Cornell University’s new Cornell Unplugged initiative is asking students, faculty, and staff to deliberately reduce technology use and increase face-to-face interaction. The effort focuses on concerns that excessive screen use can contribute to distraction, social isolation, and weaker engagement in the classroom, while also encouraging participants to rethink when technology is actually helpful. Cornell is not promoting a technology-free campus; instead, the goal is to devel

Wellesley College will begin covering tuition for students from families earning under $200,000 a year starting in fall 2027, using grants through its new Tuition Promise program. The policy is designed to expand access for low- and middle-income families and follows a broader trend of colleges raising income thresholds for tuition-free programs. However, eligible students may still face up to about $26,000 in housing, food and student activity costs, meaning “free tuition” d

Online education has retained much of the growth it gained during the pandemic, with nearly 54 percent of college students taking at least some distance-education courses in fall 2024, compared with 36 percent in 2019. Federal data and institutional surveys suggest online learning is no longer a temporary response but a strategic part of higher education, especially as colleges compete for adult learners and students seeking flexibility. Public and for-profit institutions sho

Colleges and universities are rapidly adopting AI tools, even though independent research showing that they improve learning outcomes remains extremely limited. Researchers warn that traditional studies cannot keep pace with how quickly AI systems change, making many claims about educational “best practices” premature. Early evidence suggests AI may support learning when it is intentionally designed into instruction, but unguided use can encourage cognitive offloading and wea

Technology can make education more exciting. Virtual reality can place students inside a cell, beside a molecule, or inside a simulated laboratory. Artificial intelligence can answer questions instantly. Interactive platforms can reward participation, track clicks, and keep students engaged. But there is an important question that educators cannot afford to ignore: Did the student actually learn? A new report from the American Psychological Association argues that engagement

Maine’s public universities will begin awarding college credit for career-readiness microcredentials students earn while still in high school. Students can receive up to eight credits by demonstrating skills including financial literacy, digital literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership development. The initiative particularly targets students who may not traditionally see college as an option, allowing skills they have already mastered to become tangible progress toward high

A new study found that generative AI often gives undergraduate essays higher grades than human markers, raising concerns about using AI to evaluate student performance. Researchers tested 50 bioscience essays and found significant differences between human and AI grading, including one case where the scores differed by 40 points. AI tended to inflate grades for weaker essays while sometimes lowering scores for stronger work, making it unreliable as a substitute for human judg

MIT is confronting a growing problem: AI can now produce credible work across essays, mathematics, coding and other assignments, making traditional assessments increasingly difficult to trust. Rather than simply policing students with unreliable AI detectors, an MIT committee is urging the university to reconsider grading itself, including competency-based approaches that emphasize demonstrated mastery. The report also warns that AI may be weakening the social side of college

The University of Florida is embedding artificial intelligence across all 16 of its colleges through its AI Across the Curriculum initiative. Students encounter AI fundamentals, ethics, and discipline-specific applications ranging from business analytics and dentistry to nursing simulations and agriculture. UF reports more than 300 AI-focused faculty and about 14,000 students enrolling in AI courses each year, while institutions such as Howard University and Ohio State have e

International applications to U.S. colleges using the Common App dropped 10 percent, or roughly 16,000 students, during the 2025–26 application cycle. Applications from Asia declined 11 percent and those from Africa fell 17 percent, marking a sharp reversal after nearly a decade of international growth. At the same time, overall Common App applicants increased 2 percent, with particularly strong growth among Black, lower-income, small-town and rural applicants. The numbers su

RNL City has been updated. Come test your knowledge in the RNL ACE Challenge.. https://horizon.meta.com/worlds/876659795540891/?instance_id=38211439708502300&snapshot_id=1356661376623127&utm_source=horizon_cross_screen-homepage&locale=en_US Celebrate the Resource. www.RuffinNeuroLab.com #RuffinNeuroLab #neuroscience #physiology #rnlcity #biology

Brain-computer interfaces could restore movement, communication, and control of assistive technologies, but the article warns that the same systems may later be used for productivity and cognitive enhancement. If access depends on wealth, geography, insurance, infrastructure, language, or neural-data availability, BCIs could divide people by physical and cognitive capability rather than internet connectivity alone. Even non-invasive devices may remain expensive, place their s

Navigating a transfer between doctoral programs requires articulating a clear, professional reason for the move while leaning on supportive faculty advocates. Applicants should frame their statements around traditional research interests and institutional fit rather than focusing solely on the transfer itself. It is also essential to leverage prior experience while remaining flexible to new academic trajectories and timeline realities. Finally, students must maintain professi

The Department of Justice recently declared three major National Science Foundation-administered STEM diversity programs unconstitutional under the equal-protection guarantee. The targeted initiatives—which collectively received about $104 million in federal funding—include programs focused on Hispanic-serving institutions, graduate education for minority professors, and broader participation alliances. This legal assessment concludes that allocating federal grants and prefer