Biden Administration orders clearer COVID-19 guidance for college openings
INSIDE HIGHER ED — President Biden signed an executive order Thursday directing the secretary of education to provide, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, “guidance to institutions of higher education on safely reopening for in-person learning, which considers the institution’s setting, resources, and population.”
Read More about Biden Administration orders clearer COVID-19 guidance for college openingsCommunity colleges face steep enrollment declines amid pandemic
THE HECHINGER REPORT — Community colleges have traditionally been a refuge where recent high school graduates — and adults of all ages — could pick up credits and develop new skills during a poor job market. Enrollment at two-year schools swelled during the downturn a decade ago. Many expected a similar rush during the pandemic.
Read More about Community colleges face steep enrollment declines amid pandemicFederal COVID-19 relief measures provide addition funding for HBCUs
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Historically Black colleges and universities received much-needed debt relief from the federal government as part of the recent COVID-19 relief bill, a change leaders say allows them more financial freedom to invest in their futures. Congress passed a behemoth spending bill last month that included relief measures.
Read More about Federal COVID-19 relief measures provide addition funding for HBCUsBiden Administration proposes immigration bill with path to citizenship and signs executive order preserving DACA
INSIDE HIGHER ED — President Biden on his first day in office Wednesday proposed an immigration bill that features a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and makes Dreamers — young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children — immediately eligible for green cards.
Read More about Biden Administration proposes immigration bill with path to citizenship and signs executive order preserving DACAS&P Global Ratings forecasts negative outlook for US higher education
INSIDE HIGHER ED — S&P Global Ratings is keeping in place a negative outlook on the U.S. not-for-profit higher education sector’s bond rating stability for the fourth straight year and also has a negative outlook for universities it rates outside the country. The ratings agency issued the outlook this week in an annual report on the higher education sector.
Read More about S&P Global Ratings forecasts negative outlook for US higher educationBiden Administration announces political appointees to the Department of Education
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The Biden administration Thursday night named Rich Williams chief of staff of the Education Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education. The department also named Ben Miller as temporary senior adviser to Sheila Nix. The department further announced a number of other political appointees.
Read More about Biden Administration announces political appointees to the Department of EducationBiden Administration extends break on repaying student loans
INSIDE HIGHER ED — The Education Department said Wednesday night that at President Joe Biden’s request, it is continuing to give student loan borrowers a break from making their monthly payments for another nine months, until Sept. 30. The department’s student aid website was also updated to reflect the pause had been extended.
Read More about Biden Administration extends break on repaying student loansVermont Law to host virtual roundtable series on the future of legal education
VERMONT LAW SCHOOL — The Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School has announced a new roundtable series focused on the future of legal education. During three virtual events in law faculty from across the country will convene to discuss how environmental law programs can best prepare students to meet the challenges of the future.
Read More about Vermont Law to host virtual roundtable series on the future of legal educationCollege faculty become eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in some states
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Public colleges in West Virginia and Florida are among the first in the country to begin administering the coveted COVID-19 vaccines to certain faculty and staff who do not work in health care. The University System of West Virginia began administering COVID-19 vaccines to faculty and staff age 50 or over.
Read More about College faculty become eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in some statesStudy: College openings during the fall semester linked to increase in COVID-19 cases in students’ home counties
INSIDE HIGHER ED — Since colleges and universities announced last summer that they would be opening their doors to students, critics have argued that doing so was irresponsible and would lead to infections and deaths in nearby communities. New peer-reviewed analysis released today suggests that, for some colleges, the link was present.
Read More about Study: College openings during the fall semester linked to increase in COVID-19 cases in students’ home counties