National News - Page 85

Trump’s Return Sparks Uncertainty in Higher Education

By Josh Moody The talk at the annual Middle States Commission on Higher Education conference last week centered on the changes coming to higher education as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. But exactly what those changes will look like remains a matter of pure speculation, given how disconnected Trump’s rhetoric often is from the realities of his policies. Before an audience of college leaders, accreditation liaisons and commission members, speakers pondered whether Republicans can enact Trump’s sweeping higher education agenda amid regular GOP infighting, competing policy priorities and looming midterm elections. Trump’s pledge to reshape

OSU Rescinds Raises After Overtime Rule Blocked in Court

/

By Andrea Hsu Imagine getting a pay raise, only to be told weeks later: Sorry, we’re taking it back. That’s what’s happening to 306 employees at The Ohio State University now that a federal court has struck down the Biden administration’s overtime rule. Finalized in April, the rule would have made some 4.3 million salaried workers nationwide newly eligible to earn 1.5 times their regular pay when they work more than 40 hours a week. “One of the basic principles of the American workplace is that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay,” wrote Jessica Looman, head of the

Google Funds First HBCU AI Institute at NCCU

/

By Samantha Dorisca Google has allocated a grant to support artificial intelligence learning at an HBCU. The nation’s first HBCU AI Institute is coming to NC Central University. CBS17 reports the university will open the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research. The groundbreaking institute aims to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and social equity, focusing on addressing systemic disparities and fostering innovation through a lens of inclusivity and diversity. “Our purpose is clear to innovate, inspire and shape the next generation of leaders in artificial intelligence,” NCCU Chancellor Karrie Dixon said, according to CBS 17. The institute is expected to benefit 200 students with mentorship and research opportunities. Additionally, it

FAA Chief Mike Whitaker to Resign Amid Boeing Oversight

By Joel Rose The head of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mike Whitaker, announced in an email to the agency’s staff that he will resign on Jan. 20. Whitaker’s time at the FAA has been largely dominated by Boeing, as he led the agency’s response to major safety and quality problems at the company and its suppliers. He also worked to hire more air traffic controllers, a persistent challenge as the FAA remains far short of full staffing in that area. “As I conclude my time at the FAA, my confidence in you to meet our safety mission has never been stronger,” Whitaker wrote in

2024 College Closures & Mergers: Full List and Key Trends

/

By Josh Moody As 2024 draws to a close, it also marks the end of an era for some institutions. Altogether, at least 16 nonprofit colleges and universities announced closures this year. Most were small, private, tuition-dependent institutions that lacked robust endowments. Many approached the closure process in an orderly fashion, winding down operations and teaching out academic programs, but some shuttered abruptly, leaving students in the lurch. The number is slightly higher than last year, when 14 nonprofit institutions announced closure; a 15th, the King’s College, ended operations in 2023 but did not announce it was shutting down. Experts

NCCU Launches First HBCU AI Equity Institute with Google

/

Courtesy of North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University (NCCU) announced a $1 million grant from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, to establish the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Equity Research (IAIER). The Institute will serve as a first-of-its kind program for a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the nation. To celebrate today’s announcement, NCCU hosted an event on its campus, bringing together representatives from other grant recipients along with university and Google leaders, local elected officials and students. The support from Google.org for NCCU’s program is designed to enhance research and educational opportunities and position students and the state

Kroger-Albertsons $24.6B Merger Blocked by Courts

By Alina Selyukh Kroger and Albertsons saw their $24.6 billion merger blocked on Tuesday by judges in two separate cases, one brought by federal regulators and the other by the Washington state attorney general. What would be the biggest grocery merger in U.S. history is now in legal peril after over two years of delays. The companies could choose to continue their legal appeals or abandon the deal. They await another ruling in a third lawsuit in Colorado. Kroger runs many familiar grocery stores, including Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and King Soopers. Albertsons owns Safeway and Vons. In statements on Tuesday, the companies argued

Supreme Court Rejects Race, Gender School Policy Cases

By Lawrence Hurley  Conservative justices objected as the Supreme Court on Monday sidestepped a new dispute over race in education by declining to consider whether an admissions program for public high schools in Boston unlawfully considered race. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas both said they would have taken up the case, while Justice Neil Gorsuch said he shared their concerns about the policy. Alito wrote that there was “overwhelming direct evidence of intentional discrimination” that warranted the Supreme Court’s intervention. It is the second time the court has declined to review a policy aimed at increasing diversity in public high schools

Biden Grants Clemency to Nearly 1,500 Nonviolent Offenders

By Mark Landler President Biden is commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people, the largest grant of clemency by an American president in a single day, the White House announced in a statement on Thursday. A large number of those being pardoned had been placed in home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, while 39 were serving sentences for nonviolent crimes, including possession of marijuana. The announcement came two weeks after Mr. Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter, who had been convicted of gun possession and income tax evasion. That decision was harshly criticized by both Republicans and Democrats because

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove Elected as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus

/

By Ashley Brown In a significant development for the 119th Congress, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, has been elected to serve as the Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). This prestigious position places her at the forefront of the CBS. Expressing her gratitude for the appointment, Kamlager-Dove remarked, “I am deeply honored to be chosen to serve as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 119th Congress. Known as the ‘conscience of the Congress,’ the CBC is grounded in our pursuit of justice, equity, and opportunity for Black Americans. With unprecedented

1 … 83 84 85 86 87 … 221
Close

Never Miss A Story

Covering HBCUS
and The African American Community