The University of Pennsylvania has introduced a research and innovation hub for transportation challenges to bridge the gap between research and practical solutions, focusing on safety, accessibility, data-driven innovation and infrastructure resilience. "We're creating a platform where public agencies, private partners and academic leaders can work together to develop and implement smart, scalable solutions that accelerate innovation across the transportation sector," says Leslie Richards, former CEO of PennDOT and SEPTA.

AI is erasing entry-level jobs just as talent shortages loom. How higher ed can rebuild the first rung with AI-ready skills, governance, and partnerships.

The US government shutdown will result in a furlough for 95% of Education Department employees not involved in federal student aid, allowing the continuation of Pell Grants the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but response times could be delayed, and a backlog may develop. Grant-making and civil rights investigations will pause, and, if the shutdown lasts several weeks, uncertainty and challenges around funding and research collaboration could increase.

Mississippi College School of Law is the first in the Southeast to mandate AI certification for students, starting in spring 2026. Partnering with Wickard.ai, the program covers AI's role in legal research, drafting and ethics. Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland was the first school in the nation to introduce the requirement.