Liam Knox
@liamknox.bsky.social
Education reporter at Bloomberg News. Send tips to lknox18@bloomberg.net
The Trump admin is leveraging the accreditation system to reshape campuses. I sat down for an exclusive interview with the man leading that charge, Nicholas Kent, who laid out his plans for a higher ed "revolution."
"We're not afraid to fire accreditors," he said.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
"We're not afraid to fire accreditors," he said.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Trump’s College Czar Has a ‘Secret Weapon’ to Transform Campuses
Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent wants to overhaul the accreditation system that ties schools to government funds. Agencies are already falling in line.
www.bloomberg.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Trump admin is leveraging the accreditation system to reshape campuses. I sat down for an exclusive interview with the man leading that charge, Nicholas Kent, who laid out his plans for a higher ed "revolution."
"We're not afraid to fire accreditors," he said.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
"We're not afraid to fire accreditors," he said.
www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
Dartmouth rejected the White House’s funding compact this morning, a day after meeting with administration officials to discuss the deal.
They’re the sixth college to decline in the past week.
president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...
They’re the sixth college to decline in the past week.
president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...
Dartmouth's Feedback on the Compact | Office of the President
president.dartmouth.edu
October 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Dartmouth rejected the White House’s funding compact this morning, a day after meeting with administration officials to discuss the deal.
They’re the sixth college to decline in the past week.
president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...
They’re the sixth college to decline in the past week.
president.dartmouth.edu/news/2025/10...
The University of Southern California declined the Trump administrations preferential college funding compact, hours after Penn did the same.
USC is the fourth of nine formally invited schools to reject the White House’s deal.
USC is the fourth of nine formally invited schools to reject the White House’s deal.
October 16, 2025 at 10:18 PM
The University of Southern California declined the Trump administrations preferential college funding compact, hours after Penn did the same.
USC is the fourth of nine formally invited schools to reject the White House’s deal.
USC is the fourth of nine formally invited schools to reject the White House’s deal.
UPenn declined to sign the Trump administration's preferential funding compact, becoming the third of nine formally invited schools to do so.
But Penn president Larry Jameson said the university provided substantive feedback, unlike MIT and Brown, which rejected the deal's "fundamental premise."
But Penn president Larry Jameson said the university provided substantive feedback, unlike MIT and Brown, which rejected the deal's "fundamental premise."
October 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
UPenn declined to sign the Trump administration's preferential funding compact, becoming the third of nine formally invited schools to do so.
But Penn president Larry Jameson said the university provided substantive feedback, unlike MIT and Brown, which rejected the deal's "fundamental premise."
But Penn president Larry Jameson said the university provided substantive feedback, unlike MIT and Brown, which rejected the deal's "fundamental premise."
Reposted by Liam Knox
One billionaire has waged a five-year campaign to force Credit Suisse and later UBS to examine the mishandling of Holocaust victims’ money — and that quest is nearing completion.
Read The Big Take ⬇️
Read The Big Take ⬇️
A Billionaire’s Quest to Find Credit Suisse Nazi Accounts Puts UBS in the Spotlight
Ronald Lauder has led a push to reopen investigations after he helped reach a $1.25 billion settlement in the 1990s. He thinks that deal left billions on the table.
bloom.bg
July 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
One billionaire has waged a five-year campaign to force Credit Suisse and later UBS to examine the mishandling of Holocaust victims’ money — and that quest is nearing completion.
Read The Big Take ⬇️
Read The Big Take ⬇️
Reposted by Liam Knox
NEW: Federal officials pressuring Harvard University over allegations of mishandling antisemitism on campus considered an unprecedented tactic to force compliance: placing a lien on school property.
-- with @janetlorin.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- with @janetlorin.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Harvard Faced Threat of Trump Team Placing Lien on Its Property
Federal officials pressuring Harvard University over allegations of mishandling antisemitism on campus considered an unprecedented tactic to force compliance: placing a lien on school property.
www.bloomberg.com
July 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
NEW: Federal officials pressuring Harvard University over allegations of mishandling antisemitism on campus considered an unprecedented tactic to force compliance: placing a lien on school property.
-- with @janetlorin.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
-- with @janetlorin.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Some personal news: tomorrow will be my last day at Inside Higher Ed.
I’m thrilled to be joining @bloomberg.com as education reporter, covering the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the education landscape.
I’m thrilled to be joining @bloomberg.com as education reporter, covering the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the education landscape.
June 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Some personal news: tomorrow will be my last day at Inside Higher Ed.
I’m thrilled to be joining @bloomberg.com as education reporter, covering the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the education landscape.
I’m thrilled to be joining @bloomberg.com as education reporter, covering the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the education landscape.
