, continuing to urge the school to divest from weapons manufacturers and other companies linked to Israel's war effort, the GW Hatchet reported. They also rallied outside the campus park where an encampment was established last year. The area is fenced off, with a gate open daily from 6am to 11pm. What they're saying: University president Ellen Granberg said in a message to the community this month that the campus has "three core commitments." They include "fostering a safe campus environment, respecting the GW community's right to free expression, and maintaining the operation of our education and research programs with minimal interruption." Flashback: Over 100 tents were placed on GW's University Yard and part of H Street NW in May. Students and faculty from several DMV universities helped establish the encampment. At the time, a pro-Israel student group and Republicans in Congress called on the District and the university to remove the protestors. Police cleared the encampment after about two weeks. More than 30 people were arrested. Some students could have their charges dropped, if they accept a deal that limits campus access for six months, the Washington Post reports. What we're watching: Whether the encampments will return and the student activism spreads to other campuses. With the academic semester coinciding with November's elections, Granberg described the campus as "on the doorstep of a pivotal moment in both the history of our university and our nation."

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University of Alabama closes spaces for Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ center

The University of Alabama has closed dedicated spaces for its Black Student Union and LGBTQ+ resource center, citing a new state law banning publicly funded diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/27/university-of-alabama-closes-spaces-for-black-student-union-and-lgbtq-center/?

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Crazy college parents

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Many first-year college students from different states, backgrounds and majors have one thing in common: stressed-out parents struggling with the separation, Axios' Erica Pandey writes. Why it matters: Parents have grown more involved in, and more anxious about, their kids' lives. That's changing the experience of going to college — and growing up. They're using tech to track their kids, micromanaging orientation week and even having dorm sleepovers. ?️ The big picture: Headlines and stats detailing a worsening teen mental health crisis and pandemic-induced learning loss are stressing parents out. "When your kid is having stress or anxiety or depression and they're living away from home, it's heartbreaking," says Lisa Heffernan, co-founder of a popular parent Facebook group, Grown and Flown. On top of that, parents are just closer to their young adult kids than they used to be, she notes. 41% of parents say their young adult children rely on them a fair amount or a great deal for emotional support, according to a Pew Research Center survey. "Some parents are holding onto a level of involvement that's maybe healthy for a toddler deep into their kids' teen years, when it maybe becomes unhealthy," says Mathilde Ross, a senior staff psychiatrist at Boston University. ? Zoom in: Parents' stress is on display in online forums and Facebook groups, where parents are asking questions and offering emotional support to one another. Parents ask about minute-to-minute details of orientation, for advice from other parents for advice on their kids' roommate woes and where to shop for basic toiletries. Counterpoint: Part of parents' micromanaging is just them missing their kids and wanting to do the little things for them, Heffernan says. And "if you're asking in a Facebook group, that means you're not bugging your kid."

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New College fires librarian after thousands of books were tossed in dumpster

Florida’s New College has fired its dean of libraries, saying she was responsible for the improper disposal of thousands of books and ignored the advice of a New College attorney.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/09/07/new-college-fires-librarian-after-thousands-of-books-were-tossed-in-dumpster/?

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California governor signs law banning college legacy and donor admissions

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Private, nonprofit colleges in California will be banned from giving preference in the admissions process to applicants related to alumni or donors of the school under a new law signed this week by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

https://apnews.com/article/california-colleges-legacy-admissions-1db4e1163c48045ce5c996ef7d5a9896?

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? International students warned to return pre-Trump

Data: Institute for International Education. Chart: Axios Visuals A handful of top U.S. universities are urging international students who travel home for winter break to return before President-elect Trump takes office, Axios' Astrid Galván and Alayna Alvarez report. Why it matters: School leaders fear one of his first actions could be an executive order limiting entrance to the U.S. ? Zoom in: At least 10 universities have told international students to be back stateside before the Jan. 20 inauguration — including Brown, Penn, USC and MIT. "While there's no certainty such orders will be issued, the safest way to avoid any challenges is to be physically present in the U.S. before the Spring semester" begins, USC said in an email to students on special visas. By the numbers: 1.1 million students from other countries are studying in the U.S., according to NAFSA, a global nonprofit that advocates for international study. They sometimes pay triple the tuition of U.S. residents.

