AGP Executive Report

Campus Safety: University of Chicago students rallied after two reported sexual assaults at fraternity houses, calling for stronger prevention and survivor support. International Students: New federal guidance further limits international student internships, adding to concerns over access to work experience. Global Partnerships: Cambridge plans to deepen ties with India, including accepting CBSE Class XII qualifications for some undergraduate courses and expanding programs in India. Enrollment and Finances: Universities of Wisconsin enrollment topped 164,500 this fall, even as the system reported a slight year-over-year decline; Welsh universities, meanwhile, face a £130 million deficit and calls for more tuition support. Research: The University of Alabama at Birmingham was selected to join the Association of American Universities, a major recognition of its research and academic standing.

Research Funding: The Trump administration is targeting $3.7 billion in federal university research funding amid its DEI crackdown, a move reported to disrupt hundreds of clinical trials and research partnerships. It has also proposed suspending 38 universities from federal research partnerships. Enrollment: Universities of Wisconsin enrolled 164,579 students this fall, down 1,233 from last year; international enrollment fell by 1,134 to 8,889. First-year numbers were nearly flat. Academic Honors: Former Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Aini Ideris was named Malaysia’s National Academic Figure, receiving RM200,000. Her work includes vaccines that have reached international markets. Campus Strike: Kenya’s government and university unions were due to sign a Sh20 billion pay deal to end a four-week strike that closed 35 public universities, but the signing had not been confirmed at publication. Workforce Training: Okanagan College is training 22 Royal Canadian Air Force members in aircraft maintenance under a new partnership aimed at meeting demand for technicians.

Campus Safety: The Cornell case is renewing scrutiny of campus sexual-assault systems. Advocates say New York law can leave some incapacitated survivors unprotected, while a separate report finds Title IX processes failing both complainants and accused students. Student Support: University food programs are helping thousands facing hunger; the University of Cape Town says it provided grocery packs to 2,315 students this year. International Enrollment: Applications to U.S. full-time MBA programs fell 27%, with international graduate-business applications down 38% amid visa-policy uncertainty. Academic Integrity: Indonesia’s education council says cheating across school exams points to a deeper honesty problem that extends to universities. Student Achievement: Wellspring University graduate Popo Atorerefa Nancy earned a 4.98 GPA, as 47 other graduates received first-class honors.

AI and Academic Integrity: Dartmouth provost Santiago Schnell resigned after a faculty review found he breached AI disclosure rules and was not forthcoming about his use. College Value: Binghamton ranked 19th among public universities for value and 14th for career placement in the Princeton Review’s 2027 rankings; 79% of its students take part in internships or similar experiences. Research Recognition: UAB became Alabama’s first member of the Association of American Universities, with research spending topping $915 million. Global Education: Ethiopia announced plans for an AI university in Addis Ababa, aiming to build local expertise and develop technology that reflects African languages and communities. International Students: The UK plans to extend graduate visas to two years for graduates of “high-compliance” universities, while a proposed levy is forecast to cost universities about £1 billion. Transfer Pathways: Sam Houston State and Lone Star College renewed an agreement offering transfer plans, scholarships and other support for community college students pursuing bachelor’s degrees.

Ghana’s University Strike: Technical-university lecturers are expected to suspend their strike after talks with regulators and university leaders, pending consultation with members. Unresolved issues include pay for post-retirement staff and promotion requirements. Student Protests: Students in Berlin and Hamburg blocked university buildings to protest education budget cuts and plans to revive military conscription. Admissions Access: NEET-PG candidates report being unable to reach college officials or complete online joining, with some contact details listed on the official portal invalid. University Cuts: Edinburgh’s vice-chancellor says difficult decisions lie ahead as the university seeks £140 million in savings; 90 programmes are set to stop taking new students, amid warnings of possible job losses. International Students: UK universities face a projected £1 billion hit from a levy on international student fees, while the government plans to extend graduate visas to two years for graduates of “high-compliance” universities. Campus Workers: Middlebury College staff have launched a union drive focused on wages, benefits and having a stronger voice in workplace decisions.

