In today's issue, we examine a university that is making climate change a required component of its curriculum. We also look at
✨How a new university plans to use $100M
✨How students are assisting their community
✨How leaders can talk about restructuring

Public colleges and universities must make all digital content accessible to people with disabilities by April 2026, as mandated by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Compliance involves updating thousands of webpages, training faculty and ensuring third-party platforms meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. However, a survey by Anthology shows that fewer than 25% of faculty consider accessibility when designing course materials, and 40% of institutions have only one or two staff members dedicated to technology accessibility.

The University of California, San Diego, has implemented a new graduation requirement mandating that all undergraduates take a course focused on climate change, making it one of the first major public universities to do so. The policy, introduced for first-year students in the previous fall, reflects UCSD's belief that understanding climate change is essential for workforce readiness across all fields. To meet the requirement, students can choose from over 50 approved courses across at least 23 disciplines.

As pressure mounts on leaders from all sides, getting the right amount of sleep should be a board-level priority, writes Julian Hayes II, founder of Executive Health, who notes that every major decision, strategic pivot and emotionally charged interaction draws from a finite biological reserve, which is replenished by quality rest. "A rested mind doesn't just respond faster; it also, more importantly, perceives more clearly as it identifies patterns, anticipates challenges and synthesizes strategies from complexity," Hayes notes.

The University of Austin has announced a $100 million donation from Jeff Yass, which is part of a $300 million campaign to eliminate tuition. President Carlos Carvalho says the fund will serve as a bridge until alumni donations are sufficient to sustain tuition-free status. The university, which is not yet accredited, plans to remain independent of government funding.

The Federal Aviation Administration has partnered with several colleges and universities to address a shortage of air traffic controllers, starting FAA-approved training programs to teach the agency's full curriculum. This initiative comes as a government shutdown threatens funding for the FAA's official academy in Oklahoma City. However, the colleges face challenges such as limited infrastructure and no financial support from the FAA.

Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., will close after the 2025-26 academic year due to financial difficulties, including persistent deficits, declining enrollment and shifts in charitable giving. The private liberal arts institution considered program cuts and partnerships but found no sustainable solution, according to Acting President Jeanine Mozie. The college has teach-out agreements with regional universities and plans to sell its property to repay debt.

A group of students at the University of Southern California have transformed their off-campus homes into foster spaces for dogs and cats to help alleviate overcrowding at Los Angeles shelters. The initiative began when students Andie Morelli and Daniela Soto visited a shelter and saw the need firsthand. They began fostering dogs and cats and set up an Instagram account with the handle The USC Foster Girls, encouraging other students who are able to foster to do so.