AGP Executive Report

Higher Ed Funding: Ohio University’s board backed its scholarship match program through 2031, extending a 50-cent donor match that has pushed support past $83M and keeping the university’s endowment above $1B. Student Pathways & Skills: Qatar’s education ministry, with the transport ministry, launched scholarships for Marine Engineering and Marine Navigation to build a homegrown maritime workforce. Employability Debate: Malaysia’s higher education regulator chief pushed back on claims that standards are slipping, arguing graduates need extra skills beyond grades to land jobs. Campus Life & Community: Niagara College wrapped its biggest spring convocation, adding about 7,000 graduates to a global alumni base. Policy & Rights: An Ohio homeowner says city officials required a special-use permit to host a prayer gathering, raising a new legal fight over religious access and zoning. Cost of College: UK data shows thousands of students who studied in the UK have left without repaying loans tied to about £893M. Sports University News: Manipur announced a national sports university coming to Imphal West.

College Sports: Oklahoma’s freshman left-hander Cord Rager shut down Alabama in the College World Series opener, tossing seven scoreless innings as the Sooners won 9-0 and moved into the winner’s bracket; Deiten Lachance also homered despite an ankle injury, while Alabama now faces elimination. Higher Ed Policy: The SEC is pushing for wording changes to the Protect College Sports Act, warning the bill could trigger more lawsuits and disrupt how disputes are handled for public universities. Admissions & Exams: NTA has released SWAYAM January 2026 admit cards, with exams set for June 17-21 in two daily shifts. Global Universities: China is cutting “obsolete” undergraduate degrees, suspending or revoking 12,200 programs since 2021 while launching 10,200 new, tech-focused ones. Workforce Training: South Africa’s TVET colleges are struggling with low throughput, as officials urge stronger industry support to modernize programs and improve job-ready outcomes. Research & Public Health: Georgia Southern’s U.S. National Tick Collection remains a key resource as tick-borne illness concerns rise nationwide. Campus Life & Community: Guam is relaunching its College Poll Worker Program starting June 16, offering paid course options for students.

Higher Ed Funding & Growth: Ohio University’s Board of Trustees backed an extension of its Scholarship Match Program through June 30, 2031, capping annual matches at $2 million, as the university reports its endowment topped $1 billion and fundraising reached $41.5 million this fiscal year. Campus Safety & Cybersecurity: The University of Nottingham is facing a criminal investigation after a cyber attack exposed student passport numbers, bank details and addresses, affecting hundreds of thousands of current and former students. Teacher Training: A new report says nearly half of educator preparation programs nationwide aren’t training future teachers to teach reading effectively, with Pennsylvania programs scoring especially low in the review. Student Life & Global Learning: Loyola Marymount University students studied modern Greek theater in Greece through an Athens-based program tied to academic coursework. International Education Policy: Uzbekistan approved rules for transferring students from foreign and non-government universities into state universities, with an annual July 15–Aug 5 application window. STEM Access: Karnataka approved 50 AI labs in government colleges to expand hands-on AI learning beyond big cities. Sports & Student-Athletes: The College World Series returns Saturday with Alabama vs. Oklahoma and Georgia vs. Texas, while Omaha weather threatens play with storms.

College Admissions: Columbia University will again require SAT or ACT scores for the 2027-28 admissions cycle, saying test results are “useful indicators of potential student success,” while keeping 2026-27 test optional. Career Readiness: A new University of North Texas course, built with nonprofit Braven, targets the skills and networking grads need as hiring slows and AI reshapes entry-level work. AI and Equity in Higher Ed: University of Ghana Vice-Chancellor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo urged African languages be intentionally included in AI systems to avoid marginalization in the global AI push. Global Campus Connections: Angola plans to connect its universities to international higher-education institutions to boost innovation and research, alongside a new digital legal framework. Student Life and Learning: Ohio University’s Board approved extending its scholarship match program through 2031 and shared plans for a new Marching 110 practice facility. Campus Sports: Gonzaga upgraded its soccer pitch for Team Egypt, while WVU coach Steve Sabins was named national coach of the year after reaching the College World Series.