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International students urged to return to US campuses before Trump inauguration

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, over concerns that he might impose travel bans like he did during his first administration.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-college-students-travel-bans-bc0fedb4be66ef509629d4dbfedd904d?

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College students side with shooting suspect

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

A new poll of college students found that half view the suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's killing extremely or somewhat favorably — and 48% believe the crime was justified, Axios' Erica Pandey reports. 81% of the students polled by Generation Lab said they have an extremely or somewhat negative view of Thompson, the victim. Asked with whom they sympathize more, 45% of respondents chose suspect Luigi Mangione, 17% chose Thompson, and 37% said neither. Explore the data.

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New York governor pushes ‘affordability agenda’ as Democrats regroup after election losses

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul pitched voters on a series of populist economic policies — floating proposals to hand out free money, slash taxes and fight hedge funds — in a speech Tuesday aimed at cleaning up the kitchen table issues that damaged Democrats in November.

https://apnews.com/article/new-york-kathy-hochul-state-free-tuition-43b225eb651208f82b6433a6e8f950ba?

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US colleges returning to campus sexual assault rules created during Trump’s first term

WASHINGTON (AP) — Schools and universities responding to complaints of sexual misconduct must return to policies created during President Donald Trump’s first term, with requirements for live hearings and more protections for accused students, according to new guidance issued Friday by the Education Department.

https://apnews.com/article/title-ix-trump-lgbtq-sex-assault-b7b6ad1cbe28331ce38ef896e6d4fd2b?

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College chaos

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Colleges have been a conservative target for years. Under President Trump, it's total warfare on all aspects of higher education — from student life to hiring to athletics. Why it matters: Universities are scrambling to steel themselves for an onslaught of investigations. Even if some cuts are undone by future administrations or some directives don't hold up in the courts, many colleges are rushing to make changes they won't be able to undo easily, Axios' Erica Pandey writes. "The federal government is coming for higher education," says Jeremy Young, the Freedom to Learn program director for PEN America. "And if you are one of America's 4,000 college presidents, and you stick your neck out, it's going to get cut off." ? In a letter last month, the Education Department said schools could lose funding if they have policies related to race and diversity. Though the letter doesn't have the force of law, many institutions are acting quickly to comply — with moves big and small. Colorado State University is shifting employee roles, tweaking HR policies and scrubbing websites, Axios Denver's Alayna Alvarez reports. The University of Pennsylvania has edited websites — or removed them altogether, notes Axios Philadelphia's Mike D'Onofrio. Penn's medical school is looking at cutting programs that help diversify its student body, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The Ohio State University is shutting down two campus offices focused on DEI and cutting more than a dozen staff positions. It's renaming the Office of Institutional Equity to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance. Several colleges had already started cutting programs, shuttering cultural centers and changing up course catalogs even before Trump took office — either to prepare for the administration's changes, or in response to state-level action. ? Zoom out: DEI is making headlines, but the chaos is wider. Stanford, MIT, Columbia and Vanderbilt are already freezing hiring or cutting back on the number of Ph.D. students they'll accept as they hear of DOGE's proposed cuts to federal medical research. Universities are also working to comply with the NCAA's new trans athletes ban. Many are fielding investigations over former trans athletes that competed on their teams, or responses to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. And the Justice Department is sending an antisemitism task force to several campuses. ? Changes are likely to last: "Once a college closes a DEI office, once it shuts down a research program, once it censors a syllabus, these things are not coming back," says Young. "The political will is not there to bring them back on a college campus."

