AGP Executive Report

Cornell University Probe: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul named AG Letitia James special prosecutor over alleged 2024 gang-rape, after renewed scrutiny of the local investigation and a decision not to file charges. Campus Safety & Accountability: Rhodes University students say police opened fire during protests near a graduation, with arrests and injuries reported. Student Aid Fraud: A hidden “ghost student” scheme is draining federal aid, with investigators pointing to weak identity checks as a key vulnerability. College Affordability: Korea’s student living-expense loans jumped 32.8% in 2025, hitting lower-income students hardest. Higher Ed Policy & Access: The U.S. sued University of Delaware over in-state tuition for undocumented noncitizens. Learning & Career Pathways: East Texas students explored post-graduation options at a Longview College and Career Expo, including law enforcement recruiting. STEM & Innovation: Chicago State University is building hands-on quantum training as students chase future careers in the field. Campus Life & Community: Radford University opened a Financial Success Center with Virginia Credit Union funding to coach students on budgeting and loans.

Campus Protests: French student blockades spread to universities, with hundreds detained and clashes reported as students demand better staffing, smaller classes, and safer learning conditions during heatwaves. College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate advanced the Protect College Sports Act, with student-athlete protections and NIL-related concerns driving debate. Student Aid Push: College Goal Sunday returns with free, one-on-one FAFSA help for families, aiming to reduce stress and cut down on avoidable student debt. Rankings Watch: UniSZA moved into the 801–1,000 THE World University Rankings band, while Galgotias University jumped 24 spots to 41st in India in THE 2027. Military College Expansion: Mississippi State was named a new “Distinguished Military College” as the Pentagon expands its Corps of Cadets pipeline. Safety & Accountability: A Northern Arizona University fraternity leader was sentenced after hazing tied to a pledge’s alcohol-poisoning death; Cornell’s sexual assault case also drew fresh public pressure. Affordability & Completion: Coverage highlights how housing, food, and childcare costs can derail community college enrollment and completion, including local trustee race profiles in Los Angeles.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act (77-22), aiming to set national rules for NIL and transfers, though the House fight and concerns about the NCAA’s antitrust protections are still ahead. Higher-Ed Safety & Conduct: University of Nebraska-Lincoln police opened a hazing investigation after a reported incident involving Phi Kappa Theta; UNL also issued a safety alert after an alleged non-consensual fondling incident. Student Support & Access: Oregon says eligible college students may qualify for SNAP, but eligibility rules are complex—work-study, caregiving, and certain training programs can open doors. Campus Life & Facilities: Amherst College officially opened its new Ford Student Center, built for clubs, events, and sustainability. Major Philanthropy: Carnegie Mellon is reacting to Ken Griffin’s record $3B gift, including a new Miami campus and major funding for computer science. Workforce & Community Partnerships: Albany State University and Colony Bank launched a partnership to expand student opportunities and workforce pathways. Public Safety on Campus: Towson University-linked charges followed a weekend shooting near campus, with some accused students listed as enrolled.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act (77-22), setting up a House vote after midterms; the bill aims to create a federal framework for college athletics, including limits on athlete transfer chaos and rules around NIL. Campus Sexual Violence Fallout (Cornell): New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called allegations in Cornell’s 2024 Chi Phi gang-rape case “horrifying,” as prosecutors reopened a criminal investigation and new details, including released texts, keep the spotlight on how the university handled discipline. University Rankings Watch: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 landed big moves across regions—Malaysia’s USM broke into the top 350 and UKM rose to 301–325; South Africa’s UCT returned to joint 147th; and India’s IISc topped the country at 254. Mental Health & Student Support: Bakersfield College hosted a suicide prevention seminar featuring a student speaker sharing his family’s loss and urging students to seek help. Learning, Skills, and Pathways: Goodwin University brought a Mobile Learning Lab to Woodbury Middle School to teach manufacturing and entrepreneurship through hands-on tech. Big Philanthropy: Carnegie Mellon received a $3B gift from Citadel’s Ken Griffin to launch Carnegie Mellon University Miami and expand its Pittsburgh work. AI + Human Rights Event: Trinity College Dublin will host Mary Robinson to open a CDE event on dignity, autonomy, and democracy in the age of AI.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act (77-22), sending it to the House. The bill sets a national framework for athlete pay and transfers, raises the NIL revenue cap (including a retention pool), and adds limits on agents, with House passage still uncertain. Campus Safety & Student Health: Police identified a man found dead near the University of Illinois Alma Mater statue as likely accidental, with an autopsy scheduled; meanwhile, a University of Georgia senior survived an eighth-floor fall after a window incident, and investigators are still sorting out what happened. Affordability Push: Washington College pledged full tuition coverage for eligible in-state students from families earning $75,000 or less, with renewal tied to academic standards. Career-Ready Programs: Georgian College announced five new programs for 2027-28, including a new Medical Radiation Technology diploma. International Higher Ed: Ukraine’s Taras Shevchenko National University told students to stay home and shift classes online amid increased drone attacks. Learning & Support: Elon University released its annual safety report, showing increases in several categories of reported incidents.

