SNAP Imperiled by Shutdown

Higher education administrators join states and local governments in concern over constituents facing food insecurity during the government shutdown. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has run out of funds on November 1, 2025. Several organizations noted that the USDA removed from its website information on using contingency reserves to fund SNAP during a federal shutdown. Administration claims that it cannot legally do so were rebuffed by two separate courts with both judges requiring a Monday morning update. Both Judge John J. McConnell and  Judge Indira Talwani  ruled that USDA must use the emergency funds to keep the program afloat during the shutdown. Each required a Monday morning update. Department of Agriculture (USDA) posted a large banner blaming Senate Democrats for the lapse in funding on its website. USDA informed states they would not be reimbursed if they fund the benefits. It also informed grocers that offering discounts to SNAP beneficiaries without a waiver is a violation of the program’s rules.  Food insecurity has been a growing concern at colleges and universities of all types. Administrators are preparing to help students who rely upon SNAP as the shutdown drags on.

On Again Off Again

The Department of Education (Department) must comply with a preliminary injunction prohibiting federal agencies from executing reduction-in-force (RIF) layoffs during the shutdown. The order comes days after an appellate court granted the Department a stay that allowed it to continue to lay off Office for Civil Rights (OCR) employees while the lawsuit on the legality of those firings proceeds. However, this injunction covers all federal agencies' RIF actions after September 30, 2025. Higher Ed Dive published a timeline.

Indirect Cost Reimbursement Update

Due to litigation, the Department of Energy is prohibited from enforcing a cap on indirect cost rates for institutions of higher education. However, it can lower rates for other entities. It recently set indirect costs for state and local governments at 10%, for-profit organizations at 15%, and nonprofit organizations at 15%. Although the update excludes tribal organizations, federally funded research and development centers, and institutions of higher education, it applies to sub-recipients. Exempted entities would be affected when they collaborate with a non-exempted organization that is not a party to the rate cap litigation. The Council on Governmental Relations published a review of the changes.

Loan Forgiveness Terms Finalized

The Department published an update to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in the Federal Register. The rule includes a controversial provision that authorizes the secretary to disqualify otherwise eligible employers based on new criteria. It goes into effect July 1, 2026. A fact sheet is available. Critics vowed to sue.

Processing Relaunched

The Department re-started processing automatic loan forgiveness under the Income-Based Repayment plan (IBR) and two other programs it had blocked—the Income-contingent Repayment and the Repay as You Earn plans. Processing had been paused for several months, with the Department citing  litigation and the need to update systems. 

Note that the suspension of federal income tax on forgiven student loans expires on December 31, 2025. Under a court-supervised agreement, the Department must ensure loans eligible for discharge during 2025 do not become subject to federal income tax due to processing delays. However, in order for their loans to be covered by that provision, borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan must switch to one of the other income-driven plans. 

TRIO Cuts

The Department delivered scores of last minute cancellation notices to administrators of TRIO programs. The reason often given was the use of  language not aligned with the anti-DEI policies of the current administration in the program application or mission statement. States and institutions are seeking ways to provide the services impacted by the cancellations. Remaining TRIO programs should be able to access their funds normally during the shutdown. However, those that have special conditions may be inaccessible.

Milestones

Enrollment is up at public and private HBCUs. Cheyney University led Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education to its first system-wide enrollment increase in eleven years. Other public HBCUs reporting increases include: North Carolina A&T State University, Alabama A&M University, Lincoln University (Missouri), and Morgan, Coppin, Delaware, and Bluefield State Universities

HBCU community colleges, including: Gadsen State, Bishop State, and Coahoma Community Colleges, also saw significant year-over-year enrollment increases. Wiley University, Edward Waters University, Simmons College of Kentucky, Benedict College, and Hampton University were among the private institutions that had considerable increases. 

Absence Noted

The current surge in enrollment at HBCUs does not include Black males, whose numbers continue to dwindle across the higher education landscape. A study released by the Southern Education Foundation faulted state budget cuts, decreases in Pell Grant funding, and declines in the number of Pell Grant awards. Others cite early education deficiencies, support issues, and a shortage of Black educators. Suggestions for addressing the problem include targeting elementary school students, increasing dual credit programs, providing financial support, and mentoring.

International Students

Enrollment of foreign students fell sharply at some institutions. The decline was attributed to travel bans, cuts to research funding, negative political climate, and delays in processing visa applications. If prolonged, the decline may have an adverse impact on tuition revenue and regional economies.

Opposition to Cuts

Letters from higher eduction advocates to US Congress and from members of Congress to the Department expressed opposition to termination of discretionary funding for MSIs. Although mandatory funding remains in place, the cuts were justified by alleging the designations violate the constitution and the Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action. Critics pushed back on those assertions, noting that the minority designations are based on enrollment data, not admissions policies. They also note that constitutionality is determined by a court not an agency. Impacted institutions say affected programs benefit all students and are seeking ways to  maintain them.

Funds from the canceled awards were combined with cuts to teacher preparation and international education programs and redirected to HBCUs, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and charter schools. Although no one disputed the funds are much needed by those institutions, advocates called upon them to stand with the MSIs in opposing the cuts.