Campus Safety: The Philippine National Police is reviewing bomb-threat protocols after threats led the University of Santo Tomas to move classes online and De La Salle University to evacuate its Manila campus. Academic Leadership: University of Mumbai professors Viba Surana and Shrikant Pathak were elected president and general secretary of the Goethe Society of India, recognizing their work in language, literature and international collaboration. Student Research: College of DuPage is the only community college among seven teams competing in NASA’s international Lunabotics challenge, where students test lunar construction robots. College Sports: The Big Ten set an immediate $49 million cap on schools’ athlete payments and third-party NIL spending, ahead of possible federal legislation. Student Support: Montgomery County Community College joined a national study exploring how colleges can better support students facing food, housing and other basic-needs insecurity.

Campus Safety: The Philippine National Police is reviewing bomb-threat protocols after threats forced the University of Santo Tomas to move classes online and De La Salle University Manila to evacuate its campus. Student Aid: Ontario’s pause on OSAP loan payments to students at private colleges has left some students worried they may have to leave their programs. Teacher Training: Nigeria’s new colleges-of-education curriculum comes with a warning: institutions must have qualified lecturers and adequate facilities before expanding degree programs. International Students: Visa restrictions are straining Australian universities; Murdoch, Charles Sturt and Adelaide are reviewing staffing costs, with up to 100 jobs potentially affected at one institution. AI on Campus: Students are pushing their university to set clear AI rules, including allowing coursework without AI and barring AI tools from grading assessments. Admissions Reform: France plans to replace its university admissions platform in 2028 after student protests, with changes promised next year.

College Capacity: Ontario is investing $60 million to add 2,946 seats at eight northern colleges and universities, with spots in health, education, STEM and trades available as early as fall 2026. Skills Training: Malaysia is developing a 2026–35 technical and vocational education plan focused on industry needs, wider training access and measuring workforce skills. International Students: A proposed U.S. fee of $70,000 per international graduate entering post-study work training could deter students and limit employers’ access to talent, higher-education groups warn. Teacher Training: New Mexico State University and Meta are piloting an online program to help K–12 teachers use virtual reality in lessons, with plans to offer it nationwide. Campus Safety: An Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s Islamic University killed three staff members and injured students, prompting a temporary campus closure; Israel says the incident is under review.

International Student Costs: England plans to charge universities £925 (about $1,200) annually for each international student from August 2028, prompting concern as visa applications fall and institutions weigh the cost. Admissions Reform: France says it will replace its university admissions platform in 2028 after protests over unclear selection criteria and unequal access. Campus Safety: A Russian missile strike on a Kyiv university campus killed one person and injured several others, most of them students. US Policy: Educators warn a proposed $70,000 fee for foreign workers in training could make the United States less attractive to international students; the DOJ is also challenging the University of Delaware’s in-state tuition policy for some immigrant students. University Pressures: Glasgow Caledonian staff have begun another round of strikes over threatened job cuts, disrupting the student term. Student Innovation: MIT India’s national hackathon brought 37 teams together to pitch solutions to industry challenges, while 16 startups met investors at the event in New Delhi.

Campus Safety: Russian missiles struck Kyiv university grounds on Oct. 26, killing one person and injuring 10, most reportedly dorm residents. An Israeli strike on Gaza’s Islamic University killed three employees and wounded eight students. Admissions & Access: France will replace its Parcoursup university admissions platform in 2028 after protests over selection and access. The UK plans a £1,200 annual levy on universities for each international student, raising concerns about recruitment. Student Wellbeing: One New Zealand insurer received 6,500 mental-health claims from international students last year; advocates say campuses need more specialist support. Teacher Pipeline: Columbia College won a $2.69 million, five-year grant to fund ESOL training for future and practicing teachers. Campus Workforce: Derwentside College’s exit from Living Wage accreditation leaves 24 lower-paid staff uncertain about future pay increases. Higher-Education Leadership: Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will mentor students at the University of Sydney on leadership and social cohesion.