College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act in a 77-22 vote, aiming to rein in athlete pay and transfers and give the NCAA new authority, with the bill now headed to the House. Campus Safety & Accountability: U.S. prosecutors reopened a Cornell University fraternity gang-rape investigation after a civil lawsuit, with the district attorney saying they may file criminal charges. Student Life & Admin Errors: Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union sent a college-wide voting email for a March election that had already closed, then apologized and clarified next steps. Higher Ed Access & Rights: Karnataka High Court ordered Karnataka State Law University and Seshadripuram Law College to complete admission for a transgender law student and provide hostel, financial aid, and basic facilities. Protests & Student Welfare: Iranian university students protested compulsory hijab, fees, and poor campus welfare; authorities and Basij reportedly moved in to suppress the rally. Local Higher Ed Projects: Cumberland Council is set to decide on Carlisle’s £85m university campus plan, including a long lease at peppercorn rent for key city-center sites. Technology in Learning: MIT researchers warn of “cognitive surrender” as students increasingly rely on AI tools, raising concerns about critical thinking and confidence. Health & Care: A family alleged delayed emergency care after a patient died at Ernakulam Government Medical College Hospital, prompting an internal inquiry. Student Support & Belonging: A grief-focused university essay reflects on how sudden loss fractures student life and routines.

AP Policy Shift: The College Board is redesigning two AP courses for 2027-28, adding AI into AP Computer Science Principles and requiring AP Seminar essays to be completed in a secure environment without generative AI. Campus Safety & Justice: New York prosecutors reopened a Cornell University sexual assault investigation tied to alleged Chi Phi “gang rape,” after a civil lawsuit and a shift in what prosecutors say the victim alleged. Local Accountability: Ithaca’s mayor imposed a moratorium on Cornell event permits, citing failures to coordinate with police and protect students. College Sports Law: The Senate is set to vote on the Protect College Sports Act, which would give the NCAA authority to enforce uniform national rules and tighten revenue-sharing limits. Student Life & Costs: Beloit College launched an “All-In Pricing Guarantee” capping first-year direct costs at $30,000. Workforce Pathways: Northwestern State University expanded an accelerated 16-month nursing program, while Mohave College opened an employer-driven Advanced Manufacturing Training Center using immersive simulations. Enrollment News: Jones College reported record-breaking fall 2026 enrollment, topping last year’s mark.

International Recruitment: The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia hosted an EducationUSA Fair in Siem Reap, connecting students with American universities and covering STEM/AI programs, visas, and scholarships. Campus Safety & Justice: Prosecutors in New York say they’re reopening a Cornell University “gang rape” investigation after a civil lawsuit, with the district attorney weighing whether new details could support criminal charges. Student Life Incident: A University of Georgia student was seriously injured after falling from an eighth-floor window at an Athens apartment complex. Higher-Ed Policy: North Dakota’s university system leader backed a “One NDUS” collaboration model to coordinate two-year and four-year schools while keeping research institutions independent. Student Protests in India: In Punjab, Lovely Professional University students say a university video was posted without consent, as protests and police investigations continue after rape allegations sparked unrest. Labor Action: University of Edinburgh staff began a five-week strike over £140m cuts and compulsory redundancies. College Sports Spotlight: Trinity College Kandy won the Under-20 boys’ hockey title after a penalty shootout; Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya Nawala took the girls’ crown.

