#higher-education-reform

#higher-education-reform

Hettinger's mounting discomfort with US higher education led her last spring to Class Action, a two-year-old grassroots network of students and recent graduates promoting a critique of elite institutions' contributions to an increasingly divided American society. At times, the group's criticism echoes the one exploited by Trump in his campaign to reshape US higher education to fit his ideological agenda.

A new report argues the while increasing politicization of university governing boards has contributed to the erosion of academic freedom in recent years, boards also have the potential to adopt frameworks focused on protecting institutional autonomy. "Decisions that were once guided by academic standards and institutional autonomy have become arenas for political influence and ideological control. The consequences have been profound,"

The settlement agreement will force changes to admissions, disciplinary processes, and academic programs at Columbia University. In exchange, Columbia will receive about $400 million in federal research funding back.