The Higher Ed Workplace Blog

On June 18, the Department of State (DOS) issued a cable to all U.S. diplomatic and consular posts formally expanding the screening and vetting process for applicants of F, M and J (FMJ) nonimmigrant visas. The DOS guidance resumes FMJ appointment scheduling after a previous announcement from the agency paused all student visa interviews as they prepared for the new social media screening and vetting guidance.

On June 10, Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Higher Wages for American Workers Act (S. 2013). The Higher Wages for American Workers Act would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and directing the secretary of labor to adjust the minimum wage annually based on inflation.

On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Notably, the reconciliation “megabill” includes a provision to implement President Trump’s campaign pledge on “no tax on overtime” among various legislative priorities for Republicans.

CUPA-HR General Counsel Ira Shepard covers conflicting court rulings on mass layoffs at the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights and a federal age discrimination lawsuit over Workday’s AI hiring tool. President Trump signed an order limiting criminal enforcement of agency regulations. Other cases include First Amendment rights in schools, a temporary restraining order on an international student ban, and a $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement.

On June 6, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved a settlement in House v. NCAA, which will allow higher education institutions to share revenue with student-athletes directly. The settlement creates a 10-year revenue-sharing model that will allow the athletic departments of the higher education institutions in the Power Five conferences and any other Division I institutions that opt in to distribute approximately $20.5 million in name, image, and likeness revenue during the 2025-2026 season.

On June 5, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that plaintiffs bringing employment discrimination claims under Title VII cannot be held to a higher evidentiary standard simply because they belong to a majority group. The decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services resolves a long-standing split among federal appeals courts over how such “reverse discrimination” claims should be evaluated.

On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States to begin a course of study, conduct research, or participate in an exchange visitor program at Harvard University. The proclamation invokes sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and is set to expire six months from the date of issuance unless extended.

On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation titled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” The proclamation, citing national security concerns, suspends or limits entry into the United States for certain foreign nationals from 19 countries identified as having inadequate screening and information-sharing practices. The restrictions take effect on Monday, June 9, 2025.

On June 2, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced the launch of its opinion letter program across five agencies, including the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

At the recent CUPA-HR Spring Conference in Seattle, artificial intelligence was a major topic of conversation, whether in session rooms or hallway discussions. AI has reshaped how many HR pros operate. It’s now being used as a daily tool, whether as a personal assistant for daily tasks or a strategic thought partner in decision-making. Learn how higher ed HR is using AI now.