Federal and state policy and legislative updates

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.”

Full SAHEC Policy Pages

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Government News

Latest from DC
Small businesses who borrowed $50,000 or less through Payroll Protection Program (PPP) getting full forgiveness
President Trump’s anti-Semitism executive order linked first complaint settled by NYU
Higher education groups ask White House to withdraw executive order restricting diversity training and federal grants
Yale race determinations in admissions violate federal civil rights law according to Trump Administration lawsuit
Campus crime reporting law, the Clery Act, needing reform explored by article
Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act (S 2330) expected to be voted on in the House

State and Local Government News

California

California homeless college student financial aid leniency bill signed into law
California college food benefits bill held in committee

New Jersey

New Jersey college suicide prevention programs bill introduced
New Jersey college sexual assault victim-centered training bill introduced
New Jersey college sexual assault policies bill introduced
New Jersey college heat illness awareness, “Braeden’s Law” bill introduced

Other News

College operating statuses update
Two-thirds of colleges do not have a clear testing plan for COVID-19
College grabbling with the death of a student due to COVID-19 explored in article
College student accommodations request due to pandemic related anxiety at issue
College students in California financially impacted by pandemic
College student debt is slightly down from the previous year
Return to activities updates
S. Center for SafeSport server is hacked
Concussions from assault and sports may differ in youth
Transgender athlete participation challenges at the federal and state level and in the courts
American College Health Association (ACHA) CEO to step down

Full SAHEC Policy Pages

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.