Latest news with #374thHarvardCommencement
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Most College Grads Don't Think Degree Will Help Them Land a Job This Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new survey has shown a majority of college graduates do not have any confidence that their college degree will help them land their next job. In a TopResume survey of 1,000 college students graduating this year, 52 percent said they don't think their degree will help land them a job in the next 12 months. Why It Matters Roughly 2 million college students graduated this year but the larger job market and economy has shown signs of cooling. The unemployment rate for new graduates is estimated at 6.6 percent in 2025, according to TopResume. Harvard graduate students applaud during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Harvard graduate students applaud during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. RICK FRIEDMAN/AFP via Getty Images What To Know While 52 percent of new graduates don't think their degree will land them a job in the next 12 months, an even higher percentage, 56 percent, said they don't feel equipped to navigate the current job market. The responses from employers after submitting a job application may play a role in this sentiment, as roughly one in three of these grads said they receive fewer than two responses when they apply to more than 20 roles. "Entry-level jobs are getting automated, and the bar to get hired is rising. People are going to need either real-world experience or more specialized education—grad school, certifications, or training in in-demand fields like defense, manufacturing, automation, or finance," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "You have to follow where the economy is headed. The job market rewards people who get hands-on experience early, whether through internships, apprenticeships, or industry-specific programs." Part of the issue could also be in when graduates are applying for jobs, as 24 percent said they wait until after graduation to begin their job search, potentially lowering their job prospects. There was some variation in how graduates said they felt depending on what sort of degree they were graduating with. Master's degree holders said they had the skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce roughly 65 percent of the time, while Bachelor's degree graduates only said this around 44 percent of the time. Roughly 59 percent of doctoral degree holders said the same. The concerns graduates have about their college degree not actually helping them access the job of their dreams are not unfounded, as a report from Burning Glass Institute last year discovered 52 percent of college graduates work in jobs that don't require a degree at all, like retail, food service or administrative support. What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "The job market is shifting fast, and a lot of graduates are nervous about what AI will mean for their future. The truth is that many people end up working in fields that aren't directly tied to their major. A degree can still open doors as it shows employers you can finish something, that you're trainable, but it doesn't always guarantee you'll land a job in your specific area of study. This is the disconnect that many are now reacting to." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "With many employers facing an uncertain financial outlook in the year ahead, jobs, especially those that are usually targeted by recent college graduates, have become more scarce, and those applying are feeling the pressure." "There are always mixed emotions about a graduate's degree choice when they enter the job market and can't immediately find placement, but it's important to note the financial environment now is vastly different than it has been in past years. It's not the time for regret for recent graduates, but rather to pivot some of their skill set to accommodate easier-to-fill openings." What Happens Next Data suggests recent college graduates could regularly wait several months to find a job post-graduation, especially if they are looking for specific roles in their field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found it takes job seekers an average of 20.6 weeks to find a job. Due to these trends, Thompson said colleges could face enrollment issues. "We'll likely see lower enrollment as more students opt for on-the-job training or take offers from companies willing to help pay off loans," Thompson said. "That's the new trade-off—four years in school versus hitting the ground running with less debt."
Newsweek
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Donald Trump Hit With Major Legal Blow in Harvard Fight
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge on Monday blocked another effort by President Donald Trump's administration to keep international students from attending Harvard University. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a preliminary injunction that extends a temporary order she issued earlier this month preventing the administration from enforcing a proclamation Trump signed on June 4 blocking foreign students from entering the United States to attend Harvard. Harvard challenged Trump's legal justification for the proclamation—a federal law allowing him to block a "class of aliens" that were thought to be detrimental to the nation's interests. But Harvard argued that targeting only those who are coming to the U.S. to study at Harvard did not qualify as a "class of aliens." Newsweek has contacted Harvard, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via emails sent outside regular business hours. Harvard banners hang in front of Widener Library during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Harvard banners hang in front of Widener Library during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29, 2025. Rick Friedman/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters Trump and his administration have tried several tactics to block Harvard's enrollment of international students as part of a campaign to seek changes at the private Ivy League university. The feud escalated after the university openly defied demands to overhaul Harvard policies around campus protests, admissions, hiring and other issues. What To Know In her order on Monday, Burroughs, who was nominated in 2014 by former President Barack Obama, wrote that "at its root, this case is about core constitutional rights that must be safeguarded: freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech, each of which is a pillar of a functioning democracy and an essential hedge against authoritarianism." She wrote: "Here, the government's misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this Administration's own views, threaten these rights. "To make matters worse, the government attempts to accomplish this, at least in part, on the backs of international students, with little thought to the consequences to them or, ultimately, to our own citizens." Harvard had sued DHS in May after the agency withdrew the school's certification to host foreign students and issue paperwork for their visas, which would have forced Harvard's roughly 7,000 foreign students to transfer or risk being in the U.S. illegally. Burroughs temporarily halted the action shortly after Harvard sued and then granted an injunction on Friday. The Trump administration has also cut more than $2.6 billion in research grants, ended federal contracts and threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status. The university filed a separate lawsuit to block the cuts in April. What People Are Saying Harvard President Alan Garber said in a statement responding to Trump's proclamation earlier in June: "Singling out our institution for its enrollment of international students