Higher-Education Leadership: Rochester Institute of Technology named Hassan Aziz dean of its College of Health Sciences and Technology, a new role starting Aug. 1. Student Support & Access: Oklahoma City Community College won a national TRIO-focused institutional effectiveness award from the Council for Opportunity in Education, earning a $10,000 grant. Workforce-Focused Learning: Basingstoke College of Technology launched bite-sized apprenticeship units in areas like EV charging and solar, letting employers stack short modules toward full apprenticeships. Global Education & Research: Uzbekistan’s International Agricultural University and a Soil Analysis Centre signed a 5-year pact to embed students in lab and field work. Campus & Community Health: The University of Minnesota and Blue Cross of Minnesota announced a 10-year collaboration to strengthen community health and student engagement. Climate & Accountability: A new report says human-driven warming hit 1.37°C in 2025, with 1.5°C projected soon; Canada’s residential schools were judged genocide by an international tribunal of opinion. Sports (College): WVU baseball coach Steve Sabins was named NCBWA National Coach of the Year as the Mountaineers open the College World Series vs. Troy.

College Sports Policy: The Senate Commerce Committee has scheduled a markup for next week on the Protect College Sports Act, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell pushing the bill forward after talks with the Big Ten and SEC. College World Series: Omaha’s College World Series tips off Friday with a rare, surprise-heavy field—West Virginia vs. Troy and North Carolina vs. Ole Miss headline the opening slate. Higher Ed Leadership: The University of Arkansas named Clemson architecture professor James C. Stevens as dean of its Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, starting Aug. 15. Student Housing & Finance: A new look at niche real estate finds student housing still drawing capital, even as rent growth cools and costs rise. Global Education & Skills: Universitas Indonesia’s INTEGRA program is training Indonesian diaspora workers in digital marketing, food safety, and OHS to strengthen small businesses in New Zealand. Health & Research: Ohio State-linked researchers won a major NIH grant to expand primary-care access to opioid use disorder treatment across clinics in Ohio and West Virginia.

Major Gift for Engineering: Drexel University says it received a record $112.6 million from the Howley Foundation, creating the Nick Howley College of Engineering and Computing and funding renovations plus scholarships. Campus Growth via Philanthropy: Clackamas Community College will name its new Natural Resources Center after Terry and Cheryl Holden, after their two $5 million gifts. Health Research in Primary Care: Ohio University researchers won a nearly $4 million NIH grant to expand opioid use disorder treatment support in about 40 Ohio and West Virginia clinics. Student Life and Integrity: Kenya’s anti-corruption officials urged university students to reject exam cheating, plagiarism, and fake certificates as they launched an ethics and integrity club. Climate Pressure on Education: A new study warns human-driven warming is accelerating and could worsen childhood stunting, linking heat to long-term public health harm. International Student Fees Fight (France): A French student petition targets new rules that make foreign tuition hikes harder to exempt, with critics calling it exclusion. Higher Ed Tech Push (India): Chitkara University partners with Google Cloud to launch an “Agentic AI Campus” for AI-first learning. NHS Care Data: The Royal College of Physicians welcomed England’s first national corridor care figures, calling it a step toward ending unsafe practice.

International Student Policy: Sweden’s tighter migration rules are rattling international students at Karolinska Institutet, with students warning they could be sent home and that the move threatens Sweden’s research talent pipeline. Higher-Ed Staffing Crisis: Sri Lanka’s state universities face a lecturer shortage, with teachers’ groups saying the system needs 12,000–13,000 permanent lecturers but has about 6,800, risking quality across disciplines. Climate Resilience in Cities: Lower Hutt, New Zealand, was selected for the EU-backed Climacare project to protect vulnerable residents from extreme heat, using planning, health, and building cooling measures. Campus Safety Tragedy: Philippines police are investigating the deaths of two Ateneo Blue Eagles players after a team-building activity turned deadly in strong currents. Research-to-Industry Push: UPL University of Sustainable Technology says it has recovered silver and mercury from COD wastewater via a patented process now being commercialized. Global Warming Update: A new study warns global warming hit 1.37°C in 2025 and could cross 1.5°C within about four years, with emissions still at record highs. Defense Tech Education: Bournemouth University won a £2.8m grant to launch new defence technology degrees, training cyber and autonomous-systems specialists for national resilience. Student Aid & Health Care: Ohio University researchers secured a nearly $4m NIH grant to expand opioid-use-disorder treatment prescribing support in primary care clinics. Regional News Future: Bulgaria’s BTA and CEM are convening a national debate on the future of regional journalism, bringing together journalists, universities, and media groups.

