Finance
Full Sail University cuts 180 jobs
Full Sail University recently implemented a restructuring, cutting 180 positions across academic, administrative, and operational areas. A university spokesperson stated that changes in workflows, enrollment patterns, and technology prompted the staffing adjustments. This layoff comes just over a year after the previous reduction of 120 employees, but the university emphasized its continued commitment to providing a quality educational experience.
Private colleges could lose tax-exempt status under new IRS proposal
The U.S. Treasury proposed a rule on Thursday to tighten the definition of racial discrimination in tax-exempt status for private colleges, treating DEI programs as violations of civil rights law. If ultimately approved, colleges could be stripped of tax-exempt status due to DEI work, impacting their financial stability. The proposal has already drawn criticism from education circles and tax policy experts.
Higher Ed Dive Trendline on Campus Facilities
As drought warnings are issued across many parts of the United States, campus facilities management teams are actively upgrading water resource management systems and irrigation practices. Auburn University is strengthening water conservation in coordination with municipal water restrictions, Western Washington University plans to install water meters and evaluate the use of reclaimed water, the University of Utah continues to reduce water consumption, and Texas A&M International University achieves annual water savings of over 24.8 million gallons through smart systems.
East Carolina University eyes another $8.5M in budget cuts
East Carolina University (ECU) announced an $8.5 million budget cut for this fiscal year, continuing its plan to save $25 million over three years. The cuts include reviewing academic and doctoral programs, merging the alumni affairs and development offices, and adjusting human resources, information technology, and research departments. Previously, the university saved over $6 million by eliminating approximately 44 academic programs. The university stated that these measures aim to proactively address financial pressures while protecting its core mission. Despite declining enrollment and reduced revenue, ECU has recently seen an uptick in enrollment, signaling a positive outlook for the future.
Houston City College wants more funding to manage $80M maintenance backlog
Houston Community College (HCC) system leaders will present a report at Wednesday's board meeting, calling for increased funding for deferred maintenance to address approximately 450 repair and upgrade needs totaling nearly $80 million. Although facilities are in good condition, the maintenance backlog far exceeds annual funding levels.
Some colleges begin accepting tuition payments via Venmo
PayPal and its peer-to-peer payment tool Venmo have completed integrations with three university payment technology companies, allowing students and parents at some U.S. universities to now pay tuition directly via Venmo or PayPal. This marks the first time this payment method has been directly integrated into official school payment portals.