Mounting costs for universities to maintain, repair, and renovate buildings climb as backlogs expand, reaching $47 billion in California's public university system alone. On the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Professor Judith Butler criticizes free speech "absolutism," but ignores its success in preserving open dialogue and ignores the danger of allowing the government to censor in the name of equality. On The Atlantic.
Republicans have backed down on repealing tax-exempt status for tuition waivers, which could have increased the tax burden on graduate students. On Inside Higher Ed.
The Republican legislation working its way through Congress would cut interest rate subsidies on loans and end a public service loan forgiveness plan that encourages students to work in a government job. On WRAL.
College subsidies increase the price of college and distort incentives, which should be the focus rather than large amounts of savings held by colleges. On The Federalist.
Large endowments enable bureaucracy to expand while doing little to reduce the financial burden on students. On Minding the Campus.
Allowing states to develop accreditation systems could make higher ed more flexible and offer students better choices for their program of study. On the Daily Signal.
Both parties have pushed for free community college at the state level, arguing it could boost the economy or offer gains across society. On Education Dive.
Higher ed campus officials are trying to figure out what to expect in legal changes, and how they can address concerns. On Education Dive.
A new report highlights the economic impact of historically black colleges, claiming they create 15,000 jobs in North Carolina. On Triad Business Journal.