Top Higher Education News for Monday
Lumina

Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.

February 2, 2026

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TOP STORIES

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What Keeps Higher Ed Up at Night

Katherine Mangan, The Chronicle of Higher Education

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A recent survey of 2,328 faculty members, administrators, and staff members from two- and four-year colleges offers insight into higher education employees’ experiences, job satisfaction, and challenges.

 

The portrait that emerged is in some ways unsurprising: The past year of political, financial, and social stressors has left a large share of employees feeling increasingly under siege, overworked, and insecure. Forty-eight percent of all respondents—and 52 percent of faculty members in particular—say they were less satisfied with their jobs than a year ago. Still, although the work is more difficult than ever, most employees have no plans to leave.

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On a College Campus in Minneapolis, a Sense of Danger and Anxiety Prevails

Paul Pribbenow, The Hechinger Report

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A sense of danger and anxiety permeates Minneapolis. The ongoing federal operation in the streets, the targeting of immigrant communities, and the killings of U.S. citizens by federal agents raise profound questions about what justice looks like in practice.

 

In this essay, the president of Augsburg University explains the significance of this moment for those in charge of their colleges and universities, emphasizing the importance of upholding the values of human dignity, academic freedom, social mobility, and the rule of law, regardless of the challenges they encounter.

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DeVry Embeds AI Literacy in All Courses

Joshua Bay, Inside Higher Ed

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As artificial intelligence continues to redefine how we learn and work, DeVry University will embed AI literacy and skill building into every course by the end of the year.

 

The effort expands on the automation and machine-learning curriculum DeVry launched in 2020, adding new AI-focused courses and credentials and embedding AI learning assistants in every class. It’s all part of the institution’s push to give every student the technical proficiency and applied fluency needed to succeed in an AI-augmented workforce.

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Community College Students Navigate Complex Paths to Noncredit Workforce Programs

Jamal Watson, The EDU Ledger

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Most students enrolling in community college noncredit workforce programs have already attempted traditional higher education—often multiple times—before finding their way to short-term credential programs, according to a new study that sheds light on a largely hidden sector of postsecondary education.

 

The research includes interviews with 83 students across three community colleges to understand why they chose noncredit workforce programs and what they hoped to achieve. The findings reveal education journeys marked by interruption, financial hardship, and careful calculation about what seems feasible.

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4 Policy Trends That Should Be on College Leaders' Radars in 2026

Ben Unglesbee, Natalie Schwartz, and Laura Spitalniak, Higher Ed Dive

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While 2025 may be in the rearview mirror, the policy upheaval that defined the year is not. Higher education experts warn that more disruption lies ahead as the Trump administration continues efforts to reshape the sector, wielding tools ranging from civil rights investigations to regulatory changes.

 

College leaders should brace for more federal government pressure, including through novel avenues such as accreditation. And they should also expect continued attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

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Working as an Ecosystem

Matthew Dembicki, Community College Daily

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When it comes to improving career opportunities, it’s not just a job for community colleges. It’s the job of a broader “ecosystem” that encompasses various organizations and partners to work together through shared goals.

 

That was a key message from DeRionne Pollard, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, during AACC’s annual Workforce Development Institute last week. Pollard also encouraged community colleges to tell stories of success, particularly their efforts in providing students with economic opportunities to attain family-sustaining wages.

HUMAN WORK AND LEARNING

What Ohioans Say Would Make Them Trust Public Universities More

Amy Morona, Signal Cleveland

How Community Colleges Are Becoming America’s AI Talent Engine

Bryan Penprase, Forbes

Can Workforce Pell Support Apprenticeship? Yes, But…

Braden Goetz, New America

To Avoid Accusations of AI Cheating, College Students Are Turning to AI

Tyler Kingkade, NBC News

STUDENT SUPPORTS

'Opportunity to Change the Tide': Madison College Opens New Child Care Center

Jonah Beleckis, The Wisconsin Independent

Louisville Group Works to Support Hispanic and Latino Students to Graduation

Ayisha Jaffer, Louisville Public Media

How 3 College Leaders Work to Boost Economic Mobility

Laura Spitalniak, Higher Ed Dive

Commentary: California Colleges Must Partner With K-12 Schools—Not Blame Them—for Students Facing Barriers to College

Michal Kurlaender, CalMatters

COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS

Colorado's Higher Ed Enrollment Trends

Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat Colorado

Decoding the Mystery of College Admissions

Ashley Anderson, WCCB Charlotte

The Big Idea: Embedded Associate Degrees

U.S. News & World Report

Opinion: Dual Enrollment Is a School Choice Option People Don’t Talk About—But Should

Bruno V. Manno, The 74

STATE POLICY

Florida Introduces 'Sanitized' Sociology Textbook

Kathryn Palmer, Inside Higher Ed

Analysis: One Big Beautiful Budget Battle Begins—With Education in the Line of Fire

Kevin Richert, Idaho Education News

UNC System Moves to Define Academic Freedom

Clayton Henkel, NC Newsline

Portland State University Restructuring Moves Forward as Budget Shortfall Widens

Tiffany Camhi, Oregon Public Broadcasting

NEW PODCASTS

Sustaining HBCUs Beyond the Moment: Inside UNCF's Transformation Strategy

In the Margins

If Facts Tell and Stories Sell, Why Is Higher Ed Still Using Facts?

The EdUP Experience

How Paul Quinn College Uses Entrepreneurship to Reduce Costs, Improve Workforce Readiness, and Graduate Students With Little to No Debt

Changing Higher Ed

How AI Will Redefine Higher Ed in 2026

Higher Intelligence

luminafoundation.org
Daily Lumina News is edited by Patricia Brennan.

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