Higher Education / Public News Service

Student workers help distribute food as part of the 'Oh SNAP!' program at Cal Poly Humboldt. (Kellie Brown)

Monday, June 16, 2025

CA colleges and universities take food pantries to the next level

Hunger among college students in California has jumped dramatically since the pandemic, yet Cal-Fresh -- a statewide low-income food assistance …

The May 4 Visitor Center at Kent State University educates the public about the 1970 campus shootings and their lasting impact on civil liberties and protest rights. Canfora calls her brother holding a black flag away from a school parking lot while National Guard troops are on the scene in May 1970. (John Filo)

Friday, June 13, 2025

OH's Kent State lessons loom over military response to LA protests

A Kent State University shooting survivor is warning Ohioans and others to take note of the U.S. military's involvement in immigration-related …

According to the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Texas has about 57,000 undocumented students enrolled in its public universities and colleges who will no longer be eligible for in-state tuition. (K Abrahams/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Ending in-state tuition for undocumented students will cost TX millions

Immigrant rights groups have said they are considering legal action to restore a Texas law allowing in-state tuition rates for undocumented college st…

A new survey found about two-thirds of students disciplined or threatened with discipline said it happened during campus protests held in public spaces like the quad or campus green. (Lomb/AdobeStock)

Report: Free speech rights curtailed for students on Tennessee campuses

Students and faculty are increasingly being investigated and punished for exercising their right to protected speech on Tennessee college campuses…

Some 17% of students surveyed said they felt like they could not express their opinion on a subject at least a couple of times a week because of how fellow students, a professor or the administration would respond. (Gatot/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX college students feel free speech is targeted

Texas colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech on campus. The College Free Speech Rankings include survey results …

Purdue Global Law School traces its roots to 1998, when Concord University School of Law went live online. (Adobe stock)

Purdue Global grads make Indiana legal first

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

About 2,500 women are housed in Indiana's correctional facilities, including some held in county jails, according to a June 2024 Indiana Department of Corrections report. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana women get new start on college from behind bars

By Claire Rafford for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News…

Some college students reported their campus is more tolerant of certain viewpoints, usually liberal, while conservative perspectives often face more pushback. (Lomb/Adobe Stock)

Michigan college bucks national trend in free-speech rankings

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under assault on college campuses but one Michigan school stands out for protecting it. The …

Florida State University is among the top five ranked schools for free speech according to the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Adobe Stock)

Free speech under fire? Report ranks Florida campuses

Florida colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech. A new national report, the College Free Speech Rankings, lists …

Ohio State University ranked 174th out of 251 colleges in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, with an overall score of 42.34 out of 100. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio colleges rank low in national free-speech study

A new study found college students across Ohio and the nation feel increasingly uneasy about expressing their views on campus. The nonprofit …

According to USA Facts, 28 is the average age a woman in Indiana gets married. (Adobe Stock)

Study shows marriage habits straying from traditional patterns

Women college graduates are not sticking to traditional compatibility traits when choosing a husband, according to one study. Preferences are …

The report recorded more than 1,000 instances of students or student groups who were targeted for or received punishment for their speech. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government increasingly involved in campus free speech crackdowns

Students and faculty are facing more investigations and punishment for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according to a …

A majority of students said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is difficult to

Survey: UT universities could do more to foster free speech on campus

A new survey revealed many college students believe free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses. The nonpartisan nonprofit …

A new study showed more than 40% of U.S. university students now feel uncomfortable sharing their views on controversial political topics. (photo courtesy unm.edu)

Study: NM university students' views diverge over campus free-speech climate

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses, from both right and left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit Foundation …

Two in five speech controversies in 2023, after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, were about the war in Gaza, according to a report from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Campus free speech curtailed as government punishes students

Students and faculty are increasingly being investigated and punished for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according …

In the survey, politically conservative students reported self-censoring more often than those who consider themselves moderate or liberal. (Adobe Stock)

Study: NV universities fare 'average' for free speech climate

A new study reveals free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses, from both the right and the left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit …

Industry reports show South Dakota has more than 1,800 wind-energy jobs. (Adobe Stock)

With wind energy at its back, SD tech school resumes training program

Meeting America's future energy demands requires big decisions by utilities and policymakers about the best way to do it. A South Dakota technical …

