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

 

Federal

  • College initiatives in new federal spending bill outlined in The Chronicle of Higher Education article
  • Violence Against Women Act reauthorization included in federal spending bill signed into law
  • College Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund successes discussed by White House officials
  • Sports participation by transgender students will be a focus of President Biden and Education Secretary Cardona according to Higher Ed Dive
  • College Public Service Loan Forgiveness program update provided by the US of Ed
  • Student loan payment anti-extension bill, the “Federal Student Loan Integrity Act”, to be introduced
  • Mental health college compliance bill, the “Student Mental Health Rights Act”, to be introduced
  • College textbooks affordability bill, the “Affordable College Textbook Act,” introduced in the House and Senate (HR 7040 and S 3818)
  • Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021 (HR 426), adds a new cosponsor
  • Infrastructure, technology, and education grants for HBCUs bill, the “IGNITE HBCU Excellence Act” (HR 3294), adds 2 new cosponsors
  • Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act (HR 4786) adds a new cosponsor
  • College mental health services commission bill, the “Higher Education Mental Health Act” (HR 5654) adds a new cosponsor

State and Local Government

  • A 1% tax on college students and medical patients proposed by Pittsburgh councilman.

Funding

  • Youth mental health and suicide prevention grant funding available through $35 million in awards from HHS’ SAMHSA and OMH

Other Updates

  • College student COVID-19 lawsuits against American and GW Universities allowed to proceed
  • Higher education morale issues will get worse as colleges lobby against US of Labor higher pay proposal according to Forbes article
  • Higher education’s value by the public is improving according to Inside Higher Ed
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities value is focus of new analysis featured in HigherEd Today
  • Division I college athletic conferences and schools to receive $625M in distributions from NCAA
  • Masks in schools helped prevent the spread of COVID-19 according to CDC-reviewed studies
  • College students’ mental health and discipline practices are in the spotlight after star soccer player Katie Meyer’s death by suicide
  • CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2009-2019
  • Concussions lead to higher risk of mental health issues in children and youth according to study
  • Mental health therapy dog program expanded to all students, faculty, and staff at The Ohio State
  • Title IX-focused State of the Field Survey published by ATIXA
  • Transgender collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas subject of interview in Sports Illustrated

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.

Executive Assistant at  | NIRSA Profile

Elishea Borin is currently the Senior Executive Assistant at NIRSA.