Reposted by Liam Knox
DeSantis Announces Launch of New Accreditor
Florida governor announced the state is launching its own accrediting body. Other states involved in the effort are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4k8PL8s
Florida governor announced the state is launching its own accrediting body. Other states involved in the effort are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4k8PL8s
DeSantis Announces Launch of New Accreditor
Florida governor announced the state is launching its own accrediting body. Other states involved in the effort are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
bit.ly
June 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
DeSantis Announces Launch of New Accreditor
Florida governor announced the state is launching its own accrediting body. Other states involved in the effort are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4k8PL8s
Florida governor announced the state is launching its own accrediting body. Other states involved in the effort are Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4k8PL8s
Reposted by Liam Knox
Only about 12 percent of nondegree credentials offered graduates significant wage gains of 10 percent or more that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise compared to similar workers. www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
Nondegree Credentials Yield Mixed Outcomes
The American Enterprise Institute and Burning Glass Institute analyzed upward of 23,000 nondegree programs to see how well they meet learners’ goals.
www.insidehighered.com
June 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Only about 12 percent of nondegree credentials offered graduates significant wage gains of 10 percent or more that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise compared to similar workers. www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
Reposted by Liam Knox
Workforce Pell, which both houses of Congress support, would allow students enrolled in short-term credential programs to receive the federal aid grants. That could spur unaccredited providers to seek a piece of the burgeoning credentials market. @liamknox.bsky.social reports: tinyurl.com/un455zu9
Workforce Pell Would Extend Grants to Unaccredited Programs
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers.
www.insidehighered.com
June 16, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Workforce Pell, which both houses of Congress support, would allow students enrolled in short-term credential programs to receive the federal aid grants. That could spur unaccredited providers to seek a piece of the burgeoning credentials market. @liamknox.bsky.social reports: tinyurl.com/un455zu9
Reposted by Liam Knox
Congress Opens the Credential Floodgates
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4jOZctB
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4jOZctB
Workforce Pell Would Extend Grants to Unaccredited Programs
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers.
bit.ly
June 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Congress Opens the Credential Floodgates
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4jOZctB
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers. #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/4jOZctB
Reposted by Liam Knox
Could congress' proposed workforce Pell provision unlock the floodgates to thousands of unaccredited non-degree awarding providers? @liamknox.bsky.social reports www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Workforce Pell Would Extend Grants to Unaccredited Programs
Lawmakers are poised to extend Pell eligibility to short-term credential programs. With few guardrails in place, it could incentivize an explosion in unaccredited and for-profit providers.
www.insidehighered.com
June 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Could congress' proposed workforce Pell provision unlock the floodgates to thousands of unaccredited non-degree awarding providers? @liamknox.bsky.social reports www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Liam Knox
Why did the Fulbright foreign scholars' board members resign en masse? @liamknox.bsky.social has the inside story:
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Fulbright Board Resigns En Masse Over Political Interference
Nearly the entire scholarship board quit Wednesday in protest of the Trump administration’s intervention in the selection process, which they say was politically motivated and illegal.
www.insidehighered.com
June 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Why did the Fulbright foreign scholars' board members resign en masse? @liamknox.bsky.social has the inside story:
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Liam Knox
So much is happening and the Senate is looking to pass its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill in two weeks. Here's @jessicablake.bsky.social on what to expect as we await the draft of the Senate bill.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
What to Expect as the Senate Tackles Reconciliation
The Senate faces a July 4 deadline to pass its own version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leaving little time for compromise or significant changes.
www.insidehighered.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:00 PM
So much is happening and the Senate is looking to pass its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill in two weeks. Here's @jessicablake.bsky.social on what to expect as we await the draft of the Senate bill.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Liam Knox
Apropos of nothing, but here's my story from October on accreditation.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Can Republicans take away a college’s accreditation?
But, the federal government has no say in whether an individual college is accredited, experts say. That decision is up to the accreditors.
www.insidehighered.com
June 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Apropos of nothing, but here's my story from October on accreditation.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Reposted by Liam Knox
After Delays and Public Blowback, Chapel Hill Board Votes Outside Meeting to Award Tenure
After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3FGjAPG
After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3FGjAPG
After Delay, Chapel Hill Board Votes to Award Tenure
After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed tenure.
bit.ly
June 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
After Delays and Public Blowback, Chapel Hill Board Votes Outside Meeting to Award Tenure
After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3FGjAPG
After faculty raised alarm over the board’s delay on the decisions, trustees finally debated and voted by email. A couple of them said they generally opposed... #HigherEd #EDUSky #AcademicSky bit.ly/3FGjAPG
I’ll be on @the1a.org at 10 ET tomorrow to talk all things international students — how they’re navigating the current moment and what’s changed about the Trump admins approach to revoking visas and curtailing international enrollment.
