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 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

Budget/Appropriations

  • Appropriations standstill

Education

  • Students and youth with disabilities may use federal funds for dual enrollment, postsecondary options declares Education Secretary
  • College students with children could benefit from more information from the federal government about federal student aid, GAO report finds
  • Large Clery Act fine levied against Michigan State University

Federal Legislation

  • Cost Assistance Made Possible for Undergraduate Students (CAMPUS) Act (HR 4308) introduced
  • Enhance Access To SNAP (EATS) Act (HR 4297) introduced
  • Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning (HR 4327) Act introduced
  • Empower Parents in College Act (HR 4253) introduced
  • Heightening Opportunities for Pathways to Education (HOPE) for FAFSA Act (HR 4245) introduced
  • ISA Student Protection Act (S 2114) introduced

State & Local Government

California

  • California bill allowing players to profit from their likeness is on the governor’s desk
  • California legislature passes law that would require colleges to provide support of pregnant students and single parents
  • California college students hindered by non-tuition expenses, study shows
  • California Attorney General adds Iowa to state travel ban, bring total to eleven states

Michigan

  • Michigan free speech bill passes state house committee

New Jersey

  • New Jersey bill under consideration would provide for stricter penalties for hazing crimes

New York

  • New York legislators introduce CAMPUS Act which seeks to provide ‘safety net’ for low-income students
  • New York college sexual consent case appeal denied by judge in test of constitutionality of New York’s “Enough is Enough” law

Texas

  • Texas universities react differently to new free speech law

Education and Schools News

  • Higher education lawsuits that could mean big changes for American colleges and universities reviewed by article
  • Colleges provide misleading information about their costs, Hechinger Report discovers
  •  Only 1 in 3 Americans satisfied with higher ed, report finds
  • Texas State University says it misreported campus crime numbers
  • Campus Safety Conferences looking for speakers for 2020
  • Mississippi college sued over free speech concerns

Health and Wellness News

  • University of Pennsylvania’s head of counseling and psychological services dies by suicide
  • Nationwide increase in teen suicide and child mortality, report shows

Civil Rights News

  • Title IX professionals warn colleges to be wary of ‘trauma-informed’ ideology, The College Fix reports

Other News

  • The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is considering abolishing ‘equivalency scholarships’ and article explores potential ramifications
  • Internal organ injury risk often ignored in youth sports, especially football, study shows

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.
  • Want to share with your colleagues how this proposed legislation might impact your campus? Pitch us your ideas.
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.