Questions about the future of federal TRIO programs—academic and support services for low-income, first-generation, and disabled students—come up more than almost any other topic on the podcast. We're joined this week by Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, for a conversation about where TRIO stands and what may be ahead. We begin with some speculation on whether or not we're heading toward a partial government shutdown, and the latest on the Department of Education's moves on accreditation.
Here are some of the links and references from this week's show:
Contact Congress to Urge a Broader Professional Degree Definition
2026 Winter Term Pulse Point Survey (PDF)
House Passes FY 2026 Spending Package Preserving Education and Research Funding as Senate Showdown Looms
ACE | Jan. 26, 2026
ACE, Higher Ed Groups Urge Congress to Safeguard FY 2026 Education Funding
ACE | Oct. 1, 2025
Letter to Congress on MSI Funding
ACE | Oct. 3, 2025
Education Dept. Drops Appeal of Court Order Blocking Anti-DEI Guidance
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 22, 2026
Higher Ed Groups Back Harvard in Appeal Challenging Trump Proclamation on International Students
ACE | Jan. 21, 2026
U.S. Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking to Reform and Strengthen America's Higher Education Accreditation System
Department of Education | Jan. 26, 2026
ED Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules
Inside Higher Ed | Jan. 27, 2026
Comments on the Education Department's Proposed Revisions to the Accreditation Handbook
ACE | Jan. 26, 2026
NACIQI Members Stalemate on Picking New Chair
Republic Report (December 2025)
Council for Opportunity in Education and TRIO Programs
Federal Court Orders Reconsideration of Canceled TRIO Grants
Inside Higher Ed | Jan . 20, 2026
Trump's DEI Crackdown Closes 120 TRIO Programs
Inside Higher Ed | Oct. 27, 2025
Trump Administration Delays $660M for College Access Programs
Inside Higher Ed | Sept. 12 2025
