September 20, 2026 to September 26, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning colleges, universities, campuses, international students, student housing, research initiatives, and federal research funding opportunities. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

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📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Presidential Message on National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, 2026

The President issued a message in recognition of National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Week, noting nearly 300,000 students attend HBCUs today. The message references the signing of the FUTURE Act, expansion of scholarships, increased research funding, and disaster relief. Recent policy has reestablished the White House Initiative on HBCUs, with efforts targeted at research, innovation, campus modernization, and career preparation. Department of Education support for HBCUs totaled over $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2025, reflecting a near 50% increase. The administration's commitment centers on continued federal investment, partnerships, and workforce pipeline development in higher education.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program

Executive Order 14431, published on September 18, 2026, mandates coordinated oversight among the Departments of State, Labor, Homeland Security, Commerce, and Education regarding the H-1B visa program. The order responds to identified abuses—such as wage disparities and displacement of US workers—by requiring agencies to review labor condition applications and employer layoff practices in visa processing. Authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act is delegated to implement the measures. The order outlines investigation activities including visa fraud and offshore job transfers, and affirms existing legal compliance without creating new rights or benefits.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information

Federal Student Aid is revising the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information form, driven by amendments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) effective July 1, 2026. Changes include modified annual and aggregate loan limits for parent borrowers and elimination of graduate/professional student eligibility for new PLUS loans. The revision facilitates parent applications to originate Direct PLUS Loan awards as required following new eligibility rules. The form is open for public comment until October 26, 2026, with an expected 1,379,766 responses and 689,883 burden hours.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; eZ-Audit: Electronic Submission of Financial Statements and Compliance Audits

The Department of Education is seeking an extension for the eZ-Audit electronic submission process covering required financial statements and compliance audits for institutions receiving Title IV, HEA program funds. The submission framework expedites review of institutional audits, using a web-based process to ensure timely feedback and uniformity across public, non-profit, and proprietary schools. No new changes are proposed for the process or template, and the comment period ends October 26, 2026. Annually, 6,632 responses and 6,603 burden hours are projected.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

The National Institutes of Health announced licensing opportunities for a government-owned invention: a recombinant bivalent single-chain variable fragment (scFV) minibody targeting the cMPL receptor fused with diphtheria toxin. This technology, currently in preclinical development, may provide a safer conditioning regimen for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation and facilitate gene and cell therapy research. Patent applications were filed in the US, Europe, Israel, and China. Collaborative research inquiries can be directed to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• In 200-Page Report, Cornell Confronts the Crisis in American Higher Education: Cornell's faculty published an extensive report detailing challenges facing US higher education institutions.
• I’m a college president, and I think higher education has to do a better job of controlling costs: A college president addresses the persistent issue of rising institutional costs.
• Opinion | How colleges can adapt to a shrinking market: Opinion piece reviews strategies for colleges facing decreased enrollment.
• Opinion | Cornell’s Limited Self-Critique: Column examines gaps in Cornell's faculty's critique of higher education.
• Exclusive | The Tech Elite Is Funding an Alternative to College: Article covers venture-backed projects offering alternatives to traditional collegiate paths.
• Sponsored Content: College Still Matters. Families Just Need a Better Playbook.: Sponsored content advocates new approaches for students planning their postsecondary education.
• The latest plans that could shake up education funding: Newsletter item summarizes recent proposals targeting changes to education funding models.
• Colleges Once Saw High Tuition as a Sign of Quality. Now They’re Slashing Prices.: Report details how some colleges are lowering tuition rates in response to market pressures.

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