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.”


In this issue:

Government Updates

Appropriations

  • Federal budget funding extended through December 20

Education

  • Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Alexander wants Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization to address Title IV student aid funding 90/10 loophole, POLITICO reports
  • Title IX sexual harassment final Rule expected to include cross-examination of those alleging sexual harassment
  • The U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office has shifted practices since President Trump took office in 2016, POLITICO reports
  • Campus free speech rulemaking on U.S. Department of Education’s regulatory agenda, POLITICO reports
  • Student loan regulations for disabled veterans issued by U.S. Department of Education
  • College Scorecard update with additional datapoints released by U.S. Department of Education

Federal Legislation

  • University mental health policy examination and compliance bill (HR 5204) introduced
  • College expectant parent and parenting students notification requirements bill (HR 5222) introduced
  • University sustainability bill (S 2928) introduced

Other Federal News

  • Student-athlete compensation, unionization proposals remain on radar of legislators

State & Local Government

  • Campus carry legislation study examines factors influencing likelihood of legislative introduction

Florida

  • Florida college athletes royalties bill pre-filed for 2020 session

Georgia

  • Georgia college athletes royalties bill pre-filed for 2020 session

Nebraska

  • Nebraska sexual assault bills introduced for next year

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire bill requiring external defibrillators in health clubs passes favorably out of committee

New Jersey

  • New Jersey college athlete pay bill clears Senate panel, POLITICO reports
  • New Jersey college athlete royalties bills introduced

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania college athlete royalties bill introduced

Virginia

  • Virginia establishing state Title IX reporting and investigation procedure creating bill pre-filed for 2020 session
  • Virginia student journalists protections bill pre-filed for 2020 session

Wisconsin

  • Wisconsin state legislators speak about campus free speech bill during university forum
  • Wisconsin college free expression bill has amendment offered

Funding News

  • Federal funding opportunity: College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) grants

Education and Schools News

  • Students receiving mental health treatment at public universities up by 35%
  • Campus food insecurity in California tackled by Los Angeles-based Everytable
  • Nonprofit college enrollment holds steady, analysis suggests

Civil Rights News

  • Campus protests cause conservative to cancel speech, raise free speech issues at Binghamton University
  • Anti-Semitism complaint at UNC resolved with revision of anti-bias policies and training, POLITICO reports
  • Campus gun ban at University of Missouri upheld as constitutional
  • Gender hiring practices at Georgetown University being investigated by U.S. Department of Education in response to complaint
  • Nonbinary student enrollment allowed but still varied at women’s colleges like Hollins University
  • Students increasingly disclose their disabilities to medical schools, survey shows

Sports News

  • Student-athletes still reluctant to report concussions, study reports
  • Artificial turf disposal proving difficult

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.
Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at | NIRSA Profile

Erin O'Sullivan is currently the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships at NIRSA.