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A holistic college admissions process that takes into account resources available to students when evaluating their grades and standardized test scores is strongly associated with student success in college, according to a study released Monday by researchers at the University of Michigan and University of North Carolina. Additionally, contextualizing grades — like considering an applicant’s grade-point average in relation to others at their high school — has a stronger and more consistent link with college success than contextualizing test scores. 

A recent federal district court ruling that deemed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, illegal is heightening concerns and uncertainty about the future of the program among undocumented students and their advocates. The Obama-era program, which protects immigrants brought to the country as children from deportation and allows them to work in the U.S. legally, has been intermittently under fire since it went into effect in 2012, losing political support during the Trump administration and regaining it under the Biden administration.

In a report released Thursday, Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee called for “strong federal protections,” which they say are needed to ensure that all college students can realize their rights to free speech. “The worst kept secret in American postsecondary education is the long-standing and pervasive degradation of First Amendment rights,” the report says, citing instances of students shouting down speakers and professors who have faced repercussions after criticizing diversity, equity and inclusion policies, among other examples.

In a report released Wednesday, Fitch Ratings predicted that more colleges will close, merge or significantly restructure operations due to enrollment declines and other market pressures. Colleges that are already struggling will likely continue to do so, the report forecast. Given the enrollment challenges at many institutions—which are likely to become more pronounced in the future due to a looming demographic cliff—the ratings agency noted that “revenue growth prospects are relatively limited for now” at small, nonselective private colleges and some public regional universities. Colleges that are tuition dependent are most at risk, the report suggested.

When the Supreme Court overturned race-conscious admissions earlier this year, it forced colleges to reconsider many of the practices used to screen applicants. Almost immediately after the ruling became public, preferences for legacy applicants and the children of donors came under fire, including by President Biden.
Now colleges and critics are turning their attention to early decision, which has also been maligned for favoring affluent, well-connected students.