AGP Executive Report

College Recruiting: Richland rising senior WR Arnold Mugerwa commits to Rutgers after a visit, citing the program’s vision for him. University History & Culture: Algoma University releases a photo-rich history book, “Algoma University: Our Story,” with proceeds supporting student scholarships. Campus Community Building: Weber State launches its first “Wildcat Night at the Ballpark,” offering free tickets and a drone show. STEM Pipeline: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is accepting applications for the Pacific Summer Transportation Education Program (July 20–24). Student Life & Safety: Auburn University student Weston Higginbotham, missing in Japan, is found dead near Kyoto; Towson University student Nasir Majied is killed in an off-campus shooting. Learning, Tech & Integrity: University of Phoenix researchers publish doctoral-student research on attitudes toward AI chatbots and reported ChatGPT use. International Expansion: University of Liverpool gets India approval to open a Bengaluru campus. Research Breakthroughs: University of Miami opens a 3D-bioprinting lab aimed at regenerative medicine and personalized treatments. Admissions & Testing Debate: Over 1,000 UC math and science professors call for SAT/ACT reinstatement for STEM applicants.

International Campus Expansion: The University of Liverpool got a formal UK-to-India green light to open a Bengaluru campus, with applications already open for an inaugural 2026 intake and a mix of undergrad and master’s programs. Higher-Ed Policy Fight: Florida lawmakers and officials are pushing sweeping limits on what professors can teach, including purges of general education courses and pressure on faculty via post-tenure reviews. Campus Safety & Crime: A former student, 21, was charged after a crossbow attack on a University of Surrey security guard; separately, police are investigating a voyeurism incident at the University of Waterloo. Admissions Updates: Delhi University extended CSAS PG registration for 2026-27 to June 9, with edits allowed June 10–11. Teaching & Career Pathways: Bluffton University hosted a NetVUE gathering focused on vocation and collaborative learning across colleges. Environment & Student Action: Kazakhstan’s ReStart Eco Project brought 23 universities together to collect and sort 60+ tons of plastic, while multiple universities marked World Environment Day with tree-planting and sustainability drives. Student Life & Learning: Macau University of Science and Technology welcomed medical students from Timor-Leste for intensive skills training.

Notre Dame Abuse Report: A Notre Dame alum says the university’s May 28 report on decades of sexual abuse “fails the survivors,” arguing it missed leads and didn’t properly act on credible allegations. AI & Human Dignity: A Catholic social teaching piece ties Pope Leo XIV’s “Magnifica Humanitas” to how AI use should be judged by human dignity and the common good. Student Success Leadership: Kentucky State University named Adam A. Smith interim vice president for enrollment management and student success. Inclusive Postsecondary: Lee University received a Tennessee Believes planning grant to build an inclusive postsecondary program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Campus Innovation: NASA picked MIT’s lunar power systems concept as the top winner in its 2026 university aerospace competition. Health Workforce Pipeline: B.C. entrepreneurs donated $40M to SFU’s new Surrey medical school to train doctors for urban, rural, and Indigenous communities. Affordability Push: Michigan students formed a statewide alliance to lobby lawmakers on college affordability and student experience. Tuition & Governance: The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a 2% tuition increase and elected Regent Kyle Weatherly as president. Teaching & Tech: Yale highlighted social-emotional learning tools that help students practice difficult conversations and civic skills. Campus Life & Learning Logistics: Montclair State offered flexible summer sessions, while Wright State expanded hands-on research access through the Ohio Supercomputer Center.

Immigration Crackdown (UK Higher Ed): The UK Home Office says universities could lose their right to recruit international students if visa refusals rise above 5% (down from 10%), or if enrolment and completion rates miss tougher targets (95% enrolled, 90% completed). Campus Safety (UK): A Saudi national, 21, was arrested after a lecturer was shot with a crossbow at the University of Surrey’s Manor Park student village; the victim remains in serious condition. Campus Safety (India): Delhi University assistant professor Devosmita Paul was found murdered in a locked East Delhi apartment; police are investigating with CCTV and forensic checks. Security Measures (India): South Asian University in Delhi introduced frisking and bag checks, warning students that refusal could lead to suspension or expulsion. Higher Ed Governance (Australia): University of Wollongong chancellor Michael Still stepped aside amid an anti-corruption probe into contracts and conflicts of interest. Student Life/Health (UK): University Hospital Southampton is leading a £2.3m trial to compare three IV treatments for severe childhood asthma attacks. Campus Construction (UK): New data points to a sharp slowdown in university building approvals and starts, citing budget pressure and higher costs. Research & Tech (Global): Peking University unveiled EvoPhys-World, a self-evolving 5D world model aimed at making AI simulations more interactive and decision-ready.

