NIRSA’s Government Affairs Committee stays up-to-date on the latest federal and state policy and legislative news through a variety of scanning tools. One particular resource they use is the bi-weekly Policy Pages provided by Active Policy Solutions. (For more on this partnership, along with other SAHEC associations, have with Active Policy Solutions, see below.)

The policy issues included in the Policy Pages document are highlights of a point in time. They are by no means exhaustive and change continually – so matters discussed in the last issue normally will not carry over to the next unless there is some updated action to be discussed.

The Committee encourages NIRSA members to keep themselves informed on federal and state policy issues affecting their work as professionals on campuses. These issues could be specific to higher education, physical activity, or NIRSA’s strategic value areas. If you have an issue that is of concern to your campus, reach out the Government Affairs Committee.

Policy Page documents will be stored, as a resource for NIRSA members, in the NIRSA Connect Community library. You can find them within the “Member Benefits” folder in a subfolder titled “Federal and State Policy Pages.”


In this issue:

Government Updates

Appropriations

  • FY2020 spending bill further delay expected by Senate Chairman according to reports

Education

  • Sen. Alexander again blocks two-year extension authorizing federal funding for minority serving institutions, such as HBCUs, POLITICO reports
  • In what is seen as potentially advancing Chairman Alexander’s efforts to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (Act), Chairman Alexander and Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) introduced a standalone FAFSA simplification bill (S 2667), POLITICO reports
  • House committee marks up Democratic proposal to reauthorize Higher Education Act (HEA)
  • Programs that help students with intellectual disabilities conquer college lose federal funding next year

Federal Legislation

  • Working Students Act (S 2655) introduced to protect financial aid for working students
  • FAFSA Simplification Act (S 2667) introduced
  • End All Hazing Act (S 2711) introduced
  • Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act (S 1608) scheduled for committee markup

State & Local Government

California

  • California bill to create liaisons for DACA recipients signed into law by governor

Kentucky

  • Kentucky student crisis hotline bill pre-filed for 2020 session

North Carolina

  • North Carolina bill to authorize constituent institutions to consider recipients of full athletic scholarships as residents of North Carolina passes both houses

Ohio

  • In Ohio launches program to aid college students with disabilities
  • Ohio sports betting bills advance

Oregon

  • Oregon bill commissioning police officers at community colleges dies in committee without review

Funding News

  • Federal funding opportunity: AmeriCorps VISTA call for concept papers

Education and Schools News

  • Harvard to pay $50M in taxes, POLITICO reports
  • Impact of reducing college costs on graduation rates studied

Health & Wellness News

  • Mental health should be among colleges’ most urgent priorities, Ithaca College president argues

Civil Rights News

  • Sexual misconduct complaint confidentiality requested by Syracuse University
  • Male sex assault victim’s suit claiming bias against Princeton University dismissed
  • Protecting a sexual harassment victim’s identity led to termination of college professor in Connecticut

Sports News

  • Salaries of major college football coaches’ rise 9% to $2.67M

About NIRSA’s partnership with Active Policy Solutions

As an association, NIRSA strives to monitor and track policy and legislative issues with the potential to impact our members or the campus communities they serve. These issues are wide ranging and may pertain to higher education, employment law, physical fitness, or our strategic values areas.

NIRSA has joined with a subset of SAHEC members (ACUHO-I, ACPA, ASCA, NASPA, and NIRSA) in hiring Active Policy Solutions to assist with monitoring, tracking, analyzing, and determining appropriate action on issues relevant to our associations. Through our partnership with SAHEC, NIRSA continues to monitor policy, legislation, and advocacy work that affects both the higher education and physical activity space. Active Policy Solutions provides government relations and advocacy support to NIRSA and the Association’s SAHEC partners.

  • For more information, please contact NIRSA Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships Erin O’Sullivan.
  • Want to share with your colleagues how this proposed legislation might impact your campus? Pitch us your ideas.
Headshot of Erin O'Sullivan
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at  | NIRSA Profile

Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.