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The Education Department is changing its tune on the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in education. In February 2025, the Trump administration dismantled DEI-related programs, initiatives, and roles at the federal level, the Los Angeles Times reports . The same month, the Department of Education sent a letter to schools, discouraging them from considering race in college admissions, hiring processes, scholarship programs, and “ all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life.” The letter claimed that upholding DEI efforts resulted in discrimination against white and Asian American students. According to The Hill, K-12 schools were also notified that upholding DEI would result in a loss of federal funding, and were asked to sign a certification to show they would be compliant with the order. Inside Higher Ed reports that, soon after, groups of education unions, a national association, and a public school district challenged the Trump administration’s actions in...
Coco Gauff has doubled down on her commitment to HBCU students. Gauff comes from a family of HBCU graduates, Tennis reports, but didn’t have a chance to follow suit, choosing her tennis career instead. She has secured numerous titles, including 2025 French Open champion, 2023 U.S. Open champion, and is the highest-paid women’s athlete for the third year in a row, according to Sportico. Yet, she told Tennis that if she weren’t playing the sport, an HBCU would be in her playbook. “If I didn’t play tennis, I would have loved to attend an HBCU,” she told the outlet. “I have family members on both sides, both my grandmothers went to HBCUs, uncle and aunt went to HBCUs, and growing up, just attending, going to HBCU Classic games and things like that.” Coco Gauff Scholarship Program Gauff donated $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in 2025 to provide scholarships to HBCU students playing competitive tennis. This led to the launch of the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program, which...
Google has been hiring “tons” of workers without college degrees, according to its co-founder. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is a Stanford University graduate who studied computer science, according to Fortune. Various students have also flocked to pursue their college studies in that field, as they’ve been told it will provide a good salary. However, those promises have looked more bleak of late. Forbes notes that 170,000 undergraduates majored in the field in 2024, which was double that of a decade before, and that those students are now facing some of the highest unemployment rates (6.1%). The outlet also points out that there aren’t many six-figure starting salaries in big tech anymore. And though AI has raised concerns for many graduates, Brin suggests, per Fortune, that it doesn’t mean people should steer clear of pursuing their studies. “I wouldn’t go off and switch to comparative literature because you think the AI is good at coding,” he said, according to Fortune. “The AI...
Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore has turned down the NFL draft to remain in college. Fortune reports he has decided to remain another year at the University of Oregon. He was projected to be the No. 2 draft pick. In 2025, No. 2 pick Travis Hunter secured a $46.7 million deal to play four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fortune reports that this year’s earnings are projected to increase. Why He Turned Down The Pros “This year, I’ve had many great throws, many great plays, but at the end of the day I feel I can still learn so much more,” Moore said in an interview with ESPN on Wednesday. “As a kid, since I was 4 years old, I’ve dreamed about being in the NFL — but this team, we’ve been through a lot, a lot of people are returning, so we’ve got some exciting things to come this year. I’m excited to keep pushing my team.” Moore’s decision prevents him from earning an NFL salary. However, Moore is still doing well for himself as a result of name, image, and likeness deals,...
There may soon be a shift in higher education. According to The Washington Times, the Department of Education will no longer fund college degree programs that cannot demonstrate their alumni earn more than high school graduates. This was decided by public- and private-sector policy stakeholders who voted on a decision that could impact higher education, including trade school certificates and graduate degrees. The rule ending support for “consistently failing programs” will take effect in July 2026 and will also impact eligibility for federal loans as well as Pell Grants, which have been helpful for low-income students. “After more than 15 years of regulatory uncertainty under the previous three administrations, we’ve developed an accountability framework that institutions can work with, students will benefit from, and taxpayers can rightfully expect to improve outcomes,” Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a statement, according to the outlet. The Department of...
Howard University has introduced an AI course to prepare its students for leading-edge engineering roles, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. The Historically Black College and University (HBCU) is rolling out an Intro to Artificial Intelligence course in spring 2026, in partnership with CodePath and with the financial support of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). Howard faculty and CodePath’s faculty network will work together on course instruction in areas including data structures, AI literacy, and agentic workflows, per the press release. “Our work is rooted in the idea that HBCUs are not only equipping students for coursework but also building skills vital to succeeding and leading in the workplace,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO, in the press release. “Through programs like this and professional development such as what our Innovation & Partnership arm provides, our HBCUs are elevating excellence and creating pathways to opportunity...
The University of Cincinnati has established a grant to ensure more students have access to quality education. Bearcat Affordability Grant According to a news release, the school has introduced a new pathway for students to obtain a tuition-free education. This will be made possible through the Bearcat Affordability Grant, which will go into effect in the fall of 2026. Its purpose is to ensure Ohio students can find opportunity and contribute to building a stronger workforce, particularly in the southwestern region. Eligibility for the grant is income-based. Students from families earning less than $75,000 annually can qualify, with the grant covering the remaining tuition costs for Ohio students after Pell Grants and the Ohio College Opportunity Grant are applied. The opportunity is open to incoming first-year students, and the grant can be used across the University of Cincinnati’s three campuses, notes the press release. “This grant program will be transformational for students,...
Amazon has launched a slate of initiatives to ensure learners are equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) training. During a session at CES 2026 titled “ Next-Gen Skills: Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Tech, ” Ben Moskovich, senior manager of public policy at Amazon Web Services, shared that Amazon aims to train 4 million learners in AI and ensure that 10,000 educators are equipped with curricula by 2028. This goal is supported by $30 million in AWS promotional credits and an additional $1.5 million in cash prizes awarded to students who are victorious in the Presidential AI Challenge, a press release confirms. Presidential AI Challenge The Presidential AI Challenge is geared toward K-12 youth, educators, mentors, and community teams who are leveraging AI for real-world solutions, according to the White House. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to engage with the program and showcase their work nationally. The challenge stems from an executive order signed by President...