Indigenous Campus Building: Penn State’s Indigenous Peoples’ Students Association is reviving Indigenous presence through projects like the Indigenous Student Garden, tied to a historically significant squash seed. Higher-Ed Leadership Shakeups: Mary Baldwin University named Gary Daynes interim president and chief transformation officer starting July 1 after a year of cuts and rapid turnover. Campus Safety, Violence: A man in his 50s was seriously injured in a crossbow attack at the University of Surrey’s Manor Park Student Village; a 21-year-old former student was arrested on attempted murder suspicions. Student-Athlete Abuse Settlement: Ohio State agreed to a roughly $100M settlement with hundreds of former athletes alleging abuse by former team doctor Richard Strauss. Protest and Rights Under Pressure: EH Bildu plans to question Spain’s interior minister in the Senate over 28 arrests tied to disturbances near the University of Navarra. Campus Life Beyond Class: Summer slows student crowds, but campus vendors like a Gainesville coffee pop-up are adapting with new offerings and training. Global Education Expansion: The University of Liverpool received approval to open a Bengaluru campus, signaling deeper India-UK academic ties.

Major OSU settlement: Ohio State University has ratified a $100 million deal with 279 of 280 former students accusing campus doctor Richard Strauss of sexual abuse decades ago, following years of litigation and a 2019 report. Campus safety & facilities: Kennewick, Wash., officials are floating a possible City Hall campus plan that could shrink the Museum at Keewaydin, while Youngstown State University reported a section of bricks falling from a building used by the school. Higher-ed policy & access: Penn professor Amol Navathe was named chair of the U.S. Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, and the UK is moving to tighten asylum rules for students on visas, with penalties for universities that miss targets. AI and learning: Vignan University launched Andhra Pradesh’s first Google AI Lab, and UChicago is offering students free enterprise access to Anthropic’s Claude with new AI governance committees. Budget pressure: Portland State University faculty rallied against potential layoffs tied to a $35 million deficit. Research funding: WCM-Q professor Hilal Lashuel won a $9m Parkinson’s grant to target toxic protein aggregates.

K-12 Funding Fight: Louisiana’s Lafayette Parish says it won’t cut teaching jobs after Gov. Jeff Landry’s plan to redirect $168M toward teacher stipends, arguing the district’s $9M reduction won’t hit classroom staff. New Medical Training: University of the Pacific will launch a new M.D.-granting school of medicine in Stockton to address Central Valley doctor shortages, aiming for first students by the end of the decade. Campus Free Speech & Labor: UC professors urge reinstating college-entrance exams as students arrive unprepared; at St. John’s University, faculty unions are battling a federal lawsuit tied to collective bargaining. Curriculum Controversies: UNK is removing a widely used human sexuality textbook after a complaint about pornographic images; UNK also faced broader claims about hostile campus climate. Higher-Ed Leadership Moves: Tufts provost Caroline Genco is set to become UB’s first female president. Student Life & Community: KU brings back a homecoming parade after seven years; UNL hosts free Discovery Days on East Campus.

Study Abroad Partnerships: Qatar Foundation signed three new study-abroad deals with US universities—Hampton, Xavier, and Prairie View A&M—aimed at boosting student mobility and cross-cultural exchange via Education City. Course Content Controversy: University of Nebraska at Kearney will drop a human sexuality textbook after complaints about “graphic images,” and will add clearer course warnings going forward. University Value Debate (UK): A new UK survey finds confidence in university degrees is sliding as tuition, debt, and job fears rise—plus growing anxiety about AI’s impact on careers. International Students at Risk (US): A New Hampshire university could lose up to 2,000 international graduate students if DHS doesn’t approve a new doctoral program by July 1. Campus Safety: A school bus crash hit Hamline University’s science building in St. Paul, sending three children and the driver to hospital with minor injuries. Research & Health: Oxford University secured funding to develop AI-personalized cancer vaccines, while ChristianaCare opened a new neighborhood hospital in Aston to expand 24/7 community care.

