Karin Fischer
@karinfischer.bsky.social
Write. Run. Eat. Drink. Travel. Root for the Nats! The only Newfie you know. Reporting on international ed and the economic, cultural, and political divides around American colleges.
Can college football change Americans’ minds about higher ed? Bowl-game TV ads used to woo students and donors. Now they try to sell the public on the sector’s research prowess and community service.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The Game Is On — and Colleges Are Making Their Pitch
Bowl-game TV ads were once all about rah-rah recruitment. Now they’re fighting to convey higher ed’s value to a restive public.
www.chronicle.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Can college football change Americans’ minds about higher ed? Bowl-game TV ads used to woo students and donors. Now they try to sell the public on the sector’s research prowess and community service.
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
American colleges have received nearly $6.6 billion in contracts and gifts from this country. It might not be the one you’re thinking of. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Latitudes: Following the (Foreign) Money
A new public database tracks gifts and contracts from overseas. Plus, readers sound off on online classes in study-abroad programs.
www.chronicle.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:17 PM
American colleges have received nearly $6.6 billion in contracts and gifts from this country. It might not be the one you’re thinking of. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
The share of Americans who study overseas has remained stubbornly low for decades. Is allowing students to take online courses that answer to study abroad’s accessibility problem? www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Latitudes: Studying Abroad ... Online?
An idea to get more students overseas, ‘open debate’ training for foreign students, and more news for the new year.
www.chronicle.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:45 PM
The share of Americans who study overseas has remained stubbornly low for decades. Is allowing students to take online courses that answer to study abroad’s accessibility problem? www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Reposted by Karin Fischer
We typically thing of populist attacks on higher ed as a right-wing phenomena (e.g. Turkey, Hungary and the US), but this piece is also good and showing how Amlo's left-wing populist government in Mexico operated in much the same manner. doi.org/10.1017/S153...
December 30, 2025 at 2:10 AM
We typically thing of populist attacks on higher ed as a right-wing phenomena (e.g. Turkey, Hungary and the US), but this piece is also good and showing how Amlo's left-wing populist government in Mexico operated in much the same manner. doi.org/10.1017/S153...
News of campus gun violence, like the shooting at Brown, can reinforce perceptions among foreign students and families that the U.S. is a dangerous place. When it comes to safety, the U.S. consistently trails other major destination countries in surveys www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
How Campus Shootings Resonate Abroad
Could foreign enrollments be a casualty of America’s gun violence? Plus, widespread anxiety over visa rules.
www.chronicle.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
News of campus gun violence, like the shooting at Brown, can reinforce perceptions among foreign students and families that the U.S. is a dangerous place. When it comes to safety, the U.S. consistently trails other major destination countries in surveys www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
NEWS: The White House has released an expanded travel ban. Notably, the partial travel restrictions on several countries include student visas — including Nigeria, which is among the top 10 sending countries to U.S. colleges www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States
During my first Administration, I restricted the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States to prevent national security and public Every child deserves a safe and nurturing home where ...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 16, 2025 at 10:31 PM
NEWS: The White House has released an expanded travel ban. Notably, the partial travel restrictions on several countries include student visas — including Nigeria, which is among the top 10 sending countries to U.S. colleges www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Karin Fischer
Federal cuts have disrupted academic research agendas and hurt Ph.D. enrollments. Another potential casualty: the web of businesses that undergird academic science. For @chronicle.com a look at companies that are the architecture that supports American research www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Trump Cut Funding to Higher Ed. Other Businesses Are Feeling the Pain.
His effort to punish universities could have a billion-dollar ripple effect.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Federal cuts have disrupted academic research agendas and hurt Ph.D. enrollments. Another potential casualty: the web of businesses that undergird academic science. For @chronicle.com a look at companies that are the architecture that supports American research www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Federal cuts have disrupted academic research agendas and hurt Ph.D. enrollments. Another potential casualty: the web of businesses that undergird academic science. For @chronicle.com a look at companies that are the architecture that supports American research www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Trump Cut Funding to Higher Ed. Other Businesses Are Feeling the Pain.
