Monday Musings

The U.S. Department of Education is ending discretionary grant programs for Minority-Serving Institutions, calling them unconstitutional “racial quotas.” The move halts more than $100 million in funding, leaving colleges that serve Hispanic, Black, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students in limbo. Higher ed leaders warn the cuts could strip vital resources while the Department offers little clarity on what comes next.

This week, higher education faces mounting political and financial turbulence. From a proposed 15% cut to the Education Department’s budget and a federal judge blocking Harvard’s $2.2B funding freeze, to new visa limits for international students and growing barriers for working learners, college leaders must prepare for sweeping shifts that could redefine the sector.

The Department of Justice’s refusal to defend the federal HSI program has left hundreds of colleges—and the students they serve—facing deep uncertainty. This edition covers what’s at stake for equity funding, student loan reforms shaking enrollment plans, proposed cuts to TRIO programs, and new insights on community college onboarding and career readiness for nontraditional learners.

This week’s Monday Musings covers a presidential order demanding full admissions data, a new ROI dashboard from ACCJC, ChatGPT’s Study Mode, research showing women with degrees gaining ground, and what’s next for athlete empowerment after the NCAA settlement.

From shrinking international enrollment to new support models for graduate and low-income students, this week’s Monday Musings explores how national policy decisions are impacting student success, funding, and equity efforts across campuses.