HEADLINES: Top Higher Education News for the Week

May 30, 2025

The first in-person arguments in the case over Harvard’s ability to admit international students occurred yesterday, The New York Times reports... The Trump administration’s attacks on Harvard loomed over its commencement on Thursday, The Washington Post writes... The Wall Street Journal examines the financial consequences for institutions of targeting Chinese students’ visas... Scientists are worried that major cuts to NSF will leave the U.S. with a long-term shortage of researchers, according to Inside Higher Ed... The Wall Street Journal looks at the mounting losses in court for the Trump administration’s efforts to target international students.

Harvard and Trump Lawyers to Face Off in Court in Foreign Student Case
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 29, 2025

Harvard Celebrates Graduation in the Shadow of Its Fight With Trump
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | May 29, 2025

Targeting Chinese Students Threatens the Bottom Line at American Universities
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | May 29, 2025

Scientific Community Fears for Future of Stem Workforce Amid NSF Overhaul
Inside Higher Ed | May 30, 2025

Trump’s Campaign Against Foreign Students Is on Shaky Legal Ground
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | May 30, 2025

May 29, 2025

President Trump wants to cap the number of international students at Harvard, and the university reports that many of its international students are considering transferring, The New York Times writes... A federal judge has blocked the administration’s attempt to ban international students from enrolling at Harvard, reports The Washington Post, which also explores how international students benefit the economy... Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government will soon revoke many Chinese students’ visas, according to NPR... Higher education stakeholders are worried that an uncertain policy environment will dissuade international students from coming to the U.S., The Chronicle of Higher Education reports... Inside Higher Ed looks at recent Utah legislation that reduces funding for public universities unless they reallocate their spending or cut programs.

Trump Suggests Limit on International Students at Harvard
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

Harvard Says Many of Its Foreign Students Are Seeking to Transfer
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

Judge Blocks Trump Administration Effort to Ban Foreign Students at Harvard
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | May 29, 2025

Here’s How Much International Students Contribute to the U.S. Economy
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

Rubio Says U.S. Will ‘Aggressively’ Revoke Visas for Many Chinese Students
NPR | May 28, 2025

Colleges Across U.S. Fear Chill on Enrollments of Foreign Students
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

Utah Lawmakers Flex Their Power Over Public Universities
Inside Higher Ed | May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

The Washington Post reports that the State Department paused visa appointments for international students while it prepares stricter requirements for social media vetting, and The Boston Globe looks at how Trump administration policy is affecting how international students view their future in the U.S.... The University of Florida Board of Trustees approved Santa Ono to be the university’s next president... Florida Education Commissioner Manny Díaz Jr. will become interim president of the University of West Florida.

New Student Visas Paused as State Dept. Plans Tougher Social Media Review
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

How Safe Is the Future for International Students in the US?
The Boston Globe (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

University of Florida Board Votes Unanimously to Hire Ono
Inside Higher Ed | May 27, 2025

Manny Díaz Jr. Tapped as University of West Florida Interim President
Miami Herald (sub. req.) | May 28, 2025

May 27, 2025

ACE President Ted Mitchell appears on the Inside Higher Ed podcast The Key to discuss how the House budget reconciliation plan would limit access to higher education for low-income students and sow financial instability across the sector... WBUR reports on the preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration’s effort to bar Harvard from enrolling international students... The New York Times reports on the fear that the administration may use international enrollment as leverage to demand changes on other campuses... The administration is set to cancel the government’s remaining federal contracts with Harvard, in a letter being sent to all federal agencies Tuesday... In an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, Harvard President Alan Garber acknowledges while there is work to be done on campus, he struggles to see a link between funding freezes and fighting antisemitism.

Reconciliation Bill Would Block Access to Higher Ed, ACE Leader Warns
Inside Higher Ed | May 27, 2025

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Barring Foreign Student Enrollment at Harvard
WBUR | May 23, 2025

Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Bar International Students at Harvard
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 23, 2025

Universities See Trump’s Harvard Move as a Threat to Them, Too
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 24, 2025

Trump Intends to Cancel All Federal Funds Directed at Harvard
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 27, 2025

As Trump Targets Elite Schools, Harvard’s President Says They Should ‘Stand Firm’
NPR | May 27, 2025

May 23, 2025

The reconciliation bill the House passed on Thursday increases taxes on entities the Trump administration has targeted, including elite universities, The New York Times and Reuters write... The Chronicle of Higher Education looks at how the reconciliation bill would affect colleges and universities... The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday moved to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students, and Harvard sued the Trump administration in response... Inside Higher Ed reports that a federal judge ordered the Department of Education to reinstate thousands of employees fired in March... A federal judge issued a temporary injunction preventing mass visa revocations for international students, according to The New York Times.

Republicans Harness Tax Code to Punish Trump’s Political Nemeses
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 23, 2025

In New Attack, Trump Spending Bill Would Hike Taxes on Elite Colleges
Reuters | May 23, 2025

Republicans’ Plan to Tax Higher Ed and Slash Funding Advances in Congress
The Chronicle of Higher Education (sub. req.) | May 22, 2025

Homeland Security Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students
The Washington Post (sub. req.) | May 22, 2025

Trump Administration Blocks Harvard From Enrolling Foreign Students
The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) | May 22, 2025

Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over Move to Bar International Students
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 23, 2025

Judge Orders Education Department Employees Reinstated
Inside Higher Ed | May 22, 2025

Judge Blocks Trump Administration From Revoking Student Visas
The New York Times (sub. req.) | May 22, 2025

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