Tune in here: www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
Tune in here: www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
1A
Listening to the news can feel like a journey. But 1A guides you beyond the headlines – and cuts through the noise. Let's get to the heart of the story, together – on 1A.Support NPR and get your news ...
www.npr.org
June 4, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I’ll be on @the1a.org at 10 ET tomorrow to talk all things international students — how they’re navigating the current moment and what’s changed about the Trump admins approach to revoking visas and curtailing international enrollment.
Tune in here: www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
Tune in here: www.npr.org/podcasts/510...
Reposted by Liam Knox
Community colleges say 400k students could lose their Pell Grant under House Republican’s proposal changes to the program. Here’s why.
www.insidehighered.com/news/institu...
www.insidehighered.com/news/institu...
Community Colleges Fear Proposed Changes to Pell
The House’s budget would strip Pell Grants from many part-time students. That’s bad news for community colleges.
www.insidehighered.com
June 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Community colleges say 400k students could lose their Pell Grant under House Republican’s proposal changes to the program. Here’s why.
www.insidehighered.com/news/institu...
www.insidehighered.com/news/institu...
Reposted by Liam Knox
ICYMI: @liamknox.bsky.social on the Trump admin & international students:
www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...
www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...
The Latest on International Students in the US | The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC
Reporter Liam Knox reports on the latest on that plus the dispute between the administration and Harvard over enrolling foreign students.
www.wnyc.org
May 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ICYMI: @liamknox.bsky.social on the Trump admin & international students:
www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...
www.wnyc.org/story/the-la...
I’ll be on the Brian Lehrer Show at 9 ET this morning to talk about my reporting on the Fulbright and the Trump administration’s revival of its campaign against international students.
Tune in: www.wnyc.org/shows/bl
Tune in: www.wnyc.org/shows/bl
The Brian Lehrer Show | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News
Brian Lehrer leads the conversation about what matters most now in local and national politics, our own communities and our lives.
www.wnyc.org
May 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I’ll be on the Brian Lehrer Show at 9 ET this morning to talk about my reporting on the Fulbright and the Trump administration’s revival of its campaign against international students.
Tune in: www.wnyc.org/shows/bl
Tune in: www.wnyc.org/shows/bl
Reposted by Liam Knox
The Trump administration has taken its fight against DEI to the Fulbright program, intervening in the selection process to disqualify applicants whose projects focus on race, gender or climate change. Great reporting by @liamknox.bsky.social.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
Fulbright Applicants Rejected Over “DEI” Research Proposals
The Trump administration staged an unprecedented intervention in this year’s Fulbright selection process, rejecting finalists whose research deals with race, gender or climate change.
www.insidehighered.com
May 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The Trump administration has taken its fight against DEI to the Fulbright program, intervening in the selection process to disqualify applicants whose projects focus on race, gender or climate change. Great reporting by @liamknox.bsky.social.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
NEW: ICE sent emails to dozens of international graduates on OPT threatening deportation unless they provide proof of employment in 15 days.
The scope of the crackdown is unclear, but one advisor told me 28 students from one college got the same letter.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
The scope of the crackdown is unclear, but one advisor told me 28 students from one college got the same letter.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
ICE Warns International Students of More SEVIS Terminations
Immigration officials sent letters to recent international graduates on short-term work visas giving them 15 days to report employment or face removal from the country.
www.insidehighered.com
May 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
NEW: ICE sent emails to dozens of international graduates on OPT threatening deportation unless they provide proof of employment in 15 days.
The scope of the crackdown is unclear, but one advisor told me 28 students from one college got the same letter.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
The scope of the crackdown is unclear, but one advisor told me 28 students from one college got the same letter.
www.insidehighered.com/news/global/...
Reposted by Liam Knox
New: The Department of Education appears to be denying the majority of requests from states to unfreeze tens of millions of pandemic relief dollars for K-12 school projects and programs that were already underway. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Billions for Schools Are in Limbo as Trump Admin. Denies State Funding Requests
Chaos and confusion continue to reign as states scramble to spend the last of their COVID relief funds under new deadlines.
www.edweek.org
May 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
New: The Department of Education appears to be denying the majority of requests from states to unfreeze tens of millions of pandemic relief dollars for K-12 school projects and programs that were already underway. www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
Reposted by Liam Knox
Given the current anti-DEI climate, universities in many red states have canceled affinity graduation celebrations for underrepresented groups on campus. But students are carrying on the tradition themselves, as Johanna Alonso reports:
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
Amid DEI Cancellations, Students Hold Affinity Graduations
Colleges have scrapped affinity graduation celebrations as Trump targets DEI and state bans take effect, but new traditions may be starting.
www.insidehighered.com
May 14, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Given the current anti-DEI climate, universities in many red states have canceled affinity graduation celebrations for underrepresented groups on campus. But students are carrying on the tradition themselves, as Johanna Alonso reports:
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...