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

FY21 and stimulus update

Federal Education

S. Department of Education announces joint final rule regarding equal treatment of faith-based organizations supported by social service programs
Free speech hotline created for censored college students by U.S. Department of Education

Immigration/DACA/Dreamers

DACA restored entirely, applications to be accepted immediately, article reports

Federal Legislation

College student loan forgiveness for those living in rural communities bill (HR 8835) introduced
Establishing the Federal Perkins Access, Retention Completion (ARC) loan program bill (HR 8904) introduced
Clarifying Title IX Protections for Female Athletes is based on Biological Sex bill (HR 8932) introduced
Simplifying the Procedure for Applying for Forgiveness for Certain Loans made under the Paycheck Protection Program (S 4954) introduced
A bill to terminate the U.S. Department of Education (S 4979) introduced
College athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL) bill (S 5003) introduced

Other Federal News

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will teach at Georgetown Law next spring

Funding

Campus suicide prevention grant program available through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Other News

College COVID-19 updates
Mental health concerns increase among college presidents due to pandemic, survey finds
Activities and other COVID-19 updates
Youth sports guidance issued by California Department of Health
College sports has had over 6,600 COVID-19 cases according to a new report
College mental health taskforce guidance published by American Council on Education (ACE)
88% of colleges restrict free speech, FIRE study reports
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USPOC) will not punish peaceful protesting at Olympics, article reports

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.