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

Federal Government News

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application for loan forgiveness deadline clarified by U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Title IX sexual harassment definitions clarified by U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights
  • The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights releases the 2017-18 Civil Rights Data Collection
  • Clery Act guidelines for how colleges should record and report campus crimes to the federal government rescinded by the U.S. Department of Education
  • Clery Act violation leads to fine of Baylor University
  • Indoor recreational ice hockey game COVID-19 outbreak event topic of CDC paper
  • Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping Executive Order nullification bill (HR 8595) introduced
  • $30,000,000,000 Health Club Recovery Fund to provide structured relief to health and fitness service bill (HR 8485) adds new cosponsor
  • Diversity training order from the White House opposed by some business groups reports the Wall Street Journal
  • Race and sex stereotyping Executive Order opposed by the National Coalition of Nonprofits

State and Local Government News

  • State tuition free programs feeling state budgetary pressures, Politico reports

Michigan

  • Michigan school and college funding budget bill passed with one line item veto referred to senate Committee on Appropriations

New Jersey

  • New Jersey concussion base-testing for student-athletes bill introduced

Other News

  • Colleges across the country are facing declining enrollment, Politico reports
  • Return to Activities Updates
  • New Hampshire college rescinds transgender sports policy amid U.S. Department of Education investigation into Title IX violations
  • Disability inclusion in higher education subject of Higher Education Today blog post

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.
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.