This summer, colleges and universities will have to comply with a new federal rule and not withhold students' transcripts over unpaid tuition and fees.

North Dakota officials see the movement as a boost to people pursuing new job skills. The U.S. Education Department said starting July 1, higher-ed institutions cannot refuse to turn over transcripts related to any course paid for by federal student loans or grants, which are sometimes prompted by overdue book fees or other school debt.

Lisa Johnson, vice chancellor of academic and student affairs for the North Dakota University System, said for a person looking to re-enroll or apply for a new job, overcoming such obstacles can be huge.

"If we're trying to attract returning adults, individuals who have 'stopped out,' this really has to be a part of your focus and the broader array of policies and procedures that we look at," Johnson contended.

North Dakota's system is not designed to issue partial transcripts. Johnson expects the state to honor releases for all situations involving an outstanding balance. A formal vote is expected this spring. She noted campuses would still have leeway to prevent a student from seeking new courses at their school over fears they would be taking on too much additional debt.

In those cases, Johnson pointed out a student can try to work with the campus on a repayment plan, or seek out opportunities at other schools, including certificate programs which may cost less. She added some North Dakota schools are exploring other ways to ease debt issues.

"Campuses are having preliminary discussions about waiving low levels of outstanding debt," Johnson emphasized. "Things like parking tickets."

Beyond wiping out minor balances, she noted schools within the North Dakota system are being proactive in working with former students looking to pay off their debt. She said it is better than relying on collection agencies tacking on additional fees and putting students in a more difficult spot.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

An attorney for a small, rural Michigan college said she expected lawsuits over the "Dear Colleague" letter schools received last month from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

The American Federation of Teachers and American Sociological Association filed one of the first lawsuits to challenge the agency's threat to withhold federal funding from schools that teach about systemic racism or diversity-related topics.

Karen Bennett, legal counsel for Alpena Community College, shared her prediction with the school's Board of Trustees at a recent meeting.

"I think colleges around the country are gathering their thoughts about what actions to take and I'm sure we'll see lots of development in this area, in litigation," Bennett explained. "This is all subject to ongoing litigation."

The letter was issued on Feb. 14 with a Feb. 28 deadline to comply. Bennett advised Alpena's Board to take no action, stating it does not apply to them because the school has no admissions policies other than accepting individuals who apply.

Bennett pointed out she has found only one DEI reference on a college website. Ironically, it was a 2020 Trump-era policy which required schools to post DEI and sexual misconduct training information. The school was told it was no longer necessary after amendments in 2024, however, Bennett said the policy must now be reinstated as a requirement.

"It's impossible to meet or keep up with these, in my opinion, ridiculous edicts that are coming out on almost a daily basis," Bennett contended. "I don't see how we can possibly completely comply, because they're mutually contradictory."

The federal government maintains discrimination based on race, color or national origin is illegal for federally funded institutions and claims DEI policies have discriminated against white and Asian students. Other lawsuits have also been filed challenging the policy change.


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A new report says North Dakota's five tribal colleges contribute nearly $170 million to the state's economy. But any positive news is overshadowed by the Trump administration's budget-cutting tone and the potential harm to campuses. The data was issued this week by the North Dakota Tribal College System, which says between 2022 and 2023, North Dakotans saw added tax revenue and public-sector savings of more than $30 million because of daily operations at these schools.

Tracey Bauer, North Dakota Tribal College System executive director, said alumni add even more economic activity when they work in their communities after graduation. But she warns a lot might change if federal cuts reach them.

"It's going to possibly lead to staff layoffs, increases in tuition - to kind of make up some of that lost funding, [and] even campus program closures," she said.

Bauer said tribal colleges are largely funded by federal grants. In addition to freezing a range of federal aid, President Donald Trump wants to eliminate the Department of Education, which administers programs that support campuses in Native communities. Among other things, he claims higher education is overtaken by a "woke" agenda. But some of his budget-cutting actions are being challenged in court or face other constitutional hurdles.

The American Indian College Fund stresses that tribal colleges should be exempt from executive orders due to treaty and trust obligations of the federal government.

Cheryl Crazy Bull, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, said as the uncertainty unfolds, organizations like hers are preparing to help these schools adjust.

"Providing resources for institutions to hire adjunct faculty, or helping students with transfer programming," she said.

These leaders say colleges and universities serving Native populations were set up to provide a more cultural and welcoming learning environment, while giving students flexibility to overcome barriers to enrolling. Bauer says these campuses are still in their "infancy" stage compared with mainstream higher-ed institutions, and the sudden budget shift might derail progress.

"It wasn't until the late [19]60s and early '70s that we were able to get tribal colleges established across the country. And so, not having that opportunity to provide education for our young people would be devastating," Bauer added.

And it's not just young adults, with Bauer noting they also serve a lot of working parents who might not be able to travel to another school if their campus shuts down.


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Ohio Senate Bill 1 is drawing strong reactions across the state, particularly from students in higher education. The bill, which its supporters say aims to promote institutional neutrality, has been met with vocal opposition from students and faculty who argue it threatens academic freedom.

Clara Conover, lead organizer at the Ohio Student Association, points to the overwhelming response against the bill.

"There has not been one single public university student testifying for this bill or openly supporting it. And I think that that goes a really long way to represent how harmful Senate Bill 1 would be for higher ed," she explained.

Despite strong student opposition, proponents of SB 1 argue that the legislation is necessary to ensure political neutrality in classrooms and prevent ideological bias. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Columbus, would restrict diversity-related programs and require universities to remain neutral on controversial topics.

As the debate over SB 1 continues, students have been actively protesting its progression through the Legislature. The Ohio Student Association recently staged a silent protest at the Statehouse, symbolizing what they describe as grief over the bill's potential impact. Conover emphasized the broader implications of this legislation.

"This bill would make our universities ... like, it would drive students out of Ohio and then it would make sure that no one else came here for college 'cause no one wants to go to the Jim Crow state, the modern one where you can't learn what everyone else around you is learning in different states," he said.

SB 1 remains under consideration in the Ohio Senate despite strong opposition. Wednesday's committee vote followed more than eight and a half hours of testimony, with more than 800 pieces of opponent testimony submitted.


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