Federal and state policy and legislative updates

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

US Department of Education confirms Title IX protects students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Title IX public hearings/listening sessions coverage
DOJ to defend Title IX LGBTQ+ discrimination suit
US Department of Education announces actions to advance equity in education
NCAA President testifies before Congress on NIL
US Department of Education finds Arizona State University out of compliance with Clery Act
US Department of Education share state COVID relief plans for education funding
Supreme Court asks DOJ to weigh in on Harvard affirmative action case
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) starts ‘Campus Free Speech Caucus’
CDC: Fully vaccinated campuses can mostly drop coronavirus safety measures
College organizations ask Congress to double Pell Grant award
College Football Playoff expansion criticized as a ‘cash grab’ that will hurt players by US Senators

Federal Legislation

Gender Equity in Education Act to be reintroduced
College students basic needs bill (HR 3857) introduced
College student expanded access to food assistance bill (HR 1919) adds 4 new cosponsors
Short-term Pell Grant program dropped from Senate-passed bill

State and Local Government News

Colorado

Colorado higher education student success bill passes the state legislature

Illinois

Illinois NIL “Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act” bill passes the state legislature and sent to the governor

Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers expand fight against Critical Race Theory to higher education

Other News

Colleges and universities increasing wages for their lowest-paid employees
College enrollment rates plunge
Virginia colleges to continue weed ban even after it becomes legal statewide
Athletics at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) see biggest challenges as lack of funding, resources
Rates of anxiety and depression among college students continue to soar according to Dartmouth University researchers
Texas’s new vaccine/vaccine passport law explored in article
College mask policy in Arizona countermanded by governor’s executive order
Transgender student athlete national commission calling for opinion piece published by The 74
More US teens identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual according to new study
New hazing penalties could hobble immature adults for life warns Ohio Public Defender’s office

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.