Eric Kelderman

Eric Kelderman, a reporter who covers university leadership, and Nell Gluckman, a senior higher-education analyst, discuss why some college presidents are publicly criticizing higher education. They explore which leaders are self-critical, the politics of institutional neutrality, campus free-speech tensions, affordability debates, and how branding and congressional scrutiny shape presidential rhetoric.

Sarah Mervosh, an education reporter at The New York Times, covers K-12 policy, while Eric Kelderman focuses on higher education for The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Jill Barshay reports for The Hechinger Report, emphasizing student learning. They delve into the Trump administration’s impact on education, alarming declines in reading, and rising absenteeism. They analyze cuts to education funding and discuss the looming challenges of graduation rates and FAFSA processing, highlighting crucial under-reported stories affecting schools.

Jaweed Kaleem, an education reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Eric Kelderman, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Siobhan Braybrook, an associate professor at UCLA, dive into the contentious $1 billion fine and grant freeze imposed by the Trump administration on UCLA. They discuss allegations of antisemitism and discrimination in admissions that have sparked significant backlash. The trio also explores how these developments may affect higher education, the strain on academic programs, and the tension between university funding and political pressures.