Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticizes US colleges with ties to China
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of Chinese government influence on American campuses and accused university leaders of censoring themselves out of fear of offending China during a speech Wednesday at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The speech was notable for the strident tone.
Read More about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticizes US colleges with ties to ChinaDepartment of Education cuts result in staff reductions in student loan servicing
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The Education Department said that “with payments now suspended for millions of borrowers, we understand that servicers have reduced their staffing numbers. However, when repayment begins and servicers must resume their normal servicing activities, we are confident that they will return to pre-COVID staffing levels.”
Read More about Department of Education cuts result in staff reductions in student loan servicingSome colleges continue pass-fail option for fall semester grades
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Many colleges adopted pass-fail grading policies in the spring term to give students breathing room amid COVID-19 disruptions. Students are again lobbying for such policies for the term that’s swiftly coming to a close. On the whole, students seeking pass-fail policies this term are encountering much more opposition.
Read More about Some colleges continue pass-fail option for fall semester gradesSurvey: Some prospective college students reconsider education plans amid pandemic
INSIDE HIGHER ED — More than one-third of prospective college students are reconsidering higher education in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Further, 43 percent of prospective students for one- and two-year programs are looking to delay enrollment. Those are two findings of a national survey of prospective college students.
Read More about Survey: Some prospective college students reconsider education plans amid pandemicReport: College financial aid officers can do more to support students of color during the pandemic
INSIDE HIGHER ED — At a time when the economic impact of the pandemic is disproportionately hurting the incomes of Black and Latino families, financial aid officers at universities and colleges could use their professional discretion to help keep students of color in school.
Read More about Report: College financial aid officers can do more to support students of color during the pandemicLaw school admissions officers see surge in applications
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Undergraduate enrollment is down 4.4 percent, according to the latest data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. But law school applications are surging. While the application cycle for neither sector is over yet, the numbers have officials encouraged.
Read More about Law school admissions officers see surge in applicationsCollege groups seek federal funds for pandemic-related losses
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The need for federal aid for colleges and universities is even greater than the $120 billion anticipated, a number of higher education groups including associations representing the colleges said in a letter to congressional leaders Wednesday.
Read More about College groups seek federal funds for pandemic-related lossesColleges seek extension of federal student loan payment break for students
INSIDE HIGHER ED — With federal student loan borrowers facing having to resume paying back their debt again, associations representing the nation’s colleges and universities and financial aid administrators are asking Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to extend the break from making repayments another year.
Read More about Colleges seek extension of federal student loan payment break for studentsUS Department of Education college scorecard to include data on median graduate income by area of study
INSIDE HIGHER ED — In a move they said will help students get a better idea of how much they can borrow and afford to pay back, Education Department officials are expanding the College Scorecard to show how much graduates at institutions make based on their areas of study. The scorecard now provides new median income data.
Read More about US Department of Education college scorecard to include data on median graduate income by area of studyAmerican Council on Education publishes report on racial disparities in higher education
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The American Council on Education recently published a six-chapter supplement to its original February 2019 report on race and ethnicity in higher education, which provides additional analysis of federal data to examine how the education system in the United States is serving and failing students of color.
Read More about American Council on Education publishes report on racial disparities in higher education