The Education Department will reinstate approximately 250 civil rights staffers dismissed in March. The phased return will begin on Sept. 8, with about 25 employees returning initially and additional groups being reinstated every two weeks until early November. This reinstatement follows a federal court order mandating the return of these employees after a failed attempt by the department to have the order dismissed. Union representatives and advocates express cautious optimism about the department's commitment to the outlined schedule, noting the layoffs' impact on the office's ability to resolve cases.

The University of Missouri is advancing plans to build the $1.2 billion NextGen University of Missouri Research Reactor, which aims to generate cancer-fighting radioisotopes and revenue. The project aligns with a presidential executive order to accelerate advanced nuclear technologies and has received significant support, including a $10 million agreement with a consortium and $50 million from the Missouri General Assembly. The original Missouri University Research Reactor is the only domestic producer of four medical radioisotopes and has become a lucrative revenue source through a partnership with Novartis.

The College Presidents for Civic Preparedness program, managed by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, brings together over 100 college and university leaders nationwide to champion civic engagement and dialogue on their campuses. The initiative is designed to support presidents as they influence institutional culture, encourage democratic processes, and provide resources such as faculty training to foster open discussion of contentious issues. The program's growth reflects widespread recognition among college presidents of their responsibility to prepare students for citizenship in a democratic society.

Edward Waters University has reached a significant milestone with its Fall 2025 enrollment climbing to 1,210 students, marking its highest numbers in over 20 years. This 30% increase since Fall 2019 is due, in part, to the Jacksonville, Fla., university's addition of master's programs in 2021, retention initiatives and national recognition.

College students increasingly turn to generative AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, for emotional support, with recent reports highlighting "therapy/companionship" as the most popular use case. While most users do not develop dependency, research indicates that frequent use can lead to loneliness, reduced socialization, and, in rare cases, the formation of deep emotional attachments to AI. Counseling professionals emphasize the need to educate students about the risks of relying on AI for well-being, warning that AI-based companionship may hinder healthy social skill development.

In this commentary, Walter Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, addresses the challenge of initiative fatigue among educators. Bumphus offers strategies for preventing burnout, including involving staff in the change process, effective communication, prioritizing initiatives, providing necessary resources, being adaptable, recognizing achievements and ensuring leaders recharge.

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