Higher Ed Under Pressure

We want to help your newsroom explain what’s at stake for your colleges

The Trump administration is applying unprecedented political, financial, and regulatory pressure on America’s universities and colleges. How institutions respond will reshape higher education for years to come—affecting not only economic mobility and regional prosperity, but also scientific research, academic freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge. Communities deserve independent reporting that shows the local consequences of these national changes. Open Campus is responding with the launch of Higher Ed Under Pressure.

Who We Are

Open Campus is a nonprofit news organization that has built the nation’s leading collaborative network of higher education reporters. We currently partner with 17 local newsrooms, supporting 20 dedicated higher-ed beat reporters in communities from El Paso to Indianapolis, Cleveland to Jackson, Mississippi.

We want to help you too. Think of it as making our accumulated knowledge about higher education quickly available to any newsroom covering this crisis — at no cost.

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Who Should Participate

Want to cover the chaos in higher education but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you. Our resources are designed for newsrooms — both editors and reporters — who recognize the critical stories unfolding on campuses but don’t know where to start. 

We are focusing primarily on supporting local newsrooms and their staff members. But we’re open to coaching freelance journalists who have existing relationships with local newsrooms that can publish their work.

What We Offer

Reporting Resources

  • Issue Primers: Guides on topics like NIH funding cuts, DEI regulatory changes, and immigration enforcement actions on campus — all written with local journalists in mind.
  • Source Recommendations: Contacts who can provide context beyond official university statements.
  • Data: Help interpreting how national moves might affect your local institutions.

Quick Start

Our overview of the current state of play

Questions you can be asking your asking colleges right now

Direct Support

  • Virtual Briefing Calls: Periodic rundowns of major developments and potential local angles
  • Email Updates: Regular bulletin with new resources, trends, and breaking developments.
  • Story Guidance: Quick perspective and feedback from higher-ed reporting specialists.

Peer Connection

  • Slack Channel: Connect with other journalists investigating similar issues nationwide.

Why This Matters

Strong, independent reporting cuts through both university PR and political spin. It shows which leaders stood firm, which folded, and who tried to have it both ways. When your community knows what’s really happening, they can judge whether their universities are serving their public interests or protecting themselves. 

Get Connected

This is a free service for working journalists and newsrooms.

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Questions? Need immediate help?

Higher Ed Under Pressure is a project of Open Campus, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to strengthening communities by holding higher education accountable. Open Campus partners with local newsrooms to place expert reporters in communities, ensuring colleges and universities receive sustained, independent coverage that serves the public.