AI & Teaching: A Stanford Law School blind study found AI-generated contract answers beat law professors’ own responses 75% of the time, with professors flagging AI as potentially misleading far less often than peer-written answers. Campus Safety: A bus crashed into Hamline University’s Robbins Science Center in St. Paul, with officials responding after the incident. Research Leadership: University of Newcastle named groundwater scientist Craig Simmons as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Higher-Ed Policy: Russia is requiring all university students to complete four compulsory disciplines—statehood foundations, history, philosophy, and Russian language—regardless of major. Student Life & Learning: Cal Poly students learned to build charcuterie boards at a Campus Dining event, while Richland Community College and the Children’s Museum of Illinois are partnering on a hands-on Teaching Kitchen. Finance & Compliance: Texas Southern University appointed a permanent CFO after a state audit flagged procurement, asset management, and reporting weaknesses. Global Partnerships: Qatar Foundation signed new study-abroad partnerships with Hampton, Xavier (Louisiana), and Prairie View A&M. Campus Community: City University of Seattle named YMCA CEO Loria Yeadon as its 2026 commencement speaker.

Autism Screening: Arizona State University researchers say a simple urine test could flag signs of autism as early as age two, pointing to gut-bacteria-linked chemicals. Clean Energy on Campus: University of Cape Town signed a power purchase deal to supply up to 90% of electricity from wheeled renewables starting 2027, after rooftop solar limits. Hydrogen Breakthrough: University of Birmingham reports a perovskite catalyst that makes hydrogen at far lower temperatures, potentially cutting costs and heat needs. Ebola Vaccine Manufacturing: Serum Institute of India will produce Oxford University’s experimental Ebola vaccine doses for early clinical work, backed by CEPI funding. Curriculum Reform Integrity: Uganda’s education integrity push highlights uneven competence-based curriculum rollout, with shortages of materials and uneven progress across schools. Research Funding Fight: Ireland’s research body is facing backlash over priorities that critics say sideline arts and humanities. Governance Probe: Australia’s ICAC will investigate University of Wollongong executives over recruitment and consultancy-related allegations. Student Value Debate (UK): A new UK survey finds public confidence in degrees is falling amid debt and job fears. Off Campus Culture: Prime Video’s “Off Campus” keeps the ice-hockey romance wave going with a renewed Season 2.

Campus Safety & Accountability: Families suing Washington State University over the University of Idaho murders won’t get their day in court until a Sept. 13, 2027 trial, after a judge set the schedule in a negligence and wrongful-death case tied to alleged complaints about Bryan Kohberger. Student Life & Housing: Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Division says 55 new hostel projects will add beds for 16,000 students across state universities, rolling out in three phases. Higher-Ed Policy & Costs: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents is set to consider a 2% resident tuition increase for 2026-27, plus higher segregated fees, as campuses manage rising costs. Workforce & Funding Pressure: Algoma University in Ontario is cutting 86 support staff roles, with a teachers’ union blaming chronic underfunding. Teaching, Learning & Tech: Stony Brook University is partnering with RevBits to bring cybersecurity tools into its Ethos Lab curriculum, while California Baptist University highlights how AI is now woven into classes for both undergrads and grads. Campus Culture & Community: Algoma University is inviting the public to a June 4 book launch on its 60-year history, and the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is running “Just for Fun” cooking classes starting June 6. Research & Health: Ohio University professor Kevin Lee is studying how nicotine alternatives may harm heart health, as usage grows among teens and college students.

Prison Literacy Push: Bestselling author Lee Child is taking his “Prison Reading Laureate” role into UK jails, aiming to cut reoffending by boosting literacy for inmates. Meal Benefits Shift: Houston ISD says free breakfast and lunch will no longer be automatic at seven campuses, requiring families to apply for meal eligibility. Curriculum Sovereignty Debate: Solomon Islands National University’s vice chancellor warns that curriculum reviews shouldn’t be outsourced to foreign consultants, calling curriculum “nation-building.” Admissions Warning: University of Abuja tells 2026/27 applicants to ignore unauthorised online info, saying the admissions process hasn’t started. Prison Education Expansion: Iraq plans university education centers inside Abu Ghraib, partnering with al-Ayen University and offering in-person and online options. Faculty Shortage Alarm (India): Tamil Nadu universities report massive faculty vacancies, with some campuses lacking senior leadership and vice-chancellors. Campus Safety Incident: A fire broke out at India’s School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) campus in Delhi; no casualties reported. Tech + Skills: Vignan University launches a Google AI Lab to train students with cloud and AI tools, while Tongji University unveils a specialized chip for “rolling optimization” in autonomous devices. Governance + Rankings (Australia): New reporting highlights a governance crisis in Australian universities as more institutions slide in global rankings.

