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Three Programmatic Accreditors Withdraw from Federal Recognition Amid New Standards

Three Programmatic Accreditors Withdraw from Federal Recognition Amid New Standards

Three programmatic accreditors, including the Council on Chiropractic Education, have voluntarily withdrawn their petitions for federal recognition, as announced by Education Under Secretary Nicholas Kent. This decision was made during a National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity meeting. The accreditors, which also include the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and the Council on Education for Public Health, opted out due to new regulations that demand higher standards for student outcomes. Kent suggested that the accreditors withdrew to avoid these new standards, which were part of the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul higher education quality regulation. However, the Council on Education for Public Health disputed this characterization, stating that the decision was made after careful consideration and was not a simple avoidance of accountability.
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Education Department rescinds disparate impact rule, a key tool used to assess school discrimination

Education Department rescinds disparate impact rule, a key tool used to assess school discrimination

The Education Department will no longer consider school policies that disproportionately harm one group of students as discriminatory unless the discrimination is intentional, rescinding a decades-long standard for civil rights enforcement
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Education Department Rescinds Disparate Impact Rule, Affecting School Discrimination Assessments

Education Department Rescinds Disparate Impact Rule, Affecting School Discrimination Assessments

The U.S. Education Department has rescinded the disparate impact rule, a key tool used to assess school discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This rule previously allowed for the consideration of school policies that disproportionately affected certain student groups as discriminatory, even if the discrimination was not intentional. The change means that only intentional discrimination will be considered in civil rights enforcement. This decision has sparked criticism from civil rights groups, who argue that it undermines efforts to address systemic discrimination in schools, particularly against Black students who face higher rates of disciplinary actions.
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House Democrats, Led by Garamendi, Challenge Trump Administration's Education Office Transfers

House Democrats, Led by Garamendi, Challenge Trump Administration's Education Office Transfers

Congressman John Garamendi, along with 85 House Democrats, is challenging the Trump administration's plan to transfer the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to the Department of Justice. The lawmakers argue that these moves are illegal, as Congress established these offices and only it has the authority to alter their responsibilities. They express concerns that the transfers would weaken services for students and individuals with disabilities, as the new departments are not equipped to handle the offices' core functions.
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Federal Panel Recommends Denial of Recognition for Cosmetology Accreditor, Impacting Federal Aid Eligibility

Federal Panel Recommends Denial of Recognition for Cosmetology Accreditor, Impacting Federal Aid Eligibility

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) has recommended that the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) should not be recognized by the federal government. This decision, made by a 9-to-3 vote, is based on concerns about NACCAS's compliance with federal policies, including issues with transparency, student outcomes, and high tuition rates. NACCAS accredits over 1,000 institutions, and its recognition allows these programs to receive federal student aid. If the Education Department's Under Secretary Nicholas Kent agrees with the recommendation, these institutions may lose access to federal funding unless they find another accreditor.
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Trump Administration Probes Harvard's Financial Aid for International Students Over Discrimination Concerns

Trump Administration Probes Harvard's Financial Aid for International Students Over Discrimination Concerns

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into Harvard University's financial aid practices, focusing on whether the university is allowing Chinese donors to create scholarships that exclude American students. This compliance review, initiated by the federal government, is part of a series of inquiries by the Trump administration into Harvard's operations. The investigation centers on Harvard's acceptance of foreign funding, particularly from Chinese sources, which has amounted to $630 million over several decades. The Justice Department is concerned that these funds may be used to provide financial aid to foreign students based on their national origin, potentially discriminating against U.S. students. Harvard has stated that it complies with legal obligations and does not unlawfully discriminate in its financial aid allocations.
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US Education Department probes five medical schools over admissions practices

US Education Department probes five medical schools over admissions practices

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, July 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Education said on Wednesday it launched new probes into five medical schools over their admissions practices, marking the latest attempt by President Donald Trump's administration to crack down on diversity initiatives.
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Hillel International Withdraws Support for Harvard in Funding Freeze Appeal

Hillel International Withdraws Support for Harvard in Funding Freeze Appeal

Hillel International has decided to withdraw its amicus brief that supported Harvard University in its legal battle to restore $2.7 billion in federal funding. The brief was initially filed to back Harvard against the Trump administration's funding freeze, which was justified by claims of antisemitism on campus. However, Hillel International cited an internal review error as the reason for the withdrawal. The brief had praised Harvard's efforts to address antisemitism, including policy changes and educational initiatives. Despite the withdrawal, other organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and a group of Harvard alumni, continue to support Harvard in this legal matter.
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Colorado Faces Scientific Setbacks Amid Federal Research Funding Cuts

Colorado Faces Scientific Setbacks Amid Federal Research Funding Cuts

Colorado's academic community is grappling with the impact of significant federal research funding cuts under the Trump administration. More than $375 million in grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health have been disrupted, affecting research on misinformation, climate change, and diverse populations. The cuts have led to halted projects, layoffs, and a decline in research expenditures, raising concerns about the long-term effects on scientific progress and innovation in the state.
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Biotech experts want FDA drug reviews based on science, not politics

Biotech experts want FDA drug reviews based on science, not politics

By Deena Beasley July 22 (Reuters) - Biotech experts and industry executives are calling plans by the U.S.
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California Sues Trump Administration Over Delay in Phasing Out Climate-Damaging Chemicals

California Sues Trump Administration Over Delay in Phasing Out Climate-Damaging Chemicals

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with attorneys general from 19 other states, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit challenges the decision to delay the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning. The Trump administration announced in May that companies would have additional years to transition away from HFCs, a move criticized as 'arbitrary and capricious' by Bonta. The lawsuit, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, argues that the delay violates existing environmental laws. HFCs are considered 'super pollutants' due to their significant impact on climate change, being thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide.
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DHS Fines Illegal Immigrants $84 Billion Under Trump Administration's New Policy

DHS Fines Illegal Immigrants $84 Billion Under Trump Administration's New Policy

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued over 100,000 civil fines totaling approximately $84 billion to illegal immigrants under the Trump administration. This initiative, which began shortly after President Trump's return to office, imposes a daily fine of $998 on illegal immigrants who fail to voluntarily leave the United States or comply with their removal orders. As of July, DHS has collected about $1.2 billion in payments. The administration argues that this approach is more cost-effective than traditional deportation proceedings and aims to encourage self-deportation. DHS has also released a flyer promoting the benefits of self-deportation, such as retaining earned money and eligibility for future legal immigration. The flyer warns that failure to self-deport will result in apprehension without the opportunity to settle affairs.