GOP Wreaks Havoc in House While Biden Pivots on Border but Stays True to Debtors
Plus, a Short Stack of Select Reading
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GOP Imploding – and DeSantis “Retooling”
While still assessing the impact of the Republican party’s mini mutiny in the House of Representatives (throwing a speaker out in the first time in U.S. history) most higher ed eyes remain on Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, still second, though a distant one, in the GOP primary presidential battles. He raised $15 million this month ($30 million less than Trump) and moved a third of his already depleted staff to Iowa in a “make-or-break” attempt to win the state’s early voting caucuses in January and show that he is the only Republican able to beat Trump, a unique presidential candidate (not to mention former president) who seems to improve poll and fundraising numbers the longer he spends in a courtroom.
Further Reading
Will Voters Send In the Clowns? (New York Times)
Biden Changes Course in Texas but Remains Loyal to Student Debtors
While current president Joe Biden may have reversed course on a campaign promise by restarting border wall construction, he remains steadfastly loyal to student debt relief and other Democratic favorites, including rescuing victory from the jaws of defeat with a $9 billion program while going after liberal bete noirs like Christopher Rufo and unveiling a college admissions roadmap after the high court’s recent affirmative action smite.
Further Reading
How Rising Student Loan Interest Rates Could Affect College-Going Behavior Rising (Higher Ed Dive)
Biden administration cracks down on career programs that saddle students with debt (Washington Post)
Biden administration advises colleges on how to preserve diversity (Washington Post)
Hundreds of colleges agree to make financial aid offers more transparent (Washington Post)
States should fix underfunding of land-grant HBCUs, Biden administration says (Washington Post)
After Affirmative Action and Legacy Admissions, Will Early Decision Be the Next to Go? (Chronicle of Higher Education)
Short Stack
Not Everything for Everybody
Controversy as Boston downsizes antiracism research centre (Times Higher Education) After its celebrated 2020 response to George Floyd killing, university now accused of political performance.
Biden administration open to more three-year degree experiments (Times Higher Education) After accreditor allows tests of shorter bachelor’s degree programmes, officials say they see no federal mandate on time or credit hours.
Mel Tucker letter sent to Michigan St. alleges 'new evidence' (ESPN) The letter, which is from one of Tucker's attorneys and was released widely to the media, says the woman who brought the claim against Tucker that led to his firing, "appears to have made a career out of misleading and manipulating people."
GMU’s President Gets It Wrong: DEI Has Overtaken His School (Daily Signal) Does having a bevy of officers who push race, sex, and LGBT victim/oppressor theories on university students enhance or detract from their learning?
Stop Arguing Over Elite Schools. Just Make Public Colleges Free. (Nation) College tuition and fees have metastasized, hitting an average of nearly $11,000 a year for in-state students who attend public four-year institutions.