Open Campus

We're an independent nonprofit covering higher education as a local story — embedding reporters in communities across America.

Right now

BRIEFINGS Workforce Pell

Practical intelligence for local leaders on the biggest change to financial aid in years.

Sign Up
DATA Certificate Earnings Explorer

See what people earned four years after getting a certificate at 5,600 different programs around the nation.

Explore the data

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting Independent coverage of higher ed across America
  • Community College Project Our new accountability reporting initiative focused on community colleges
  • Partner Newsrooms 20+ local newsrooms we collaborate with to strengthen coverage
  • Newsletters The Dispatch · College Inside · Mile Markers

For Partners and Readers

  • Become a Partner Newsroom Work with us to strengthen local higher ed coverage
  • News About Open Campus Updates on our newsroom, projects, hiring, and partnerships
  • Republish Our Work Guidelines for sharing Open Campus stories with your audience

About

  • About Open Campus Our mission, our model, our approach
  • Funding Our supporters
  • Editorial Independence How we keep coverage decisions separate from revenue
  • Team · Jobs · Contact
Donate
Skip to content
Open Campus

Open Campus

Higher ed is a local story

Donate

Lisa Kurian Philip

WBEZ

Higher education reporter for WBEZ Chicago in partnership with Open Campus.

Contact:
  • twitter
Posted inChicago

Helping hand or scam? A different approach to paying back student loans is under scrutiny.

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZJune 20, 2025June 20, 2025

These loans, called income share agreements, could become more popular as President Donald Trump’s administration claws back federal loans and grants.

Posted inChicago

Chicagoans with student debt stressed as Trump, GOP cut back relief

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZMay 21, 2025May 21, 2025

Biden canceled more student debt than any other president. Trump is taking things in the opposite direction.

Posted inChicago

‘It’s just devastating,’ Chicago State president says of federal cuts

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZMay 15, 2025May 16, 2025

While schools like Harvard, Columbia and Northwestern have gotten most of the attention, regional public universities are losing grants too.

Posted inChicago

DePaul president faces off against GOP members of Congress

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZMay 7, 2025May 8, 2025

Conservative lawmakers who questioned DePaul President Robert Manuel were accused of using antisemitism claims to chill free speech.

Posted inChicago

UIC student has legal status restored, but only after leaving US

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 30, 2025May 1, 2025

The student is now home in India and not likely to return to America because he fears the chaos and uncertainty of the Trump administration.

Posted inChicago

The Trump administration is pressuring Illinois universities to end a diversity fellowship

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 24, 2025April 29, 2025

The Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois fellowship is meant to make Illinois professors look more like the state’s student body. It’s funded by the state and part of Illinois law.

Posted inChicago

Visa terminations causing panic for Illinois students and educators

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 18, 2025April 18, 2025

“The bar keeps moving, as far as who’s at risk,” says one staffer at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Posted inChicago

Northwestern students and faculty protest Trump’s campaign against higher education

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 17, 2025April 18, 2025

As part of a national day of action, students rallied on campus to demand that Northwestern leaders defend the campus against President Donald Trump’s attacks.

Posted inChicago

Trump administration freezes $790 million for Northwestern University

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 9, 2025April 10, 2025

The pause comes amid a civil rights investigation at the university. A spokesman said Northwestern has not gotten official notice from the government.

Posted inChicago

UIC considers cuts to languages as Trump destabilizes federal funding

By Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZApril 9, 2025April 9, 2025

The University of Illinois Chicago wants to consolidate its School of Literatures, Cultural Studies and Languages to help close a $20M budget gap.

Posts pagination

Newer posts 1 2 3 4 5 … 10 Older posts

A cooperative model for in-depth reporting

Open Campus partners with local newsrooms to deliver expert coverage of higher ed for communities.


Sign up to get our weekly newsletter


Latest local highlights

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington
Fort Worth

UTA polling site’s absence raises voting access concerns in central Arlington

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program
New York City

Scholarship delays hit recently expanded CUNY community college program

Most N.C. community college student IDs are not approved for voting in midterms
Community Colleges

Most N.C. community college student IDs are not approved for voting in midterms

Open Campus

Empowering communities with independent information about higher ed.

Get The Dispatch →

Journalism

  • Recent Reporting
  • Local Network
  • Newsletters
  • News About Open Campus

Work With Us

  • Become a Partner Newsroom
  • Community College Project
  • Republish Our Work

Organization

  • About
  • Team
  • Funding
  • Editorial Independence
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2026 Open Campus Media. A nonprofit newsroom.

  • Privacy
  • Have a tip?