Of 251 U.S. colleges and universities ranked in 2024 for free speech, University of Wyoming scored at about the middle of the pack at 121 but received a

UW gets a 'red light' in free speech report

A new study showed free speech is increasingly under assault on college campuses from both the right and the left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit …

In 2023, the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute issued a survey, with nearly 90% of practices reporting challenges in filling open dental assisting jobs. (Adobe Stock)

ND college aims to ease dental workforce woes with scholarships

Workforce shortages have taken a bite out of dental offices in North Dakota but new scholarships at one of the state's colleges could help train the n…

Health care is the fastest growing industry in Spokane, Washington, with nearly 4,000 jobs created locally in the last five years. (imtmphoto/Adobe Stock)

Spokane coalition aims to diversify the city's economy

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Coll…

David Campbell, professor and director of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, hopes by bringing people from different sectors together, the group can have a fruitful discussion that will get the ball rolling for responsible use of social media. (Adobe stock)

Notre Dame rallies leaders to shape social media

Notre Dame is launching a major effort to shape the future of social media policy and it could affect every corner of Indiana. This week, the …

In Iowa, the United States' largest pork producer, factory farms produce 109 billion pounds of manure annually, more than any other state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa partners to study agriculture's link to cancer

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

More than 80 percent of adults without a degree or credential who have thought about going back to school say they are likely to enroll in a program within the next five years. (S Fanti/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: PA adults want degrees but cost, access are barriers

As students graduate across Pennsylvania, a new report shows many adults still hope to earn a college degree -- but high costs and limited access …

According to the poll, nearly nine in 10 adults without a higher education degree or credential believe at least one type of academic credential is valuable. (D Lahoud/Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite barriers, Tennessee adults want college degrees

As students graduate across Tennessee, a new report shows many adults still hope to earn a college degree -- but high costs and limited access often …

According to the Pew Research Center, the Black immigrant population will account for roughly one-third of the U.S. Black population's growth through 2060. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Black immigrant population grows throughout Arkansas, nation

Studies show one in 10 Black people in the U.S. is an immigrant and immigrants' advocates said they face significant challenges blending into the …

Florida A&M University, a public historically Black land-grant institution in Tallahassee, was founded in 1887. It is one of the largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities by enrollment and the only public HBCU in Florida. (Adobe Stock)

Controversy erupts over FAMU’s presidential selection process

The selection of Marva Johnson, a longtime corporate executive and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, as the next president of Florida A&M University has …

As of July 2022, about 36.8 million U.S. adults younger than 65 had some college but no degree. In the following academic year, more than 943,000 re-enrolled. (Beaunitta V W/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Michigan expands partnership to help adults return to college

Michiganders who left college early might now have a shot at finishing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential's …

High school and college students will take over the airwaves on the first and third Saturday in Arkansas in the revival of the PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show (avdyachenko/Adobe Stock)

Radio show gives AR students a voice

A groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas. The PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show will be back on the …

According to Excelencia in Education, for the United States to regain the top ranking in the world for college degree attainment, Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Latino students prefer grants over loans to pay for college

Latino students in Illinois and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

Texas is part of a pilot program by the North Carolina-based Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. The organization is directing a project designed to increase employment skills for rural students. Each state taking part will use its own approach, guided by local priorities. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Program aims to connect rural TX college students with universities

By Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder C…

As part of its training standards, community health workers are required to complete initial training, either in-house or through outside programs, within 30 days of their start date, before they begin working with clients on their own. (Adobe Stock)

Accreditation for TN community health workers can improve health outcomes

Despite uncertainty about Medicaid funding in Congress, Tennessee is moving ahead to help improve people's health outcomes with a program for …

Harvard economist Raj Chetty's research reveals Black men's outcomes drive the racial wealth gap nearly twice as much as women's, with profound mobility implications. (Adobe Stock)

FL schools could learn from HBCU enrollment initiative

As Historically Black Colleges and Universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, a program at Howard University is working to reverse …

Research by economist Raj Chetty and colleagues at Harvard shows Black men's outcomes disproportionately determine economic mobility, with the racial wealth gap linked more to male than female trajectories. (Adobe Stock)

