Scholars Platform
As President Donald Trump churned out more than 80 executive orders over the past three weeks, sending the higher education community into a panic, some students were surprised to see a lack of campus protestsâeven at institutions traditionally rife with activism.
âWe wanted to follow the model of the Jesup Wagon [a horse-drawn movable school designed by George Washington Carver in the 1900s] that would take university research-based information out to the communities,â says Terrence Wolfork, assistant administrator for communications, conferencing and technology at FVSU.
On Wednesday, 96 Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to Carter requesting an "urgent" meeting to discuss the Trump administration's plans for what they say is to "illegally dismantle or drastically reduce" the Education Department.
Given the array and complexity of presidential responsibilities, many of which require confidentiality, itâs not surprising that a campus community doesnât know all the ins and outs of how their presidents spend their time and the issues with which they deal.
The effect can be devastating: Research from Gallup-Lumina found nearly two-thirds (64%) of currently enrolled college students who recently considered stopping their studies said emotional stress or mental health concerns were a significant reason.
The decision âsabotages the decades-long partnership that has ensured U.S. global leadership in life-saving medical research,â American Council on Education President Ted Mitchell said in a statement on Friday.
Tracey Vitchers, executive director of Itâs On Us, a nonprofit dedicated to sexual assault prevention, echoed Bederaâs last point, noting that the Title IX landscape has become increasingly litigious in recent years, making colleges hesitant to share case findings.
Panel witness Johnny Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, said WIOA reauthorization would create a "generational opportunity" to find solutions to workforce gaps.
And the executive order directs private sporting bodies to convene at the White House to hear âstories of female athletes who suffer life-long injuries, who have been silenced and forced to shower with men, and whose hard work has been cast aside due to the biological advantage of males,â the fact sheet said.
At the University of South Florida, CIO Sidney Fernandes and Assistant Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning Timothy Henkel see a growing role for Microsoft Copilot across campus, from classroom applications to research environments and more.
The letter â signed by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia and Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut â expresses concerns about a number of actions at the Education Department since Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Beyond these professional impacts, universities taking the initiative to integrate AI into their curriculum will greatly appeal to prospective students looking for a place to kick-start their education and career preparedness.