An AI-powered solution was launched for displaced workers and recent college graduates in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. Talent Capital Talent Capital, a regional career services initiative of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, was launched in Washington, D.C., by Mayor Muriel Bowser and partners in October 2025, according to a press release. The new program comes after over 317,000 federal employees lost their jobs in 2025, with defense, agriculture, and treasury departments taking the hardest hits, per Federal News Network. In the DMV area, 34,100 federal employees lost their jobs from January to September 2025, according to Bethesda Magazine. Furthermore, college graduates have also been challenged in the job market with fewer entry-level positions available, CNBC mentions. Youth unemployment is sometimes an “early indicator that the economy is slowing down or maybe even heading towards a recession,” according to Anders Humlum,...
Dwayne Tucker’s leadership is steering Tennessee State University (TSU) in a positive direction. Tucker is an alum of the school, having earned a bachelor’s in business management in 1980, according to a press release. He assumed the role of interim president at the university in December 2024, succeeding Ronald Johnson, who was forced to resign. WKRN News 2 reports he also previously led a network of charter schools in the metropolitan area. Tucker brings experience in human resources and profit and loss for small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, notes the press release. He has also established board of director and compensation committee strategy, governance, and compliance-related programs. “It’s my pleasure to accept appointment of interim president for our beloved Tennessee State University,” Tucker expressed in the news release. “I also want to thank our board of trustees for their confidence in me as well as the bigger big blue community in terms of their support and...
University of Houston athlete Ramon Walker Jr. is putting his name, image, likeness (NIL) earnings to good use. Walker Jr. has secured a slew of partnerships while playing for the college. According to his Instagram, they include Star Pizza, Daspit Law Firm, Gallery Furniture, The Players Trunk, and BB’s Tex-Orleans. Also listed is Actively Black, a Black-owned apparel brand launched in 2020 by Lanny Smith, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. View this post on Instagram With his earnings, he wants to invest in real estate thanks to his father’s advice, whom he views as a mentor. “My dad always told me, he says, when you have money, you have to let your money make you more money,” Walker explained per PaperCity Magazine. “Just my dad being a mentor to me on that side of things has really helped me. The NIL landscape is crazy now. It’s a huge influx of money. So I’m just trying to do the right things with it to set myself up for later in life, that’s something I’ve been concentrating...
Gary Eave has honored his former baseball coach’s wishes to “finish strong.” According to Grambling State News, Eave enrolled at Grambling State University in 1981. The opportunity was made possible through a scholarship presented to him by Coach Wilbert Ellis, who discovered him while he was attending the Baptist Youth Encampments on campus. “I kept looking at him and said, ‘that guy’s a ball player,’” Ellis said, according to the outlet. “But beyond talent, Gary had character. He came from a strong, spiritual family. Grambling was the place he needed to be.” The greatness that Ellis recognized did materialize. Eave became an All-American pitcher and secured three SWAC championships for the Historically Black College and University (HBCU). He went on to Major League Baseball in 1985, drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 12th round, according to Baseball Reference. He later represented the Seattle Mariners and the San Francisco Giants. While this was rewarding, he still felt called...
The Department of Education has announced it will be garnishing wages for individuals who are in default on their student loans, The Washington Post reports. Beginning the week of Jan. 7, nearly 1,000 borrowers will be notified if their wages will be garnished, notes the outlet. The number of borrowers notified will increase over time. Almost 5.3 million borrowers have been in default for almost a year as of June 30, and many borrowers have been in default since before the COVID-19 pandemic, per The Washington Post. An estimated 6 million student loan borrowers were late on their payments as of August 2025, according to Urban Institute. ABC News reports that if loans are in default, the government can carry out mandatory collection through wage garnishment or withholding tax refunds and federal benefits such as Social Security. “We are evaluating ways to improve the fiscal health of the nearly $1.7 trillion student loan portfolio to safeguard the interests of both students and...
Usher is teaming up with Big Sean to invest in Detroit youth. According to a news release, the pair is investing $1 million to launch an innovation incubator that will support youth looking to become content creators. The investment is poised to tap into the growing creator economy, which, according to Goldman Sachs, is projected to become a $480 billion industry by 2027. The incubator will be situated within the Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, which is set to open in February 2026, notes the press release. Both Usher and Big Sean bring their experiences as Boys & Girls Club alumni, to this investment. The incubator will offer young people ages 14–24 access to creative technology, hands-on learning, and mentorship from executives and creators, preparing them to pursue careers in film, television, and music production, as well as in AI, 3D, immersive technologies, and special effects. What’s more, it will also provide seed funding to launch paid creative...
South Carolina State University has launched new degrees to diversify the STEM sector. According to a news release, the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) will offer three engineering bachelor’s degrees in Spring 2026. The first is computer engineering, a combination of computer science and electrical design, which will prepare students to develop hardware and software systems using artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced computing. The second is electrical engineering, which will provide learning opportunities focused on “renewable energy systems, embedded technologies, and sustainable innovation.” The third listed is mechanical engineering for students interested in pursuing careers in aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and robotics industries. Launching Master’s Degree In Cybersecurity As it relates to graduate programs, the HBCU has also launched a remote online master’s degree in cybersecurity with options to laser-focus on network defense, digital...