Howard University program addresses Black male enrollment crisis

As historically Black colleges and universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, Howard University's "Kings of Campus" initiative is …

Latino students make informed and pragmatic choices to pay for college and the institutions intentionally serving them are making strides to ensure the price of a college degree is affordable. (Kateryna/Adobe Stock)

AR Latino students use various forms of aid to pay for college

Latino students in Arkansas and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

In 2023 in Tennessee, 26% of Hispanic adults had an associate degree or higher, compared to 40% of white, non-Hispanic adults. (Cambo27/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN Latino college students rely less on financial aid

Latino students in Tennessee and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups, according to new research but they …

Researchers said a new SkillsUSA and Northern Illinois University study is the most comprehensive to date on how many students are involved in apprenticeships, internships, courses and other work-based learning activities. (Adobe Stock)

IL apprenticeships on the rise but disparities remain

A new report shows Illinois youth now have more apprenticeship and internship opportunities, with an increase in women and minority participation but …

In Spring 2023, Arkansas created the Office of Early Childhood within the Arkansas Department of Education, which unifies the Arkansas early-childhood system. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR pre-K suffers from funding gap

A report by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows Arkansas needs to improve its reach with pre-K students. The state fell from …

The Buffalo Soldiers were the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War. The museum was founded in 2001. (serhiibobyk/Adobe Stock)

Federal funding cuts hit Houston's Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston is one of many historic and cultural institutions across the nation to lose access to federal funding…

The bill would also establish a prison education task force to implement consistent programs across state correctional facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Prison education bill to expand opportunities for incarcerated people in VA

A bill passed by Virginia lawmakers would expand higher education opportunities to incarcerated people across the state. House Bill 2158 aims to …

The Here to Observe and Here to Storytelling program helps students show their workforce skills on their resumes, making it easier for them to succeed when applying for internships, graduate school and jobs. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Funds cut off from Kutztown U.’s NASA program amid DEI crackdown

President Donald Trump's executive order dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs has led to the defunding of Kutztown …

The 2+2 international business degree program is the first collaboration of its kind between the University of Northern Iowa's Wilson College of Businessand an international university. (Adobe Stock)

Northern Iowa launches international student exchange

Despite pushback from the Trump administration on colleges and universities recruiting foreign students, the University of Northern Iowa is part of a …

Data show 25% to 35% of first-year college students do not return for their second year. (NMSU)

NMSU's 'ringtone strategy' helps keep students enrolled, engaged

Today's college students may prefer communicating by text but New Mexico State University still finds person-to-person phone calls from faculty and st…

Universities across the country have protested against the Trump administration's actions targeting higher-ed funding, speech and international students. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed supporters rally on two IL campuses for students' rights

It has been a busy week for supporters of higher education in Illinois, with two separate protests at Northern Illinois University and Northeastern …

The Individualized Education Account Program helps Tennessee families by offering funding for approved educational expenses customized to support each student's individual learning needs. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee educators warn against dismantling U.S. Department of Education

Tennessee educators are expressing concern over President Donald Trump's push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return control to the …

Florida State University, where a gunman killed two people last Thursday, experienced another shooting more than a decade ago that left three people injured. (ernie114/Pixabay)

Students, lawmakers clash over gun violence response after FSU shooting

Florida State University students joined survivors of past mass shootings at the state Capitol this week, demanding that Gov. Ron DeSantis veto a …

Many international students have said they did not know their visas were revoked, or that their status had been changed, until they were notified by federal officials. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX

Hundreds of international college students in Texas are fighting to stay in the country after their visas were revoked and their legal status changed …

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has an enrollment of around 270,000 students, spread across 33 campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Significant tuition hikes expected at MN colleges

For Minnesota households planning future college enrollment, there is a good chance tuition will cost more, as public campuses facing tighter budgets …

In 2022, Arizona ranked among the top five states with the most severe health care staffing shortages, with the demand for specialized nurses projected to increase by 23% by 2025, according to the Arizona Board of Nursing. (Deanna Dent/Arizona State University)

Initiative expected to help AZ reverse nursing shortage

Arizona already faces a critical shortage of nurses and it is projected to get worse. Now, a new initiative at Arizona State University could make …

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