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

  • Moving the FY2020 ball to December 20

Education

  • Trump Administration discusses college athlete pay with lawmakers in wake of new California law
  • NYU campus Israeli opposition efforts lead to anti-Semitism complaints and U.S. Department of Education investigation
  • Campus crime under reporting findings of federal investigation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Federal Legislation

  • Respect Graduate Student Workers Act (HR 5104) introduced
  • Protect VETS Act (S 2857) introduced
  • Don’t Tax Higher Education Act (HR 4438) adds 2 new cosponsors
  • Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act (HR 4327) adds new cosponsor

Other Federal News

  • Flavored e-cigarette ban stalls in White House

State & Local Government

Alaska

  • University of Alaska officials vote to cut budget by $25 million

Iowa

  • Iowa private colleges would struggle to compete with free public universities (opinion article)

New Jersey

  • New Jersey bill aims at protection of free speech on college campuses

Ohio

  • Ohio lawmaker who sponsored anti-hazing bill hopes it becomes law before end of the year
  • Ohio governor calls for stricter hazing penalties

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania’s minimum wage changes discussions heating up

Washington

  • Washington state voters reject affirmative action

Education and Schools News

  • Three changes affecting college admissions that Forbes says high school students and parents need to know about
  • On-campus housing for military veterans lacking according to NACUBO report
  • Eight colleges selected for new recruiting partnership with AmeriCorps VISTA
  • Fewer international students head to U.S. for 3rd-straight year

Civil Rights News

  • University of Illinois to include sexual misconduct in background checks
  • Expert in fraternity hazing deaths says coddling parents are part of the problem
  • University removes ‘women only’ from workout event following Title IX warning, The College Fix reports
  • Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) launches student newspaper advocacy effort

Sports News

  • S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee moves to decertify USA Badminton for SafeSport failures
  • Youth athletes receive opioids as treatment in 1 of 4 cases at the ER, CDC report says

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.