Financial Health

Federal relief dollars appear to be enough to keep nationwide totals of state higher ed funding steady this fiscal year, even amid the pandemic. But almost half of individual states still reported funding declines.

As the pandemic sapped dormitory projects of their financial reserves, a contractor told the University System of Georgia it had a "win-win" financial proposal, according to newly available documents. The system said no, and soon, the contractor allegedly said it would not be cleaning enough to meet state public health recommendations.

Federal Student Aid’s COO resigned Friday, amid political pressure from progressives. Meanwhile, FAFSA underwent technical difficulties, potentially impacting some students’ ability to submit.

As the coronavirus pandemic and economic recession hammer food-insecure students, lawmakers in several states renew efforts to pass hunger-free campus legislation.

Proposed changes to the state aid program would make older students eligible for awards and loosen high school grade requirements.

California, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa and Kentucky are looking at spending more on colleges and universities in the upcoming fiscal year. Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada and North Dakota eye cuts.

It's a jungle out there for faculty members this legislative session, with state bills banning certain courses and content and, in Iowa, seeking to survey faculty members on their political beliefs.

West Virginia University and its president choose words carefully as lawmakers float eliminating the state income tax -- which could end a source of revenue that goes to funding higher education.