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 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 NRISA 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

• Biden Administration’s student debt loan forgiveness plan temporarily blocked by federal appeals court according to NPR
• College students win first amendment rights federal lawsuit against California community college according to the New Guard
• College student and young adult health subject of a briefing by The White House

State and Local Government

Kentucky

• Kentucky lawmakers share plan to criminalize hazing according to local news

New Jersey

• New Jersey public university special auditor bill introduced

Education

• College student enrollment continues to decline according to new report

Activities

• College football players’ NCAA concussion lawsuit could be the first to reach jury reports ESPN

Civil Rights

• Inclusion of transgender high school and college student-athletes did not reduce participation in female sports despite predictions to the contrary reports The 74
• Penn State cancels an event due to ‘threat of escalating violence’ according to local news
• Free speech group FIRE sends letter to medical school regarding white coat ceremony oath according to Campus Reform
• Free speech within higher education topic of new survey according to FIRE
• Free speech group FIRE announces launch of new civil liberties learning platform

Health & Wellness

• College’s COVID-19 booster requirement causes concern among college students and their parents reports Inside Higher Ed
• College student abortion access assistance by college professor subject of an article by Campus Reform
• Abortion access consideration for med students applying for medical residency subject of AP News article
• College campus medical needle disposal boxes could improve safety and privacy according to Inside Higher Ed
• College student mental health wellness days effectiveness subject of article from GBH News

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.