As colleges and universities nationwide make swift changes in response to COVID-19, we've begun a weekly Wednesday roundup on what trends we are seeing across institutions, how individual schools are responding and what national policy changes are affecting higher ed.
[Week of 4/8-4/14]
- University of Arizona withdraws some financial offers to accepted graduate students who have not committed. 4/8
- The American Bar Association’s Board of Governors passed a policy resolution that would allow ABA-approved law school graduates to practice without taking the bar exam due to an inability to safely administer the July exam. 4/9
- Several colleges and universities have announced furloughs and layoffs.
- The Department of Education has released how much each higher ed institution will get to give students through emergency grants based on the complex formula set by Congress. 4/9
- Many institutions have extended their deposit deadline to June 1 or beyond.
- Students at Miami and Drexel Universities file class action seeking reimbursement for tuition and other costs after campuses close due to the coronavirus pandemic. 4/9
- Boston University announced it may postpone Fall term until January 2021. 4/10
- College sports are trying to deal with the shutdown of sporting events that has put athletic careers on hold and dreading what happens if the shutdown affects the big moneymaker, football. 4/12
- The Institute of International Education Inc. has issued a call to nominate international students for a grant of up to $2,500 who are not able to return to their home countries over the summer break due to COVID-19. Deadline: Sunday, April 26, 11:59pm EST.
- Interim Oklahoma University President Joseph Harroz Jr. announced in his address to the Faculty Senate that the university is considering multiple options for the upcoming academic year. One scenario includes online classes continuing through both fall and spring semesters. 4/13
- Secretary DeVos announced a $3 Billion Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund made available to governors to ensure education continues for K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions and other education-related organizations impacted by the coronavirus. 4/14
- The spread of COVID-19 has sped up the number of schools suspending the standardized test requirement or moving to test-optional policies. At least 30 institutions during the first week of April waived requirements for students matriculating in the fall of 2021. 4/14

