Major Updates

Trump Administration Resumes Embassy Review on Student Visas, Implements Social Media Vetting Requirements

The Trump Administration has lifted its pause on F‑, M‑, and J‑visa processing but simultaneously unleashed sweeping new social-media vetting requirements: all international student applicants must now make their Facebook, X, Instagram and other accounts public for consular review, with officers instructed to flag any content seen as “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States,” support for terrorism or antisemitic violence, and evidence of political activism, complete with detailed notes and screenshots. This follows May’s temporary halt to new student visa interviews ordered by Secretary Rubio to implement the expanded policy, which had generated concern over academic freedom and enrollment delays. In response to those actions UPCEA, alongside ACE and other higher ed associations, sent a May 30 letter to Secretary Rubio urging reconsideration, warning that the sweeping halt on visa issuance and stricter digital scrutiny risks undermining the U.S.’s reputation as a welcoming destination for global learners. Read more.

With stakes high, White House pushes negotiations with Harvard (Washington Post)

“Harvard has been racking up wins in court as the Trump administration has frozen research funding and sought to block admissions of international students.

The Trump administration is ramping up negotiations with Harvard University in an effort to reach an end to its months-long battle with the elite school, two senior White House officials have said, as Harvard has been racking up legal wins in court.

The administration expects a deal to land by the end of the month, one official said, and hopes the agreement would make a big enough splash to ‘basically be a blueprint for the rest of higher education.’ The White House officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

Harvard declined to comment.” Read more.

Professional Licensure Regulations – Highlights from UPCEA’s Coffee Chat

Curious how your peers are handling the professional licensure rules which went into effect last year? Kristen Brown from University of Louisville’s latest CORe post distills a lively Coffee Chat where poll results revealed schools are scattered along the implementation continuum. Some attendees are already logging every attestation, others are just drafting their first workflow, but no one is standing still. Participants traded pain points on program changes, multistate quirks and certificate rules, proving there’s as much to learn as to share. Dive into the recap, weigh in on the discussion thread with any questions or solutions for these newer regulations, and assess your own licensure processes. Visit the CORe thread.

Federal Budget Watch – The “Byrd Bath” Will Impact Higher-Ed Provisions, Including Workforce Short-Term Pell
The Senate Parliamentarian ruled that multiple sections of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” reconciliation package violate the Byrd Rule and would need 60 votes to survive, rather than a simple majority, throwing a wrench in the hopes of the Trump administration and Republican Senate leadership that the bill would continue unscathed. Some of the provisions in higher education language were found to be subject to this rule. This include sections of the bill that provide Workforce Pell Grants for short-term programs to unaccredited and for-profit institutions, student aid eligibility for immigrant students, student loan repayment plans, among others. The Senate Parliamentarian is also considering topics like repeal of Borrower Defense to Repayment, Closed School Discharges Rule, and limitation on the authority of the Secretary of Education from issuing regulations that are “economically significant”. UPCEA has signed a letter to Senate leadership regarding issues we find with the bill. Read more.

Other News

• Litigation Summary – Court Cases Related to Higher Education, What Is Happening?
  Thompson Coburn’s June 24 litigation digest underscores the sheer volume of higher-ed cases now in play. Covering a slew of cases currently working through the courts, including updates related to Gainful Employment, the Bare Minimum Rule, Borrower Defense to Repayment, Student Loan Forgiveness, Nonprofit Institution Status, Federal Funding Freeze, DEI Executive Orders, the Executive Order Directing the Closure of ED, Grant Terminations, Student and Exchange Visitor Program Litigation, among others.
  
  Check out these summaries and highlights to brief yourself and share with your colleagues to track the rapidly changing legal landscape. Read more.

• Education Dept. Plan to Send CTE Programs to Labor Stokes Concern (Inside Higher Ed)
• The US Department of Education is far behind on producing key statistics (Brookings)
• Federal judge orders OCR to reinstate laid-off employees — for now (Higher Ed Dive)
• DOJ sues States over in-state tuition for undocumented students (Higher Ed Dive)