Higher Ed Policy & Governance: The U.S. SEC met with senators to discuss the Protect College Sports Act, including an NCAA antitrust exemption and rules on player compensation, eligibility, transfers, and media rights, with the SEC saying talks were “productive” as lawmakers refine the bill. STEM & Workforce: Sen. Dave McCormick and bipartisan colleagues introduced a National Commission on Robotics Act to assess U.S. robotics competitiveness and recommend steps to protect supply chains and build talent. Campus Safety: Philippines police are investigating the deaths of two Ateneo Blue Eagles players during a team-building activity after strong currents pulled them farther from shore. Student Life & Recognition: A Tennessee Tech student newsroom earned national Society for Collegiate Journalists honors, while a Kansas coach, Dan Fitzgerald, was named Perfect Game College Coach of the Year. Health Policy: Canada launched a National Advisory Committee on Preventive Health Services to replace its 2009 task force and set evidence-based national screening guidance. International Education: Drew University was selected for Duke’s inaugural Innovation Sandbox cohort to share higher-ed innovation strategies.

Higher-Education Funding: Ireland will invest €460m to launch seven advanced tech research centres under a new national network, creating hundreds of research and PhD roles across AI, energy, biopharma, quantum and semiconductors. International Campuses: India’s education ministry has issued Letters of Approval for three foreign universities—Bristol (Mumbai), York (Mumbai) and UNSW (Bengaluru)—as part of NEP 2020’s internationalisation push. Student Life & Safety: Protests at Kenya’s Multimedia University turned violent after the shooting of students, with police and students clashing on a main road. Global Student Mobility: A US judge blocked Trump’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B skilled-worker visas, a move that could ripple into hiring plans affecting universities and hospitals. STEM & Workforce Pipelines: Elon University named John Walz as inaugural dean for its new School of Engineering and Computing, set to open in fall 2026. Sports as Campus Culture: Haiti’s men’s team trained at Stockton University ahead of the FIFA World Cup, drawing fans and local youth.

International Higher Ed Policy: Georgia’s draft law would let the government set enrollment limits for foreign students at public and private universities, with quotas and admission schedules set by decree. Student Success & Support: Oklahoma City Community College won a national award for scaling TRIO Student Support Services practices across campus, aiming to boost retention, completion, and workforce outcomes. AI in Education: Boston College received a major gift to launch the Krantz Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and Humanity, focused on training ethical leaders as AI expands. Global Research Collaboration: A Pakistan-China Joint Research Centre opened at Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, linking Pakistani and Chinese engineering universities. Campus & Community: Lambton College held convocation for paramedic graduates, with students facing a final certification exam. STEM & Skills: Siaya’s National Polytechnic is expanding vocational training as enrollment climbs from 3,396 (2021) to 7,589 now. Sports & Student Life: Morgan State’s choir was nominated for the first-ever HBCU Choir of the Year award at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Student Democracy Push: Student councils from 12 major South Korean universities plan simultaneous emergency statements and campus pickets after a June 3 ballot shortage, calling it a serious infringement on voting rights and urging a parliamentary investigation. Campus Health Innovation: The University of Huddersfield’s new health innovation campus is expanding with research buildings and an MRI simulator, showing how universities are partnering with NHS trusts and industry to keep medical innovation moving despite tight budgets. Workforce Training in Energy: Angelina College in Texas launched an Electrical Lineworker Program with a $15,000 CenterPoint Energy Foundation grant, aiming to feed the electric utility trades with hands-on training. SkillsUSA Spotlight: North Idaho College student Zoe Hunt won bronze at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in automotive refinishing technology. Research Breakthrough: University of Maine researchers identified the Mylpf protein as a key linchpin for fast-twitch muscle formation, using zebrafish to map how protein levels affect muscle function. Immigration Ruling: A U.S. judge struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee for new petitions, easing pressure on universities and employers relying on foreign talent.