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? Northeast kids flying south for college

Data: IPEDS. (Includes students from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.) Chart: Axios Visuals Warm weather, affordability and politics have prompted a teenage migration from the Northeast to the South, Axios' April Rubin and Thomas Oide report. Why it matters: Large Southern state schools, many in already expanding metro areas, are attracting a geographically diverse student body. Many public Southern schools have lower tuition rates than their private counterparts and prioritize merit scholarships, Jeff Selingo, an author of college admissions books, told Axios. The more exciting draws? School spirit and football culture: "They're seen not only as more fun, but also more accessible." ? By the numbers: In two decades, 84% more students from the North attended public schools in the South, a Wall Street Journal analysis found last year. It jumped 30% from 2018 to 2022. ?️ Between the lines: Politics are also a factor. Colleges in Republican-led states returned to in-person classes sooner than colleges in Democratic-led states after the onset of COVID. High school students who sat through virtual classes during the pandemic may have been inclined to flock south for a more authentic college experience. "Students who were looking at colleges saw more freedom and fun in the South than they saw up North," Selingo said. More recently, elite colleges in the Northeast and California were the main sites of pro-Palestinian protests that sparked clashes between demonstrators and school administrations. "Students have said to me, 'I don't want to go to a college where everybody's angry at each other and everybody's fighting over everything,'" said Maria Laskaris, a counselor at Top Tier Admissions, a higher education consulting firm. ? What's next: Alumni of these schools are likely to stay in the South for work after graduating. The populations of Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta and Austin have been growing faster than the U.S. overall.

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Harvard offers free tuition

Eliot House at Harvard in rainy Cambridge, Mass., today. Photo: Scott Eisen/Getty Images A Harvard education will soon be free for many students' families, Axios' April Rubin reports. Tuition will be free for students whose families make less than $200,000 per year, the university said. Harvard will go further, covering tuition, food, housing, health insurance and travel costs for students whose families make less than $100,000. ? Zoom out: Institutions like MIT, the University of Pennsylvania and Caltech have already implemented similar $200,000 thresholds for free tuition, Axios Boston's Mike Deehan notes. As elite schools grapple with the end of affirmative action in their admissions programs, free or reduced tuition is emerging as a tool to keep their schools accessible to a diverse pool of potential applicants. ? What they're saying: "Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all of our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth," Alan Garber, Harvard University president, said in a statement. Go deeper. Harvard is offering free tuition for families that make less than $200K Harvard University has announced that students whose families make less than $200,000 won't pay tuition. The university said the plan announced Monday goes into effect for the 2025-2026 academic year. Read More.

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⚖️ Law school applications skyrocket

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Law school applications this year are off the charts nationwide — especially in Washington, Axios D.C.'s Cuneyt Dil writes. Why it matters: A presidential transition year, changes to the LSAT exam, and more attention being paid to the law and courts are leading more people to apply to law school. Applications to nearly 200 law schools nationwide jumped 20.5% compared with last year, The Wall Street Journal reports (Gift link). The competition makes it harder for those seeking a career pivot — particularly in D.C., where people can't depend as much on federal jobs anymore. ? By the numbers: Georgetown University Law Center has already received its most applications ever — 14,000. That's up 25% from last year. The office hired extra part-time staff to read applications. Georgetown has 650 seats and three wait-list levels. American University's Washington College of Law tells Axios it's running roughly 15% to 17% ahead of last year's applicant pool. Howard University School of Law says it has seen a 38.4% increase.

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Columbia University interim president steps down a week after announcing sweeping policy changes

The interim president of Columbia University is stepping down, the school announced Friday, a week after announcing sweeping policy changes – seemingly bowing to the Trump administration’s demands conditioned on federal funding.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/28/us/columbia-university-katrina-armstrong-steps-down/index.html?

ps:Why doesn't the criminal-in-charge just take over that job too?????

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Federal agencies reviewing nearly $9 billion in contracts, grants with Harvard over antisemitism concerns

Three federal agencies are reviewing nearly $9 billion in contracts and grants between the government and Harvard University over the school’s response to antisemitism.

https://www.cnn.com/webview/2025/03/31/us/federal-agencies-grants-harvard-antisemitism/index.html?

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Joe Biden To Headline Invite-Only Event at Harvard Wednesday Afternoon

Former United States President Joe Biden will speak at the Institute of Politics on Wednesday afternoon for an off-the-record study group with his long-time adviser Mike Donilon, a spring fellow at the IOP.