His effort to punish universities could have a billion-dollar ripple effect.
www.chronicle.com
December 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Federal cuts have disrupted academic research agendas and hurt Ph.D. enrollments. Another potential casualty: the web of businesses that undergird academic science. For @chronicle.com a look at companies that are the architecture that supports American research www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Trump administration policies, including visa delays and social-media vetting, have dented international enrollments. Now one university may be moving to enact its own ban on students from China, Iran, and other “adversarial’ countries www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Could Wary Colleges Pre-emptively Ban Foreign Students?
Purdue has reportedly told professors not to admit graduate students from China.
www.chronicle.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Trump administration policies, including visa delays and social-media vetting, have dented international enrollments. Now one university may be moving to enact its own ban on students from China, Iran, and other “adversarial’ countries www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
A way to ameliorate cost concerns? Allowing students to remain in the U.S. for a few years after graduation where they can earn higher American salaries to pay off their loans. According to estimates, just two years of work cuts repayment times in more than half www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
American Education’s Price-Tag Problem
Foreign students can take years more to pay off a U.S. degree than for studies in less costly countries.
www.chronicle.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
A way to ameliorate cost concerns? Allowing students to remain in the U.S. for a few years after graduation where they can earn higher American salaries to pay off their loans. According to estimates, just two years of work cuts repayment times in more than half www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Indian students pursuing master's degrees have been the post-pandemic engine of international-enrollment growth for U.S. colleges. But there's an ongoing challenge to recruiting these price-conscious students: an American degree is far more expensive
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Indian students pursuing master's degrees have been the post-pandemic engine of international-enrollment growth for U.S. colleges. But there's an ongoing challenge to recruiting these price-conscious students: an American degree is far more expensive
Anxiety is high about the potentially deleterious effects of American-government policy on international enrollments. But there’s a sleeper issue that should keep U.S. college officials up at night: cost www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
American Education’s Price-Tag Problem
Foreign students can take years more to pay off an U.S. degree than for studies in less costly countries.
www.chronicle.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Anxiety is high about the potentially deleterious effects of American-government policy on international enrollments. But there’s a sleeper issue that should keep U.S. college officials up at night: cost www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Northwestern University is the latest college to agree to review its international-admission policies as part of a deal with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding www.chronicle.com/article/trac...
Tracking Trump’s Higher-Ed Deals
Colleges are reaching settlements with the government to restore research funding. Here’s everything you need to know.
www.chronicle.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Northwestern University is the latest college to agree to review its international-admission policies as part of a deal with the Trump administration to restore federal research funding www.chronicle.com/article/trac...
Background: The Trump administration has increased scrutiny of overseas funding, including investigations into Harvard, Penn, Berkeley, and Michigan, warning of risks of foreign influence on campus. Colleges have said they already comply with federal rules. www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The Trump Administration Is Scrutinizing Colleges’ Foreign Gifts. It’s Not the First Time.
Harvard University received a letter on Thursday demanding a host of records on its overseas contracts. The roots of that fight stem from President Trump’s first term.
www.chronicle.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Background: The Trump administration has increased scrutiny of overseas funding, including investigations into Harvard, Penn, Berkeley, and Michigan, warning of risks of foreign influence on campus. Colleges have said they already comply with federal rules. www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
The U.S. Department of Education has set up a new portal for colleges to report gifts and contracts from foreign sources, an effort, the department said, to improve transparency. The new site will go live on January 2. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
U.S. Department of Education Announces New and Improved Portal for Universities to Report Foreign Funding
Today, the U.S. Department of Education notified institutions of higher education of a new foreign funding reporting portal, set to launch on January 2, 2026.
www.ed.gov
December 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM
The U.S. Department of Education has set up a new portal for colleges to report gifts and contracts from foreign sources, an effort, the department said, to improve transparency. The new site will go live on January 2. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
Asia and the Middle East are home to the largest number of international branch campuses, with China leading the way. The 50 outposts it hosts include high-profile names like NYU and Duke, as well as others that have flown under the radar. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
December 1, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Asia and the Middle East are home to the largest number of international branch campuses, with China leading the way. The 50 outposts it hosts include high-profile names like NYU and Duke, as well as others that have flown under the radar. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Despite rising geopolitical tensions and increased nationalism, the U.S. has more satellite campuses around the world than any other country. Where the most campuses are may surprise you. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Higher Education’s Global Outposts
The United States may be looking inward, but colleges are still setting up campuses abroad.
www.chronicle.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Despite rising geopolitical tensions and increased nationalism, the U.S. has more satellite campuses around the world than any other country. Where the most campuses are may surprise you. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
OPT, the work program for recent foreign grads of U.S. colleges, has grown so much over the past decade that it can obscure year-to-year shifts in international enrollments.
