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susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Susan Greenberg
@susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
1.1K followers 750 following 110 posts
Managing Editor @insidehighered.com. Formerly @newsweek.com and Middlebury College. Writer, editor, teacher, empty nester. Love DC but New England will always be home.
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susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Looks like today may be the day the Trump administration finally splinters what's left of the Education Department: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
McMahon Says “Clock Is Ticking” on Education Department
Trump officials are reportedly planning to enact a number of agreements Tuesday that could send key ED responsibilities to other agencies.
www.insidehighered.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
The new Carnegie "Access and Earnings" classification was designed to acknowledge institutions that don't spend heavily on research or confer doctorates but still drive opportunity for students. So why are community colleges so upset? @saraweissman.insidehighered.com has the scoop: bit.ly/4qUAgpw
Community College Leaders Dispute Carnegie Classification
Carnegie’s new Student Access and Earnings Classification has stirred up controversy among community college advocates. Carnegie is standing by its approach.
www.insidehighered.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
SNAP funding has been partially restored, but college campuses are still struggling to meet demand among food-insecure students, with no end in sight. Great reporting by @saraweissman.insidehighered.com: www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Trump Partially Funds SNAP, Colleges Scramble
After court orders, the Trump administration agreed to use emergency reserves to pay for food stamps during the government shutdown. But the funds cover only half of what’s needed. Campuses are trying...
www.insidehighered.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Just how dead is the Education Department under Secretary McMahon? @jessicablake.bsky.social @insidehighered.com tells all.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
Under McMahon, ED Is Diminished but Not Dead, Experts Say
Inside Higher Ed spoke with more than a dozen politicians, higher education experts and former department employees; their thoughts on the agency’s status varied, but many tried to remain hopeful.
www.insidehighered.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Reposted by Susan Greenberg
knottkatherine.bsky.social
As more universities whether they'll sign the compact, @insidehighered.com is keeping track of all the responses here. We even made a map for you. www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
How Universities Are Responding to Trump’s Compact
The document would require signatories to make sweeping changes to policies and practices. A number of institutions have already said no, and more responses are expected.
www.insidehighered.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Some colleges are issuing "verbal only" policies to dictate what faculty can say and teach, especially around gender. Unwritten directives may be hard to enforce, but they have a chilling effect. Great reporting by @emmawhitford.bsky.social:
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Unwritten Policies Sow Faculty Fears. Are They Enforceable?
A growing number of institutions are censoring faculty speech and instruction through murky verbal directives that sow fear and confusion. Can they be enforced?
www.insidehighered.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Breaking: After 4 institution's publicly rejected Trump's “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” the White House has confirmed it is meeting this afternoon with the remaining 5 who received the initial offer. Why? The response deadline is Mon.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...
White House to Meet with Universities Regarding Compact
The scheduled meeting follows increasingly forceful pushback to the wide-ranging proposal.
www.insidehighered.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Student interest in Turning Point USA is surging in the wake of Kirk's murder. Their intentions may be good, but critics warn the proliferation of new chapters will exacerbate political tensions on college campuses. Great story by @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social:
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
Grief Fuels Expansion of Turning Point’s Campus Footprint
Charlie Kirk’s murder is pushing more conservative college students to start Turning Point USA chapters in the name of advancing civil discourse. But critics fear the group’s expansion will only exace...
www.insidehighered.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Breaking: MIT becomes the first to outright reject President Trump's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education": www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
MIT Rejects Proposed Federal Compact
MIT is the first institution to reject a proposal by the Trump administration that would trade preferential treatment on federal funding in exchange for far-reaching changes.
www.insidehighered.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Two years ago, Gov. DeSantis engineered a conservative takeover of New College of Florida, the state's only public liberal arts college. Since then, spending has soared while rankings and completion rates have plunged. Is it headed for a fall? @byjoshmoody.bsky.social has the latest:
bit.ly/48t4JV1
Spending Soars, Rankings Fall at New College of Florida
Student outcomes and rankings are slipping at the liberal arts college while spending is up. Critics believe the college is at risk of implosion, and some are calling for privatization.
bit.ly
October 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Colleges and universities in Texas are handing down murky, "verbal only" directives banning classroom discussions about transgender identity. @emmawhitford.bsky.social has the latest:

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Texas Ban on Transgender Course Content Sows Chaos
Verbal-only policies prohibiting academic discussions of trans identity appear to be extending beyond the Texas Tech system and now include anti-trans curricular reviews.
www.insidehighered.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
‪Charlie Kirk has been widely praised for promoting "civil discourse." But how civil was his actual discourse? As one source told @ryanequinn.bsky.social it counts as civil—in that Kirk was a civilian—yet it was conducted "outside the parameters of civility."
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
Kirk: A Hero of “Civil Discourse,” or a Fount of Division?
Pointing to the slain activist’s inflammatory statements about minority groups, some are pushing back—at their own peril—against the right’s framing of him as an emblem of quality discourse.
www.insidehighered.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:38 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
And another college president falls under pressure from state legislators: www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Texas A&M President Steps Down Under Pressure
Mark Welsh resigned Thursday after state lawmakers accused the university of pushing “leftist DEI and transgender indoctrination” on his watch.
www.insidehighered.com
September 19, 2025 at 1:11 AM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
It's not /all/ gloom and doom in higher ed. Some colleges and universities are reporting record enrollments this fall—for a variety of reasons, as Johanna Alonso @insidehighered.com reports:
www.insidehighered.com/news/admissi...
