Through the year’s rapid transformation of higher education by the second Trump Administration’s increased immigration policing and changes to grants and welfare systems, The Temple News published articles ranging from breaking news to deeper investigations of the Temple campus and community.
In 2025, government policy and changes from Temple administration found their ways to the headlines.
Here are The Temple News’ top 10 News stories of 2025.
1. How admissions lost dozens of staff members within two years
By Evelyn Blower
Students at Polett Walk. | LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The admissions department saw broad internal restructuring and two dozen employee resignations during Jose Aviles’ tenure as Vice President for Enrollment Management at Temple from March 2023 until his resignation in Dec. 2025.
Former staff spoke of stress under Aviles leadership and lack of communication with employees and prospective students. While Temple admitted its highest number of first-year students and increased first- and second-year student retention, staff reported frustration with the implementation of Slate, a customer relations management system, and delayed review process for Spring 2025 admissions.
2. SNAP cuts impact food security for students, Philadelphians
By Connor Pugh
A student looks through the Cherry Pantry at the Student Center. | MARIA MAZA RION / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The July 2025 Big Beautiful Bill Act made cuts and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Sep. 1 to increase the requirements for exemption from the work requirement needed to obtain SNAP benefits.
Further restrictions to SNAP work requirement exemptions also went into effect Nov. 1, and extended the work requirement to former foster youth, veterans and the legally homeless. The new changes placed stress on Temple’s programs for food security, including the Barnett Irvine Cherry Pantry and Essential Needs Hub.
3. Trump administration to reinstate revoked student visas, including Temple students
By Kylie Sokoloff
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the reinstatement of thousands of student visas on April 25 as Immigration and Customs Enforcement developed a framework for investigating Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record terminations.
Approximately 5,000 students nationwide had their visas revoked or legal status deleted in the weeks preceding the announcement, including several Temple students. One of these Temple students made the decision to self-deport before the reinstatement occurred.
4. Student’s rights when interacting with ICE on campus
By Kylie Sokoloff
In January, the Trump administration’s new policies towards immigration enforcement led to increased policing of immigrant communities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and anxiety amongst Temple students and staff. Temple encourages the reporting of any ICE activity to the Office of University Counsel.
The Temple News compiled a guide for ICE interactions on Main Campus.
5. Temple expected to surpass historic fundraising efforts
By Nathan Horwitz
Students on Liacouras Walk on Dec. 1 | JUSTIN ALEX / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Temple increased its fundraising efforts under President John Fry’s leadership and recently appointed Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Al Checcio. As of November, Temple was on pace to surpass the fundraising revenue from the previous fiscal year, where the university received the most revenue in its history.
Mary Burke, the former vice president of institutional advancement, resigned from her role in March 2025, after Temple failed to reach its 2024 fundraising goals. Checcio was hired in January to conduct an initial review of the operations and began officially managing the office following Burke’s departure.
6. Temple Public Safety’s increased AI usage draws mixed results, reactions
By Kylie Sokoloff and Suhana Khan
Temple’s Department of Public Safety has invested in significant artificial intelligence measures, including the adoption of Zero Eyes, an AI gun-detection service, and upgraded campus security cameras with license plate recognition capabilities.
The technology raised some concerns regarding privacy and its ability to accurately determine legitimate firearms but remains a supportive tool to the department.
7. Lacking resources leads Philadelphia youth to gather on campus
By Leah Duffy, Valeria Uribe and Bradley McEntee
Students stroll down Polett Walk, a street away from the typical areas kids gather at. | AIDAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
On multiple occasions in the last few years, large groups of teenagers gathered on Main Campus through coordinated meetups on social media, highlighting local teens’ limited options when it comes to after school programs.
The Temple News spoke to local high schoolers who frequent Temple’s campus and a Philadelphia child advocacy group, investigating the lack of funds and support for accessible opportunities for students after school and why that leads to Temple being a primary spot for North Central hangouts.
8. Temple updates student conduct code to address antisemitism and other forms of bias
By Nathan Horwitz
The office of President John Fry at Sullivan Hall. | AIDAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Temple updated its Student Conduct Code to reflect recommendations made by the Anti-Defamation League in the fall semester. The new conduct policy mentions specific identity groups that are protected from discrimination and harassment. The update also prohibited students from wearing face coverings or other identity concealing garments with intent to intimidate protected groups or evade identification while violating the law or university policy.
The updated code’s particular reference to anti-Israeli bias, in addition to the new mask policy, led to concerns that the changes could dissuade criticizing the Israeli government. Earlier in the year, hundreds of international students had their visas revoked across the U.S. after participating in pro-Palestine protests.
9. Pennsylvania state passes delayed budget, keeps Temple funding flat
By Clarissa Jett
A pedestrian walking by Sullivan Hall . JUSTIN ALEX / THE TEMPLE NEWS
After a 135-day delay, Pennsylvania lawmakers approved the 2025-26 state budget, securing $158.2 million in state appropriations for Temple for the seventh year in a row. The late passage forced Temple to invoice the state for several months of missed installments, raising cash-flow concerns but ultimately preserving its annual funding level.
The prolonged budget fight stemmed from a divided legislature, with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans the Senate, and influenced by broader disagreements around state spending priorities. University officials emphasized the importance of state funding for keeping in-state tuition lower, as conversations around performance-based funding are expected to shape future budgets and the university’s financial outlook.
10. Inquirer dissolves community desk five years after Temple audit recommendation
By Evelyn Blower
In March, The Philadelphia Inquirer dissolved its communities and engagement desk and dismissed 10 newsroom staffers. The Inquirer created the desk as part of their Inq4All initiative in 2022 to correct the paper’s lapses in diverse stories and coverage. CEO Lisa Hughes stated that the desk’s dissolution was purely a cost-saving measure.
A Temple audit in 2020 examined the Inquirer’s diversity and inclusion efforts through their coverage and workforce and suggested that the paper increase its community and civic engagement. Temple’s report found that the paper covered white people in more than half of its stories and that 74% of employees were white.