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Welcome to The EDU Ledger! We’ve moved from Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.

Section: Leadership & Policy

Leadership & Policy

Federal Cuts Put Hispanic-Serving Institutions’ Student Support Programs at Risk

While some colleges are finding ways to maintain student services, others face mounting concerns that funding losses could eventually weaken retention and graduation rates.

October 1, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

ED Shrinks Title IX Harassment Standard, Reverting to 2020 Code

The 2020 Title IX harassment definition is officially back in the Code of Federal Regulations, but for most colleges the change mostly puts on paper what enforcement has looked like for more than a year and a half.

September 28, 2026

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At HBCUs, More Black Men Are Choosing College and Finding New Support

A growing number of Black men are entering some HBCUs, prompting renewed attention to what it takes to help them finish.

September 28, 2026

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Federal Moves Put Higher Ed’s Money and Gatekeepers Under Scrutiny

From greater discretion over multiyear grants to tightening grip over accrediting bodies, recent U.S. Education Department proposals signal a major shift toward centralized oversight.

September 27, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

New House Bill Would Let Campus Free-Speech Plaintiffs Recover Legal Fees Without a Final Judgment

A new civil rights fee bill would reward plaintiffs whose lawsuits prompt colleges to drop contested speech policies, even without a final court judgment.

September 27, 2026

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HBCUs to Receive $174 Million Federal Investment Amid MSI Funding Shift

More than $235 million will go to HBCUs and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities after the department canceled other MSI grant funding it deemed discriminatory.

September 24, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

ED Moves to Loosen Accreditor Rules — And Loses Two Quiet Guardrails Along the Way

A sweeping Education Department proposal would open the door to new accreditors and looser review models, but the tradeoffs for institutional oversight and educational quality remain uncertain.

September 22, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

Trump Administration Escalates Fight Over School Gender Policies

A new DOJ lawsuit targets Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools’ guidance for transgender and gender-nonconforming students, part of a broader federal push on parental rights and school disclosure policies.

September 20, 2026

Circular gender symbol icon with male and female figures in contrasting copper and black halves

Harvard's AI Divide: Dean Says Embrace It, Faculty Say Not So Fast

Humanities professors are pushing back hard after Dean David Deming urged them to stop policing AI use and start welcoming it into writing-intensive courses.

September 16, 2026

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Princeton Confirms Deep Benefit Cuts as Financial Belt-Tightening Widens

The university says financial constraints will continue for the next several years, even as faculty and staff raise concerns about reduced benefits, slower hiring and deeper administrative cuts.

September 16, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

Federal Judge Questions RIT’s Defense in Hiring Bias Suit

A ruling in the case allows a jury to decide whether race or national origin played a role in RIT’s decision not to hire a white administrator.

September 15, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

New NCAA Rules Lead to Much Litigation

As student-athletes fight in court for a fifth year of eligibility, NCAA rule changes are creating fresh legal, financial and roster headaches for colleges.

September 15, 2026

CFB vs NFL quarterback salary comparison showing 6 college and NFL players with annual earnings ranging from $1.19M to $10.41M

Leadership & Policy

Wider Doors, Same Old Gaps? California's Pending Education Bills Face Scrutiny

From dual enrollment to financial aid timelines, a dozen pending California bills could reshape college access — but access alone won't guarantee success.

September 15, 2026

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Leadership & Policy

Tough Choices, Long-Term Vision: Colleges Navigate Financial Headwinds

From workforce investments and AI initiatives to budget restructuring and expanded student supports, colleges are balancing immediate fiscal realities with long-term institutional priorities.

September 11, 2026

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As College Presidents' Tenures Shrink Nationally, These HBCU Boards Are Betting Big on Longevity

Huston-Tillotson's board recently voted to extend President Melva Wallace's contract by ten years — one of the longest extensions in higher ed post-COVID. She joins a small cohort of other presidents whose institutions see leadership stability as key to institutional transformation.

September 10, 2026

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At Achieving the Dream, Lenore Rodicio Wants Colleges Built for Change

Rodicio’s career has been defined by helping students recognize their own talent, a philosophy she now brings to one of the nation’s most influential community college networks.

September 9, 2026

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Mulling Over Presidential Turnover at Community Colleges

As community college presidents face shorter tenures and expanding expectations, the sector may need to rethink not just who leads, but how the role itself is structured.

September 8, 2026

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Antioch University Sues Coalition Partner Over Governance Dispute

What began as an innovative 2023 partnership to share resources with Otterbein University has devolved into a bitter legal war over board authority, financial control, and institutional independence.

September 4, 2026

Otterbein University red sign in front of historic brick campus building with white steeple