Colleges Boast Record Enrollment and Fall Classes
Colleges credit popular health sciences programs, increased dual enrollment, stepped-up retention efforts, new graduate programs and more for their record enrollments this fall.
www.insidehighered.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
The microcredential landscape is often called the “wild west” in higher ed circles. Now two accrediting agencies are stepping in to evaluate alternative credential offerings and hold their providers accountable. Great story by @saraweissman.insidehighered.com:
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Accreditors Venture Into the Microcredential Landscape
As microcredentials proliferate and attract millions of students, some accreditors are ready to launch quality checks for alternative credential providers.
www.insidehighered.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Is "viewpoint diversity" a worthy, attainable goal for colleges and universities tasked with educating young people, or simply Republican code for imposing conservative values and views? @ryanequinn.bsky.social does a masterful job of deciphering:
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
The Battle for “Viewpoint Diversity”
Conservatives in and outside of higher ed have long argued that universities lack their perspectives. But empowered Republicans are now deploying tools including legislation and funding threats to for...
www.insidehighered.com
September 2, 2025 at 11:14 AM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Thanks to a new state higher ed law mandating viewpoint neutrality, Ohio State RAs can only decorate the common spaces in their dorms with items that reflect "Ohio State spirit"—nothing offensive, like animals or the solar system.
www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-t...
Ohio State Restricts Decorations in Public Dorm Spaces
Ohio State University has advised resident advisers to restrict all dorm floor and common room decor—as well as welcome programming for incoming students—to “Ohio State spirit themes” to avoid offendi...
www.insidehighered.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Even as many universities cancel or revise research projects due to the Trump administration's funding cuts, the University of Missouri is pushing ahead with plans to build a powerful new nuclear reactor to develop cancer-fighting drugs. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social explains why:
tinyurl.com/mr367x28
U of Missouri Forges Ahead With Ambitious Nuclear Project
As the Trump administration upends federal research, Mizzou aims to raise more than $1 billion to build an advanced nuclear reactor to accelerate production of key ingredients for cancer treatments.
tinyurl.com
August 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Gen AI is making it easy for bad actors to create fake websites to scam students. Great reporting by @byjoshmoody.bsky.social and @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social:
www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
Inside a Network of Fake College Websites
Dozens of fake college websites, which appear to be connected, are pushing scams. Many of the sites appear to be built with or supplemented by generative AI.
www.insidehighered.com
August 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
In a memo that goes much further than the ED's stayed Feb.14 "Dear Colleague" letter, the DOJ has declared all "potentially unlawful proxies" for DEI "discriminatory." For colleges, that includes recruiting in certain geographic areas and permitting raced-based "study lounges."
tinyurl.com/mry97a62
DOJ Declares Slew of DEI Practices Unlawful in Memo
The nine-page memo builds on the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
tinyurl.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
A conservative group has issued a public records request for the syllabi for some 70 UNC courses, demanding to search them for terms such as "DEI" and "white supremacy." Some faculty are refusing to comply. Great reporting by @ryanequinn.bsky.social:
www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...
Conservative Org. Requests Materials for 70 Chapel Hill Courses
The Oversight Project, founded by the Heritage Foundation, is using an open records request to search for terms like “DEI” and “gender identity.” Faculty say it encroaches on academic freedom.
www.insidehighered.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:00 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
The 3-year bachelor's degree, a long-time goal of some higher ed advocates, is fast gaining traction. Once-hesitant accreditors are granting approval for shortened degrees at institutions from Maine to Utah. Johanna Alonso @insidehighered.com has the story:
www.insidehighered.com/news/student...
Colleges, Accreditors and States Embrace 3-Year Degrees
Colleges from Utah to Indiana and Maine are on track to offer three-year degrees in the near future. But the hesitations that have long plagued the movement haven’t disappeared.
www.insidehighered.com
July 28, 2025 at 1:46 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
The pressure on peer reviewers is so intense that it's creating a spike in AI cheating, among reviewers and researchers alike. @kathrynpalmer.bsky.social explains. greathttps://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/artificial-intelligence/2025/07/21/ai-enabled-cheating-points-untenable-peer
AI-Enabled Cheating Points to ‘Untenable’ Peer Review System
It’s not clear how widespread the new cheating strategy is, but it’s highlighting longstanding drivers of the peer review crisis some reviewers are now trying to alleviate with AI.
www.insidehighered.com
July 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Indiana's public institutions voluntarily agreed to cut more than 400 academic programs—including in English, political science and chemistry—ahead of a new state law that sets a minimum number of graduates for each degree to be offered. @ryanequinn.bsky.social has the story: tinyurl.com/5fx6sjpn
Ind. Public Universities “Voluntarily” Ending 19% of Degrees
Ahead of a new law setting a minimum number of graduates for academic programs, institutions have vowed to cut or merge more than 400 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
tinyurl.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:51 PM
susanhgreenberg.insidehighered.com
Yesterday the Justice Department suggested that UVA president Jim Ryan step down for failing to crack down on DEI. Today Ryan did just that, marking another win for Trump in his battle against higher ed.
@jessicablake.bsky.social and @knottkatherine.bsky.social have the story: tinyurl.com/352vwr45
University of Virginia President Resigns After Trump’s Demands
The move is a “major blow” to the independence of American institutions, one expert said.
tinyurl.com
June 27, 2025 at 8:56 PM