Government

Hawaii Democrat Brian Schatz reintroduces legislation for debt-free public college with hopes of shaping an update to the Higher Education Act -- and the 2020 Democratic primary race.

Studying democratic erosion abroad increases optimism about U.S. democracy, write Hannah Baron, Robert Blair and Shelby Grossman.

An executive order linking federal research funds to free speech would be on firm ground historically and statutorily, as well as long overdue, write Frederick M. Hess and Grant Addison.

In a possibly unprecedented case, Argosy University fails to distribute millions in federal aid to students as its campuses are on the brink of closing.

Senate education committee's top Democrat, Patty Murray, says new higher ed law must take comprehensive approach and tackle college affordability.

Senator Lamar Alexander wants to apply a single loan-repayment system to programs at all colleges, nonprofit and for-profit alike, drawing concerns about student access.

Alaska's governor proposes a 41 percent cut, the largest in a century, to the public university system. State's only medical education would be eliminated.

The 2016 Democratic primary was defined in part by free college. But contenders seeking the party's nomination in 2020 have focused on a wide range of issues in higher ed, including debt relief, for-profits and sexual misconduct.