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.”

In this issue:

Government Updates

Federal Education

• Campus reopening plans outlined by college presidents at Senate hearing, Roll Call reports
• Senators urge U.S. Department of Education to rescind Title IX rule and focus on student safety

Federal Legislation

• Paycheck Protection Program Timeframe, Modification, and Extension (PPP TIME) Act (S 3859) introduced
• Extending and clarifying relief to Federal student loan borrowers (HR 7114) introduced
• Employer college tuition tax benefit increase bill (S 3916) introduced
• Providing additional COVID-19 relief to Minor League Baseball teams and other small businesses bill (HR 7023) adds 3 new cosponsors
• NCAA antitrust exemption not to be included in federal athlete pay bill
• John Cornyn (R-TX) working to advance a tax break for SBA’s forgivable loan program

Other Federal

• Senator Cornyn presses DOJ to release results of investigation into Larry Nassar probe
• SBA to issue new forgiveness guidelines for PPP loan recipients after Congress relaxes rules

Education News

• Colleges reopening updates
• College nonexempt staff pay rose 2.4% last year, but crisis threatens jobs, Education Dive report
• University of Alaska cuts or reduces more than 40 programs
• Community college systems to review police training
• University senate passes resolution to improve training of future law enforcement officers

Civil Rights & Youth Protection

• Title IX final rule guide released by College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR)
• Title IX Rule complaints filed against Administration by states
• Quinnipiac Title IX class action lawsuit settlement updated
• Top college campus sexual assault policy barriers identified in study
• UCLA handling of sexual misconduct allegations against physicians ‘inadequate,’ report finds
• College acceptances rescinded due to students’ hateful speech
• College appeals verdict in racism dispute
• University cancels Ivanka Trump’s commencement speech
• University committee to explore name change for dorms named for slave-owning Marylanders

Sports & Recreation

• Sports return to play update
• Universities report coronavirus cases in athletics programs as they return to play
• Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) considers 7 vs 7 boy’s field hockey
• Big Ten Commissioner creates anti-hate, anti-racism coalition
• Division I college athletes return to campuses for voluntary training despite safety concerns
• NCAA Division III reduces number of required contests for championship selection
• NCAA restriction on education related benefits for college athletes violates antitrust laws, court affirms
• Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) votes to add sand volleyball, girls wrestling, adopts 6-quarter rule in football
• Concussion treatment outcomes for young children found promising by study
• Youth sports and risks of COVID-19 balance urged by American Heart Association (AHA)
• S. Soccer to consider ending ban on players kneeling during anthem
• The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announces new athlete group to ‘Empower Black Voices’
• NHL players form “Hockey Diversity Alliance” to confront racism in sport

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.