Campus Sports: University of Santo Tomas won the NSAC 2026 College Basketball Campus Tour title, beating National University 95-84 in the championship game. Admissions & Student Support: Northeastern State University opened registration for its Fall 2026 SOAR orientation, advising and registration program for incoming students. Curriculum & History: Activists and descendants of Herero and Nama genocide victims are pushing for genocide to be formally taught, saying it’s missing from education curricula. Teaching & AI: A theatre professor says he’ll fail students who use ChatGPT in writing and could fail them across a course if appeals don’t work. Health & Safety: Six people were injured after chlorine gas leaked from a closed sewage plant near the IIM Mumbai campus gate; firefighters used hazmat gear and water jets. Off Campus Pop Culture: Prime Video’s “Off Campus” keeps driving buzz, including fan reactions to a Beaches song featured in the series. Higher Ed Policy: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey highlighted teacher pay increases and paid parental leave as she argues strong teachers shape a strong state. Environment: Indiana officials warn ozone alerts may rise in spring and summer, often tied to stagnant conditions and wildfire smoke.

Campus Land & Safety: King George’s Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow says six mazars on campus were built on encroached land and declared illegal/unclaimed after an internal probe, with demolition planned. Teaching & Grading: A new push at Harvard would cap A grades at 20% of students in most courses starting in 2027, arguing grades should reflect real learning, not entitlement. Student Life & Inclusion: Gainesville’s University Club keeps “Mascuerade” drag king nights going as a monthly community staple and safe space. Housing Crunch: Sault College says on-campus residence is at capacity and asks the community to help find off-campus rooms via Places4Students. AI in Classrooms: Yakima School District is testing AI tools to support teachers’ lesson planning and alignment with state standards. Admissions Updates: Cuba’s higher-education admissions for majors and technical programs begin June 8, with multiple rounds and no entrance exams this year. Student Teaching Support: A local retirees group in Walla Walla awarded $2,000 scholarships to future student teachers at WSU and Whitworth. Health Sciences Innovation: Michigan State University opened a Pollinator Performance Center to study honeybees ahead of a beekeeping conference. Campus Tragedy: A Glasgow University student died after a bridge fall while allegedly retrieving a dropped phone.

University job cuts and union pushback: Aberdeen University’s governing court backed a £10M cuts plan that could eliminate up to 111 jobs, while unions at the University of Sussex condemned threats to cut 200 roles and vowed to fight compulsory redundancies. Teaching and training pipeline: Corning Community College and Alfred University hosted “Celebrating Educators” to connect teachers and future recruits as New York faces a projected 180,000-teacher shortfall. Admissions deadlines: India’s GGSIPU extended and then set its 2026-27 application window to close May 30 at 11:59 PM, with document uploads required. Campus life and safety: UCLA police arrested a suspect tied to multiple assaults at campus residences, and UC Riverside firefighters battled a major apartment complex fire housing students. Global education partnerships: Cairo University’s Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine is partnering with Shanghai Jiao Tong to expand medical research and training, while Stadio’s School of Education is building international teaching-practice exchanges. Student opportunities: Oakland University launched BIO Camp for grades 4-8, and Mumbai University’s second merit list for 2026 is due May 30 with verification starting June 1.

Degree Acceleration Watch: Oklahoma’s State Regents approved rules that let colleges propose bachelor’s degrees down to 90 credit hours, with case-by-case review and demands for workforce rationale and proof of student/employer demand. Campus Safety & Tragedy: Crews battled a major fire at University of California, Riverside student housing, while in Gainesville a UF nursing student was killed in a shooting. Teaching & Learning: Bryant’s Spring Teaching Summit put faculty innovation and “what students take away” at the center, as NUS explores generative AI for course support via ScholAIstic. Curriculum & Workforce Pipelines: Idaho State launched Idaho’s first public three-year bachelor’s pathways, and Rhode Island’s Mt. Hope High School is expanding CTE with new construction management and EMT options. Higher Ed Governance: University of Maine System extended an Augusta president’s contract after a no-confidence vote, and Emory appointed Angela Dash to its ombuds office. Tech in Education: Armenia plans to roll out ChatGPT Edu across schools and universities starting 2026-27. Community & Research: Brock University researchers use participatory theatre to confront discrimination in health care.