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/17/joe-biden-iop-forum/?

Harvard

Defy President Donald Trump and retribution will be swift. That’s the message the White House is sending to Harvard University after the school refused to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion policies, audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and alter rules for on-campus protests. In response, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in federal grants at Harvard. The IRS is reportedly making plans to rescind the university's tax-exempt status. The Department of Homeland Security canceled two federal grants worth $2.7 million and threatened to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students unless it turns over its disciplinary records. And Trump trashed the school in a rant on his Truth Social site. As the university grapples with the sudden loss of funding, Harvard researchers are scrambling to figure out what to do about studies that are already in progress. Yet even as each school weighs having to cut budgets and staff, nearly 800 faculty members have signed a letter urging the university to resist the Trump administration’s demands.

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Harvard

In an effort to bring elite US colleges and universities in line with its political ideology, the Trump administration has ordered institutions to change their hiring and admission requirements, eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and alter rules for on-campus protests — or face major losses of federal funding. The White House has framed its demands as a fight against antisemitism. When Harvard resisted those changes, the administration announced plans to cut $2.2 billion in grants and contracts to the university. The IRS reportedly began working to rescind Harvard's tax-exempt status and the Department of Homeland Security threatened the school's ability to enroll foreign students. In response, Harvard has filed a lawsuit claiming the government’s actions were arbitrary, unlawful and violated its First Amendment right to free speech. “Under whatever name, the Government has ceased the flow of funds to Harvard as part of its pressure campaign to force Harvard to submit to the Government’s control over its academic programs. That, in itself, violates Harvard’s constitutional rights,” the lawsuit said.

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Harvard

The Trump administration’s battle against higher education institutions is being quietly run by a Justice Department-led task force that’s headed by former Fox News personality and civil rights lawyer Leo Terrell. The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which also includes top Trump official Stephen Miller, as well as representatives from the Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Treasury and the GSA, allegedly aims to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses. The administration has ordered numerous schools to change their hiring and admission requirements, eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and alter rules for on-campus protests or face major losses of federal funding. Harvard has resisted these demands and filed a lawsuit claiming the government’s actions violate the First Amendment.

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Big Ten faculties ask their administrations to sign a joint defense pact against Trump

Faculties at several Big Ten universities have asked their administrations to consider a joint defense pact in the face of threats to higher education institutions from the Trump administration, multiple outlets reported.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/big-ten-joint-pact-trump-administration-universities?

Jewish surveys

Employees at Columbia University and Barnard College were stunned this week after receiving text messages from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requesting that they complete a survey that asked if they were Jewish, Israeli, had Jewish/Israeli ancestry or practiced Judaism. The text messages, which were sent to the staffers’ personal devices, were part of a federal investigation into workplace practices at the schools. Since returning to office, President Trump has taken aim at higher education institutions under the auspices of fighting antisemitism. Some staffers said they were rattled by the questions and the method of communication. Others were upset that the schools had given their personal contact information to the government.

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Harvard loses an additional $450 million in grants in escalating battle with Trump administration

President Donald Trump’s administration is cutting another $450 million in grants to Harvard University a day after the Ivy League school pushed back against government allegations that it’s a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. Read More.

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? Grads fret job market

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Many members of the Class of 2025 are nervous about entering the workforce, as the economy could slow, Axios' April Rubin writes. Why it matters: History tells us that people who start their careers during economic downturns struggle throughout their lives. ?️ Case in point: Sohan Bhakta, a computer science senior at the University of Arizona, applied to more than 600 jobs during the school year, with few interviews. "The talk was, you'd be guaranteed a gig," Bhakta, 22, said. "And I don't know why I expected that. From this world, you should never expect anything because anything can change." ? By the numbers: More than half of current college seniors are pessimistic about the job market, per an April report from Handshake, an entry-level job platform. As of March, the average class of 2025 student had submitted 21% more job applications on the platform than their 2024 counterparts. Read on.