Federal 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 loansSurvey: Increased stress and health risks affect the professional and personal lives of judges
ABA JOURNAL — One in five judges who responded to a survey on job stress met at least one criteria for depressive disorder, according to survey results released late last month. The most common source of stress was the importance and impact of the decisions the judges are making, according to a study published in the 2020.
Read More about Survey: Increased stress and health risks affect the professional and personal lives of judgesArizona court system adopts cloud-based exhibit and evidence sharing platform to assist with virtual hearings
ABA JOURNAL — Arizona’s court system will begin utilizing Thomson Reuters’ cloud-based court exhibit and evidence sharing platform to assist with the handling of digital evidence across the state, it was announced Wednesday. The Digital Evidence Center tool will be helpful as most court hearings are held virtually due to COVID-19.
Read More about Arizona court system adopts cloud-based exhibit and evidence sharing platform to assist with virtual hearingsArizona State University Law professor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes appointed deputy solicitor for Indian Affairs
ASU NOW — ASU Law professor appointed to Interior Department leadership role in Biden-Harris administration.“That commitment was the key to my success,” said Bledsoe Downes, also an ASU alum, who has been named deputy solicitor for Indian Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Read More about Arizona State University Law professor Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes appointed deputy solicitor for Indian AffairsUniversity of Baltimore Law professor Gilda R. Daniels’ book Uncounted honored by Powell’s bookstore
POWELL’S BOOKS — For a deeper understanding of why that is so urgently needed, read Gilda R. Daniels. Uncounted is a deeply researched but concise examination of why the Voting Rights Act was, and still is, integral to US democracy, and the ramifications of disenfranchisement as it is currently practiced.
Read More about University of Baltimore Law professor Gilda R. Daniels’ book Uncounted honored by Powell’s bookstoreBaylor Law announces hosts Elite National Transactional Law Competition
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY LAW — On January 15-17, students from fourteen of the best transactional law programs across the nation competed virtually in the most challenging transactional law competition in the country. Floy Gaidarski, of SMU Dedman School of Law, and Preston Chaffee, of University of San Diego School of Law, were named winners.
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