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

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Clery Act guidelines for how colleges should record and report campus crimes to the federal government rescinded by the U.S. Department of Education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

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.