Higher Ed Policy & Student Aid: Ontario’s OSAP changes are pushing families to rethink college choices, with the Ontario Universities’ Fair drawing students and parents to compare costs and options. College Sports Reform: The U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to reshape athlete eligibility, transfers, and NIL rules—while senators split on how much it should limit athletes’ rights and pay. Campus Safety & Protests: In India, Lovely Professional University students turned violent and blocked a highway after social media rape claims; the university denies the incident and police opened an investigation. University Labor: Around 3,000 University of Edinburgh staff are preparing for a five-week strike tied to spending cuts, program scrapping, and compulsory redundancies. Data-Driven Teaching: University of West Florida researchers used NSSE data to study barriers to high-impact practices and build faculty toolkits to boost participation. Workforce Training: Georgian College is set to benefit from a $880M federal program funding paid pre-apprenticeship placements for skilled trades. International Higher Ed: Malaysia and Kazakhstan are reviving university cooperation, expanding beyond mobility into AI, nuclear energy, critical minerals, and agriculture. College Football Spotlight: ESPN’s College GameDay heads to Iowa City for Ohio State vs. Iowa, and Oklahoma State climbs to No. 19 in the AP after beating West Virginia.

Student Safety & Accountability: A civil lawsuit alleges a Cornell student was drugged and gang raped by seven fraternity members, and claims the university and Greek organizations failed to protect students. Higher Ed Governance: Alabama’s HB 580 limits faculty senates to advisory roles, aiming to curb their influence over curriculum and policy. Student Well-Being: A new piece highlights loneliness on campuses and urges students to build real, quality connections beyond technology. International Higher Education: Kazakhstan wants to revive ties with Malaysia, including student mobility and Malaysian branch campuses. Research & Innovation: Microsoft and the University of Maryland opened a new Quantum Research Center to train students and expand quantum tech work. College Access & Planning: EducationUSA ran a seminar at Bangladesh’s ULAB on US graduate study, scholarships, and applications. Campus Climate & Protests: In Punjab, students protested and blocked a highway over unverified rape claims tied to a private university. Data-Driven Improvement: Multiple universities shared how they use NSSE results to redesign student support, boost high-impact practices, and communicate findings to faculty and leadership. Funding & Stability: Kenya’s UASU issued a seven-day strike notice over unpaid funding and university insolvency concerns. Enrollment Pressure: Australia’s Adelaide University says a merger is missing international targets as migration rules squeeze revenue.

Higher Ed Data Use: UT Tyler, UNC Wilmington, and other universities are turning NSSE results into action—using dashboards, brief reports, and faculty toolkits to boost student engagement, high-impact practices, and information literacy. Student Success & Assessment: University of Rhode Island’s “Sandbox” brings staff together to dig into NSSE findings, while University of Nebraska–Lincoln repackages survey data for instructors and student support teams. Global University Ties: Kazakhstan and Malaysia are reviving higher-ed cooperation via student mobility, research partnerships, and possible branch campuses, with AI, nuclear science, agriculture, and critical minerals on the agenda. Campus Life & Safety: State College of Florida Venice installed a new real-time weather monitoring station to improve local storm forecasting for students and the community. Deaths & Tributes: Missouri journalism professor Brian Kratzer, 56, died; Tarleton State student Alejandra Franco died after a rodeo accident, prompting tributes from family and classmates. Sports (College Football): No. 1 Texas beat Tennessee 20-17 with a defensive surge and late-game drama as Week 4 ranked matchups roll on.

Assessment in Action: Universities are leaning harder on student engagement and learning data to drive decisions, from the University of Saint Mary’s revamped, data-driven assessment mix (faculty reports plus CLA+ and NSSE) to Viterbo’s long-running push to communicate NSSE results beyond marketing. Making Data Usable: Schools are translating survey findings into formats people can actually use—dashboards at Bucknell, instructor- and student-service “brief reports” at Nebraska–Lincoln, and infographic campaigns at Mills and Boston University to boost response rates. Targeted Improvements: Examples include Middle Georgia State using NSSE to plan High-Impact Practices, UNL using NSSE to shape core curriculum and support services, and Eastern Connecticut State using NSSE to redesign advising after students described broken support. Student Engagement Focus: Multiple campuses connect engagement to persistence and belonging, including UWF’s work on barriers to HIP participation and Tulane’s plan to expand engaged learning using NSSE as a baseline.

