higher education policy
Declining International Student Applications to US Colleges: Impact of Trump Administration Policies
Nov 14, 2025 11:04 am CST
US colleges are experiencing a significant decline in international student applications, with a 9% drop reported by the Common App platform. India, the largest source of international students, saw a 14% decrease in applications, while new White House policies targeting foreign enrollment continue to reshape the higher education landscape through visa restrictions and pressure on universities to reduce dependency on international students.
Florida Bans H-1B Visa Hiring at Universities to Promote American Graduate Employment
Oct 30, 2025 09:01 am CST
Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered Florida universities to stop hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas and prioritize qualified American graduates instead. The policy aims to address what DeSantis calls "H-1B abuse" in higher education institutions and ensure taxpayer-funded universities serve the American workforce first. Additionally, the state has cancelled or repurposed over $33 million in DEI-related grants.
Brown University Joins MIT in Rejecting Trump's College Compact Over Academic Freedom Concerns
Oct 16, 2025 03:46 pm CST
Brown University has declined the White House's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, becoming the second institution after MIT to reject the proposal. President Christina Paxson cited concerns about academic freedom and institutional autonomy, stating the compact would contradict a previous July agreement that preserved the university's core values while restoring research funding.
Trump Administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence" Offers Elite Universities Preferential Funding for Policy Compliance
Oct 03, 2025 02:34 am CST
The Trump Administration has proposed a controversial agreement to nine elite universities, offering preferential access to federal funding in exchange for compliance with White House positions on admissions, gender policies, free speech, and tuition caps. The "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education" would require participating institutions to eliminate demographic considerations in admissions, cap international enrollment, freeze tuition, and promote conservative viewpoints on campus, with enforcement by the Justice Department.
Trump Administration Issues 10-Point Plan Requiring Universities to Meet Ideological and Enrollment Standards for Federal Funding
Oct 02, 2025 03:38 pm CST
The Trump administration has issued a controversial 10-point memorandum to US colleges requiring caps on international students, elimination of race-based admissions, tuition freezes, and ideological alignment to receive federal funding. Universities including Columbia and Brown have already reached multi-million dollar settlements following federal investigations into campus protests.
Trump Announces $500 Million Settlement with Harvard University to Establish Trade Schools
Oct 01, 2025 08:34 am CST
President Trump revealed that his administration is finalizing a $500 million settlement with Harvard University that would require the prestigious institution to operate trade schools focused on AI and other technical skills. This development comes amid ongoing disputes over allegations of anti-Semitism and federal funding restrictions, reflecting broader tensions between the Trump administration and elite academic institutions.