Clean Energy Awards

The Department of Energy announced the termination of hundreds of awards. Industry experts suggest that the cuts were retaliatory and based on partisan politics. The US House Appropriations Committee Democrats published a list of the canceled awards which included many clean energy projects and higher education grantees.

Mental Health Awards 

Judge Kymberly K. Evanson ordered the Department to restore mental health grants created in the aftermath of schools shootings. The grants which address school shortages of psychologists, counselors, and social workers were discontinued due to anti-DEi policies. The funds were redirected to new programs aimed at boosting school psychologists but excluding counselors and social workers. The court ordered the Department to restore the programs and provide a status report within 48 hours. The Department said it will appeal the ruling. 

AI Engagement and Considerations

A recent report released by Ellucin, UNCF, and Houston-Tillotson University found 98% of faculty and 96% of students at HBCUs surveyed use AI. Administrator adoption lagged behind at 81%, causing concern that official support and formal policies might not be as robust as needed. Users say they need role-specific training, data privacy protection, and assistance with cost and access.

STEM 

HBCUs remain deeply engaged in STEM and AI, offering several programs, collaborating on projects, and hosting contests and seminars. Recent events include: the 6^th Annual National HBCU Blockchain, Fintech, and AI Conference a joint effort by Morgan State and North Carolina A&T State Universities; the Next in Tech: Cybersecurity and AI Conference hosted by LeMoyne-Owen College; and the HBCU AI Conference and Training Summit hosted by Huston-Tillotson University.

Collaboration with African Institutions

During recent visits, the deans of the Johnson C. Smith University College of Business and his counterpart at the Koforidua Technical University in Ghana explored options for collaborating in ways that benefit both institutions and the communities they serve. These include faculty exchanges, joint research, virtual workshops, and joint projects. 

Stop Outs

Institutions are experimenting with strategies to prevent second-year stop outs. A recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse found students who stopped out within a decade are more likely to earn a credential by re-enrolling, transferring, or obtaining a degree through the reverse transfer process. Credit loss can complicate those options. The Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions urged institutions to consider employing AI technology to improve the processes.  

H-1B Fee

The Department of Homeland Security issued guidance that somewhat tempered implementation of the presidential proclamation that imposed a $100,000 fee on H-1B petitions. A lawsuit seeking to block its enforcement is ongoing. Thousands of faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and teaching assistants are party to the lawsuit through membership in the American Association of University Professors and the United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. ACE and other higher education organizations requested an exemption for colleges and universities and further clarification on how the new system works. 

Priority Funding Access 

The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, an offer of priority access to federal funding in exchange for compliance with a list of terms, has found few takers. The compact was initially offered to nine universities with a November 21, 2025 deadline for agreeing, declining, or providing feedback.  Nearly all the initial recipients declined—with Vanderbilt University and the University of Texas at Austin reported to be discussing the details with the Trump administration. The majority of faculty, students, and advocacy organizations oppose signing. However, the University of Florida, an outlier, volunteered to sign the compact.   

The 1890 Universities Foundation named Dr. Felecia M. Nave president and chief executive officer. Dr. Nave hails from the National Science Foundation where she served as division director for the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM. She previously served in administrative roles at several HBCUs.

Dillard University named Dexter I. Odom, CPA vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer. Mr. Odom is an experienced executive who has served in senior financial management positions at several institutions including Tuskegee, Fort Valley State, and Jarvis Christian Universities.

Talladega College named Akua Johnson Matherson vice president of finance. An experienced financial management executive, she most recently served as chief financial officer at North Carolina Central University.

Texas Southern University Board of Regents elected James Benham chair. He takes the reins from Brandon L. Simmons, who pending confirmation, will serve as director of the state’s new higher education ombudsman’s office. The office was created to ensure compliance with recent anti-DEI legislation.

UNCF named Dr. Jelani M. Favors vice president of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. A leading historian, Dr. Favors is the founder of the Center of Excellence for Social Justice at North Carolina A&T State University.

The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education announced that President Paulette Granberry Russel, JD, will step down at the end of the year. She has served as president since 2020. The organization, which sued to block enforcement of the executive order banning diversity, equity, and inclusion, will launch a national search for her successor.

Meharry Medical College named Vence L. Bonham, Jr., JD, president and chief executive officer of the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute and founding director of the Meharry Center for Bioethics, Social, and Behavioral Research. Mr. Bonham hails from the National Institute of Health, where he served in several leadership roles.

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Scholarship Support for Atlanta HBCUs

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation awarded $50,000,000 to provide gap scholarships to students attending Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Morris Brown College. The 10-year commitment will provide $16,000,000 to each institution. The funds are expected to help nearly 10,000 students overcome financial barriers to graduation.

Support for Art

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff will use a $5,000,000 donation from the Windgate Foundation to expand its art department. The university plans to build an art tower and renovate the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center. The tower will feature classroom and studio space. The donation is the largest single gift the university has received.