and its collaboration with other educational institutions around the world is yet another illegal step taken by the Administration to retaliate against Harvard." Garber added that international students and scholars "make outstanding contributions inside and outside of our classrooms and laboratories, fulfilling our mission of excellence in countless ways. We will celebrate them, support them, and defend their interests as we continue to assert our Constitutional rights." President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday: "Many people have been asking what is going on with Harvard University and their largescale improprieties that we have been addressing, looking for a solution. We have been working closely with Harvard, and it is very possible that a Deal will be announced over the next week or so." He added: "They have acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations, and appear to be committed to doing what is right. If a Settlement is made on the basis that is currently being discussed, it will be 'mindbogglingly' HISTORIC, and very good for our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Monday that "every institution authorized to enroll international students has a legal obligation to comply with federal oversight and a moral obligation to provide basic safety for its American and foreign students of all stripes. Harvard failed on both accounts." She added that if Harvard wants to maintain its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, it "must provide DHS with all of the requested documentation, adhere to the program's requirements, and refrain from collaboration with hostile foreign actors. Should it again fail to comply, the university will no longer be permitted to enroll new foreign students." What's Next Burroughs' order allows foreign students to continue to travel to the U.S. to study at Harvard while the case is decided. Trump said on Friday his administration has been negotiating with Harvard leadership and a deal with the university could be announced in the coming days. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
US judge extends order blocking Trump administration ban on foreign students at Harvard
Harvard Law School graduates cheer during the 374th Harvard Commencement in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 29. PHOTO: AFP BOSTON - A federal judge said on May 29 she would extend an order blocking President Donald Trump's administration from immediately revoking Harvard University's ability to enrol international students, a victory for the Ivy League school that is entangled in multiple battles with the administration. US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston announced her intention to issue a preliminary injunction, six days after she first granted Harvard a temporary order blocking the Trump administration's move. As the court hearing unfolded on May 29 morning, thousands of Harvard students were receiving their degrees at the school's commencement ceremony on campus about 8 km away. University President Alan Garber, who received a standing ovation, welcomed graduating students 'from down the street, across the country and around the world', drawing applause for the last words. 'Around the world - just as it should be,' he added. The Trump administration has launched a multifront attack on the nation's oldest and wealthiest university, freezing billions of dollars in grants and other funding, proposing to end its tax-exempt status and opening an investigation into whether it discriminated against white, Asian, male or straight employees or job applicants. Revoking Harvard's ability to enrol international students would be damaging, the school says. More than a quarter of the student body is international; nearly 60 per cent of the graduate students at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School hail from other countries. The attack on Harvard is part of the administration's broader effort to pressure higher education institutions to align with its policy agenda. On May 28, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration would start 'aggressively' revoking visas issued to Chinese students attending US schools, including those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in critical fields, which he did not specify. More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of US colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for US technology companies. The decision prompted despair and frustration among students who have offers to attend in 2026. Prior to Mr Rubio's announcement, the offensive against US colleges had largely been confined to Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, which it has accused of left-wing bias and antisemitism. Ms Lynn Pasquerella, president of the advocacy group American Association of Colleges and Universities, said the Trump administration's targeting of international students would have negative consequences for schools and the US. 'Chinese students, in particular, now that they're being faced with hyper-scrutiny, are looking elsewhere,' she said. 'That is a huge loss for us. It's a brain drain.' Judge sceptical The court hearing before Judge Burroughs took place shortly after the administration softened its stance in an apparent effort to refute Harvard's legal arguments in advance. Late May 28 night, the US Department of Homeland Security sent a notice to Harvard saying it would now give the university 30 days to submit evidence contesting the administration's plan to revoke Harvard's right to enrol non-US students. The notice signalled a change in course for DHS, which had said last week that the revocation was effective immediately. In its lawsuit challenging the move, Harvard argued that DHS had violated federal administrative procedure. During the court hearing, US Department of Justice attorney Tiberius Davis argued there was now no need for a court order blocking the administration's actions, since Harvard could challenge them via an administrative process. But Judge Burroughs, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, said she believed a broad preliminary injunction protecting Harvard and students was necessary while that process played out. She expressed scepticism that Harvard's fate would be any different at its conclusion, saying, 'Aren't we still going to end up back here at the same place?' She also questioned whether the administration had fully complied with her temporary restraining order, pointing to a declaration Harvard submitted on May 28 that said visas for incoming students had been recently revoked. Judge Burroughs said the temporary order would remain in effect while lawyers for both sides negotiate over the terms of the injunction. Harvard has called DHS's action part of an 'unprecedented and retaliatory attack on academic freedom'. The school is pursuing a separate lawsuit challenging the administration's decision to terminate nearly US$3 billion (S$3.88 billion) in federal research funding. Harvard argues the Trump administration is retaliating against it for refusing to accede to its demands to control the school's governance, curriculum and the ideology of its faculty and students. In announcing the initial decision to revoke Harvard's certification, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, without providing evidence, accused the university of 'fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party'. She accused the school of refusing to comply with wide-ranging requests for information on its student visa holders, including whether they engaged in any activity that was illegal, violent or subjected them to discipline. The department's move would prevent Harvard from enrolling new international students and require existing ones to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