Student Voice in Action: A new set of case studies shows how colleges use NSSE open-ended comments to drive real changes—like Eastern Connecticut State University revisiting advising after students said they saw advisors “only once all year,” and Beloit College routing student praise and complaints to the right offices. Turning Feedback Into Plans: Southern New Hampshire University built a course where students sort NSSE comments into themes and present findings to faculty and staff, while San Francisco State University uses comment themes (class availability, graduation, diversity) to target improvements and reduce negatives. Making Data Usable: Schools are also redesigning how results are shared—dashboards, heat maps, and audience-specific reports—so more people can actually use the information. Response Rates Matter: Northern Michigan University boosted NSSE participation with new outreach beyond email, and Ohio University expanded dashboards to make results easier to filter and act on.

Campus Safety & Rumor Control: The University of Northern Philippines denied claims that a student brought a firearm to campus after an internal investigation, urging people to stop sharing unverified reports. Higher-Education Disruptions: Russia’s Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics evacuated students for a second day amid bomb-threat reports, with National Guard officers arriving. Nursing Pipeline: Montana State University opened a new College of Nursing building in Billings with simulation labs aimed at easing a statewide nurse shortage. Funding Pressure: The University of Minnesota plans $225 million in systemwide cuts over two years, citing enrollment shifts, uncertain funding, and rising costs. Admissions Reform Debate (Vietnam): Vietnam plans to cut public university admissions methods and reduce public institutions by 20% by 2035, with fairness concerns raised about the new one-route approach. Job-Market Alignment (Ghana): Ghana’s education minister urged universities to tailor programs to skills employers need to reduce graduate unemployment. Student Support After Disasters: Kaua‘i Community College reported Hurricane Lowell disrupted classes for 80% of students, prompting recovery events and mental-health support. College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate is moving toward a vote on the Protect College Sports Act, with schools and fans watching how NIL rules could change.

Campus Safety: A teen was shot on the Prince George’s Community College campus in Maryland; police say it’s stable and there’s no known ongoing threat, but no suspect is in custody. Student Privacy & Accountability: Wilmington College charged a custodial worker with 11 counts of voyeurism after he allegedly hid in a women’s soccer locker-room ceiling to take photos. Legal Win for Students: A judge ordered Lane Community College to reverse a campus ban against a student who sued over alleged First and Fourteenth Amendment violations. Health & Harm Reduction: Central Community College marked Save a Life Day by distributing Narcan and related overdose-prevention supplies across multiple Nebraska campuses. New Engineering Push: University of Oregon plans a formal College of Engineering with a $1B Phil and Penny Knight gift, aiming to expand bioengineering and workforce training. Mental Health in Sports: A new survey finds nearly 2 in 5 NCAA athletes report suicidal thoughts, with most urging required prevention training. College Sports Policy: The Senate is moving toward a vote on the Protect College Sports Act to set federal NIL rules. Student Support in Action: Orange Coast College’s Writing and Humanities Tutoring Center hosted free ESL workshops to help students practice English in a safe space. Arts & Campus Life: Williams Baptist University opens its theater season with “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.” International Higher Ed: Qatar Foundation appointed Dr. Hend Zainal as president of higher education starting Jan. 1, 2027.

College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate is nearing final approval of the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to set national NIL and athlete standards—while Democrats split, with some Black lawmakers warning it could limit athletes’ ability to sue. Campus Safety & Student Rights: At Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College, students marched after an alleged gangrape near campus, calling for better lighting, patrols, and CCTV. Labor & Campus Disruption: Motilal Nehru College (Evening) faculty in Delhi began an indefinite strike over alleged assault and election-related violence, suspending academic activities. Higher Ed Leadership: Qatar Foundation named Dr. Hend Zainal president of higher education starting Jan. 1, 2027. UK Universities & Security: Emails show 13 UK universities discussed handling pro-Palestine protests with BAE Systems, including ramping security. Learning & Tech: Maryland campuses report rising AI-related honor code violations, even as some professors allow AI for study help. Facilities & Investment: Michigan approved a $1.3B wave of campus construction projects across 27 schools. Student Life: Middlebury College launched new weekend and late-night programming, “Midd Saturdays” and “Midd@Night.”