Support for STEM and Business Students

Southern University and A&M College received a $5,000,000 award from Shell. The funds will be used to create a student success center, bolster curriculum, and provide laboratory and experiential learning opportunities for students in the College of Business and the College of Sciences and Engineering.

College of Education

Hyundai donated $5,000,000 to Savannah State University. (SSU) The donation will be used to support education and workforce readiness initiatives. In 1979, under a federally mandated desegregation plan, all of SSU’s teacher instruction programs were moved to Armstrong State College whose business administration programs were moved to SSU. In 2013, the university re-established its teacher instruction program and expanded it in 2024. The College of Education will be renamed the Hyundai College of Education.

Future Teachers

The Mississippi State Board of Education announced it will provide nearly $3,000,000 in grants to institutions of higher education to support the Mississippi Teacher Residency Programs in Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education. The initiative aims to address a teacher shortage. Jackson State University and Mississippi Valley State University were among the awardees.

Legacy Giving

Meharry Medical College received a $3,100,000 gift from the estate of Dr. Frederick Douglass Parrott, Jr., who passed away in 2022. A Meharry Medical College alumnus, Dr. Parrott founded the Real Men Cook Foundation to raise funds for HBCUs that have medical schools. He also founded the Real Men Cook Foundation Center for Early Detection of Prostate Cancer and established the Fred D. Parrott Jr., MD Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant

Fayetteville State University’s Lloyd College of Health, Science, and Technology received a $2,000,000 NSF grant. The funds will be used to provide scholarships and mentoring for high-achieving STEM students.

Capacity Building and Innovation Awards

Thurgood Marshall College Fund awarded capacity building grants to eight member institutions: Alabama State University, Delaware State University, Fayetteville State University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, North Carolina Central University, Southern University and A&M College, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Virginia State University. Members were selected to receive the $2,000,000 multi-year awards based on their proposals. Funding was provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Department of Education Grants

The Department of Education awarded a five-year $1,190,000 grant to North Carolina Central University to support graduate students studying childhood communication disorders.

Winston-Salem State University’s Dr. Keisha Grayson Rogers received a five-year grant from the US Department’s Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Totaling nearly $1,000,000, the funds will be used to support graduate students who are training for careers as rehabilitation counselors.

Archives Awarded Funding

Florida A&M University announced the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center and Museum has received a $500,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The grant will be used to provide multi-year internships and expand digital access to the archived collections.

Alumni Gift

West Virginia State University alumna, Dr. Ann Brothers Smith donated $100,000 to the university’s State of Tomorrow Capital Campaign. Her donation will be used to provide student scholarships and fund campus improvement.

Scholarship Established

The Patterson Family foundation donated $75,000 to Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) to establish the James Patterson Teacher Education Scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing education degrees. James Patterson is an award winning author of both adult and children’s books.

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Interdisciplinary Science

Howard University College of Medicine and the Graduate School launched a multidisciplinary doctoral program. The PhD in Biomedical Sciences is comprised of 6 graduate programs. After completing required courses, students will be eligible to pursue a dual MD-PhD degree or select one of five concentrations: anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, or physiology. 

Genetic Studies

Meharry Medical College announced the launch of the Genomics Research Advancing Transformational (GREAT) Health Study and the opening of the Meharry DNA Learning Center. The GREAT Health Study will collect bio data, health records, surveys, and specimens to create a database of information on people with African ancestry to be used to study diseases. The learning center is part of the international DNA Learner Center network led by Cold Spring Harbor Labs. It will function as a regional hub for genomics education, community engagement, and inclusive science.

Health Services

The University of the Virgin Islands announced it will begin a two-year certificate program in speech-language pathology in the 2026 spring semester. Using a hybrid combination of live and virtual classes, the program will prepare students to provide support services for licensed speech-language pathologists.

Networking

Talladega College formed a partnership with Cisco Systems’ networking academy. Under the agreement students will be eligible to receive training, have remote access to software lab environments, and get assistance in earning industry certification.

Nursing

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing granted initial accreditation to the practical and associate degree nursing programs offered at Saint Philip’s College. The commission scheduled its next evaluation visit for 2030.

The commission also accredited the bachelor of science in nursing program at Fort Valley State University. The program was lauded for providing students exposure to non-traditional clinical and service opportunities—including working with a rural mobile health unit.

Financial Education

Alcorn State University School of Business signed a memorandum of understanding with Hope Credit Union. The university's focus is on strengthening student financial literacy. Under the agreement, the credit union will sponsor discussions on financial topics critical to decision-making and planning.

Cybersecurity

Working with the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology and Cisco Systems, Rust College launched an initiative to address the shortage of cybersecurity experts. Through the partnership, the college will offer training, hands-on labs, internships, cybersecurity certificates, industry-approved certification, career coaching, and recruitment services. Students can opt to attend in-person or virtually.

Agribusiness and Food Industry Management

The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University have launched a double master’s degree pathway in business administration and agricultural and environmental systems. The first of its kind in the US, the curriculum includes studies in global food systems, sustainability, supply chain management, marketing, and business analytics.

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