U.S.: DeVos Ends Obama-Era Safeguards Aimed at Abuses by For-Profit Colleges

The Education Department rolled out its plan to cut accountability requirements aimed at for-profit and career colleges. The targeted “gainful employment rule” is an Obama-era safeguard which was designed to revoke federal funding and low-income scholarships from programs which leave graduate students with low prospects and large amounts of debt. Despite the rollback, it is generally accepted that the provision was successful in making these institutions more accountable, and that the positive effects will have lasting consequence.

New York Times
August 10, 2018

Lawsuit Filed To Protect Foreign Students From ICE And USCIS

A lawsuit has been filed in North Texas designed to prevent USCIS from enforcing changes recently made on its website that could result in deportation and a 10-year ban for international students. Immigration attorney Jonathan Wasden’s suit is concerned with new “terms and conditions” targeting IT consulting companies who are currently engaged in STEM OPT. Despite some other peculiarities in the changes to the website, the ones focused on in the suit have to do with the potential for retroactively punishing students for violating rules that were not in place previously.

Forbes
August 8, 2018

Canada: Saudi Arabia to Withdraw Students From Canada

Responding to tweets encouraging the release of detained Saudi civil and women’s rights activists made by the Canadian foreign affairs minister, the Saudi government is removing 7000 scholarship students from Canada. Though the tweets, which the Saudi’s claim are “a blatant interference in the Kingdom’s domestic affairs,” are cited as the cause of the recall, this action appears to be part of a broader dispute between the two countries, as well as a warning to other countries that may rely on those students.

Inside Higher Ed
August 7, 2018

Canada: Tech brain drain can be solved by having U.S. employers pay our grads’ tuition subsidy

According to a recent study, fully two-thirds of Canadian STEM graduates leave the country to pursue opportunities elsewhere. This is particularly taxing on the country due to the heavily-subsidized nature of all education. The loss is further compounded by the fact that the jobs that are being pursued are high-value (and high paying). In Canadian Healthcare, there is compulsory service requirement for graduates, which could be one avenue for recompense. Another, possibly more lucrative avenue would be to seek a bounty from foreign employers fort recent graduates. This might have the added benefit of encouraging more companies to set up branches in Canada.

Financial Post
August 7, 2018