Higher Ed & Global Science: A new opinion piece argues the U.S. lead in science is shrinking as China, India and even Iran accelerate research output. Equity in Education: University of Helsinki professor Hannele Niemi warns global education gaps are widening, saying opportunity still hinges on where children are born and how schools are funded. Campus Tech for Sustainability: The University of California expands Zabble’s AI zero-waste platform systemwide, rolling it out across all UC campuses, health centers and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. International Student Presence: Sofia University reports 1,431 international students from 55 countries, while UniBIT lists 59 international students focused heavily on informatics and computer science. Student Pathways & Jobs: Youngstown State University selects 12 business students for a paid Ohio export internship program. Health Research: A €15.3M project led by Institut Pasteur aims to advance a chikungunya vaccine through Phase Ib/III trials in four African countries. Policy & Politics in Higher Ed: John Oliver highlights Florida’s New College takeover as a cautionary tale for how politics can reshape campus life.

Major Gift to UT: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, received a historic $130M investment from alumni Dee and Jimmy Haslam, boosting student success and faculty recruitment, including at the Haslam College of Business. Higher-Ed Access Pathways: University of Arizona Global Campus and Arizona Western College are teaming up to expand bachelor’s degree pathways across the Yuma region with reduced tuition for working adults. WVU Baseball Comeback Story: West Virginia’s run to the College World Series continues to draw attention after a 17-1 win over Cal Poly, a turnaround from when the program was nearly disbanded years ago. College World Series Spotlight: Georgia also clinched a College World Series spot, while UNC advanced after a 4-3 win over USC. Student Support & Policy: Iowa’s new law requires public university students to take American history and U.S. government classes to graduate, drawing praise from conservatives. Global Exam Pressure: China’s gaokao saw 12.9M students sit for the national college entrance exam. Tech for Transformation: Nepal’s Lumbini Technological University wrapped up a “Technology for Transformation” conference focused on research and practical solutions for sustainable development.

Education Policy & Access: Qatar Foundation for Education rolled out the accreditation framework for its “Rasekh” initiative, aiming to align international schooling with Arabic language and local cultural values, and launched a first cohort of participating schools at Education City. Campus Expansion: Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Construction is building two new educational buildings for the Kyrgyz National University of Culture and Arts in Bishkek, with engineering networks already laid to the third floor. Student Support & Funding: The University of Strathclyde announced a £7,000-a-year scholarship for international physics undergrads entering in 2026-27, automatically awarded to eligible self-funded students. Global Learning & Skills: Qatar University media students begin a two-month practical training program with Qatar News Agency, including newsroom rotations and field visits. Research & Health: Cambridge researchers reported a first human trial of an AI-designed “super-antigen” vaccine component targeting multiple coronaviruses, while UC San Diego linked semaglutide to slower biological aging markers in a clinical study. Higher Ed & International Mobility: Reports warn U.S. visa and hiring policies are discouraging foreign students and workers, raising concerns about future innovation leadership.

Redistricting Watch: Georgia’s GOP-led legislature is set for a June 17 special session to redraw districts for 2028, with knock-on effects that could reach state House and Senate seats—and possibly even a utility regulator—after a Supreme Court shift weakened minority voting protections. College Sports Spotlight: Ole Miss swept Auburn 5-3 in the super regional to earn its first College World Series trip since 2022, while West Virginia punched its ticket with a 17-1 win over Cal Poly; the CWS in Omaha starts June 12. Higher Ed & Policy: Indonesia’s agriculture minister urged universities to drive food self-sufficiency through research and talent, and India’s education minister pushed state universities to prove research impact beyond classroom teaching. Student Safety: A medical student’s ragging complaint at MGM Medical College in Jamshedpur has triggered NMC review and campus verification. Global Campus News: India and Nepal signed an MoU to expand multilingual AI and digital public infrastructure via BHASHINI and Kathmandu University.