November 21, 2025 at 5:14 PM
OPT, the work program for recent foreign grads of U.S. colleges, has grown so much over the past decade that it can obscure year-to-year shifts in international enrollments.
After two years in a row of declines in new international students, the post-Covid enrollment boom looks, in hindsight, like a bubble. An unfriendly political climate contributed to an estimated 17-percent drop in new enrollments in the U.S. this fall www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
A Foreign-Enrollment Downturn Isn’t Coming. It’s Already Here.
Also, the State Dept. takes over Fulbright-Hays and other international-ed programs, and more from the “Open Doors” report.
www.chronicle.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
After two years in a row of declines in new international students, the post-Covid enrollment boom looks, in hindsight, like a bubble. An unfriendly political climate contributed to an estimated 17-percent drop in new enrollments in the U.S. this fall www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
The U.S. Department of State will take over administration of the Fulbright-Hays program and other international-education and foreign-language programming being spun off from the Department of Education in a sweeping restructuring. www.state.gov/releases/off...
State Department to Lead Additional International Education Programs Under New Interagency Partnership - United States Department of State
The U.S. Department of State today announced that, under a new interagency partnership, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) will lead several programs previously managed by the Depart...
www.state.gov
November 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
The U.S. Department of State will take over administration of the Fulbright-Hays program and other international-education and foreign-language programming being spun off from the Department of Education in a sweeping restructuring. www.state.gov/releases/off...
Bean the pup is a little dejected to learn @ranchogordo.bsky.social Bean Club is not, in fact, an appreciation society for her
November 18, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Bean the pup is a little dejected to learn @ranchogordo.bsky.social Bean Club is not, in fact, an appreciation society for her
New international enrollments dropped 7 percent LAST fall. Don’t dismiss the adverse effects of Trump administration policies like visa revocations or a foreign-student cap. But they’re compounding existing challenges, not the sole cause. www.chronicle.com/article/inte...
International Students Were Already Shunning U.S. Colleges Before Trump, New Data Show
Waning interest in master’s and professional programs precipitated a 7-percent drop in foreign enrollment last fall. Preliminary figures this year suggest things will get worse.
www.chronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New international enrollments dropped 7 percent LAST fall. Don’t dismiss the adverse effects of Trump administration policies like visa revocations or a foreign-student cap. But they’re compounding existing challenges, not the sole cause. www.chronicle.com/article/inte...
Is President Trump a @chronicle.com reader? 🤔
From Aug 4: "Arguments that emphasize the economic impact of foreign students ... would appear tailor-made for the country’s businessman-in-chief."
Trump on Fox, Nov 10: "We take in trillions of dollars from students ... I view it as a business."
From Aug 4: "Arguments that emphasize the economic impact of foreign students ... would appear tailor-made for the country’s businessman-in-chief."
Trump on Fox, Nov 10: "We take in trillions of dollars from students ... I view it as a business."
November 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Is President Trump a @chronicle.com reader? 🤔
From Aug 4: "Arguments that emphasize the economic impact of foreign students ... would appear tailor-made for the country’s businessman-in-chief."
Trump on Fox, Nov 10: "We take in trillions of dollars from students ... I view it as a business."
From Aug 4: "Arguments that emphasize the economic impact of foreign students ... would appear tailor-made for the country’s businessman-in-chief."
Trump on Fox, Nov 10: "We take in trillions of dollars from students ... I view it as a business."
President Donald J. Trump, booster of international students?! “I actually think it’s good to have outside countries. I want to be able to get along with the world.” www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Donald Trump, International-Student Advocate?
Enrolling more foreign students is good business, the president said.
www.chronicle.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM
President Donald J. Trump, booster of international students?! “I actually think it’s good to have outside countries. I want to be able to get along with the world.” www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...
Is #AI coming to international admissions — or is it already here? A recent survey by found a big jump in the usage of ChatGPT or other forms of artificial intelligence among prospective foreign students who use it to decide both where and what to study.
November 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Is #AI coming to international admissions — or is it already here? A recent survey by found a big jump in the usage of ChatGPT or other forms of artificial intelligence among prospective foreign students who use it to decide both where and what to study.