Campus Under Attack: An Israeli drone strike on Gaza City’s Islamic University killed three employees and injured eight students, prompting the university to suspend activities. Palestinian education officials say widespread damage to campuses threatens higher education across Gaza. International Enrollment: UK universities warn that falling numbers of international students could put at risk a planned £925 levy, intended from 2028 to fund grants for disadvantaged British students. Research Partnerships: The Pentagon says 30 US universities ended more than 80 partnerships with foreign entities after being ordered to review their ties. Global Recruitment: Seoul National University plans to launch an undergraduate division for international students in 2027, targeting applicants from five Asian markets. Enrollment Outlook: Utah’s public colleges and universities grew enrollment by less than 1% this fall, as the state braces for a projected decline in college-age residents beginning around 2029. Access to Higher Education: Nearly half of the Open University’s 2026 Scottish graduates were the first in their families to attend university.

Gaza Education Under Fire: An Israeli drone strike hit Gaza’s Islamic University during classes, killing three staff members and injuring eight, according to hospital officials and university staff. Gaza’s education ministry says 95% of educational buildings have been damaged in the war. International Campus Links: Miami Dade College and Spain’s CIS University are launching joint research, entrepreneurship and student-exchange projects, including a Madrid branch of MDC’s Idea Center. Teaching Excellence: Saskatoon teacher Amanda Jobb received a Prime Minister’s Award for combining Cree language and culture with literacy, math and social-emotional learning. Higher Education Reform: Kerala plans changes to attract foreign and private universities, as governments look to expand international links in higher education.

Research Investment: South Korea will provide 200 GPUs to 15 university research institutes starting next year, supporting six years of AI research in fields including semiconductors, biotechnology and space. Academic Careers: Nearly 28% of science and engineering postdocs at South Korean universities earn under 3 million won a month, while close to four in 10 have contracts of a year or less. Admissions: Vietnam’s universities must publish 2027 admissions details by Dec. 31; applications will run through a centralized system from July 1 to 13. Access and Standards: Sogang University’s full-tuition scholarships for two refugee-background students each year have prompted debate over fairness, while India’s Allahabad High Court ruled universities cannot be forced to accept JEST scores instead of UGC-NET for PhD admissions.

PhD Admissions: Allahabad High Court ruled universities can require UGC-NET and cannot be compelled to accept JEST scores instead. Medical Education: India approved 320 postgraduate medical seats across six Himachal Pradesh colleges, backed by more than ₹415 crore. Campus Cybersecurity: The University of Edinburgh took some websites offline during a global response to serious PHP flaws; its core student and teaching services remained available. Student Housing: Some Manchester students are commuting from towns farther away as high rents and scarce accommodation push them out of the city. STEM Investment: Roanoke College opened a $60 million discovery center with modern labs, classrooms and engineering facilities for hands-on learning. Skills and Jobs: Malaysia’s prime minister says a proposed $50 billion investment in AI, technology and data centers could create opportunities for students and young workers.

Medical Education: India approved 320 new postgraduate medical seats across six Himachal Pradesh colleges, backed by a ₹415-crore grant; Shimla’s IGMC will receive 91. PhD Admissions: Central University of Kerala extended applications for its 2026–27 doctoral programs to Nov. 6, with openings across 26 subjects. International Partnerships: Portugal’s education minister pledged continued support for the joint Lisbon College at Shanghai University, which has graduated more than 200 students and is expanding research and engineering collaboration. Enrollment: Illinois public universities reached their highest enrollment in more than a decade, while campus figures show mixed results: Champaign County enrollment rose 4.3% in fall 2024, but Western Illinois University’s fell 10.5%.

Campus Security: The Pentagon has designated Chinese-funded Confucius Institutes on U.S. campuses a national security threat. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the department had dismantled 80 centers operating under different names at 30 universities; China’s embassy had not commented. AI on Campus: Universities are weighing responsible AI use as students adopt tools faster than institutions can set guidelines. At Arizona State, President Michael Crow said nearly all students use AI, but fewer than half use university-provided tools. Schreiner University plans AI certifications for all freshmen and AI-supported advising. Student Support: Wilberforce University won a five-year, $3 million federal grant to upgrade classrooms and its library, expand hybrid learning and use adaptive platforms to identify students who may need academic help. Campus Privacy: Cornell University has ended its contract with Flock Safety after students raised concerns about AI-powered cameras that track vehicles and share data with law enforcement. Research Funding: The University of Oklahoma’s College of Nursing received more than $5 million in NIH funding for four maternal-health research projects.