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 Education

  • Federal student loan debt canceled for 110,000 public service workers according to US Dept. of Ed
  • FAFSA completion down about 9% from previous year according to study

Federal Legislation

  • College use of personality traits in admissions bill, “HARVARD Act” (HR 7607), introduced
  • College student loan re-payment freeze stoppage and student loan forgiveness prohibition bills, “Stop Reckless Student Loan Actions Act” (HR 7656/S 4094), introduced
  • Mental health and substance use disorder support legislation (HR 7666) introduced

State and Local Government

California

  • California colleges financial reduction due to private scholarships prohibition bill, the “California Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act of 2021,” passes the state assembly and now before the state senate
  • California free college pilot program working group bill passes the state assembly and now before the state senate
  • California college sorority and fraternity recognition policy setting bill, “Campus-Affiliated Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act,” passes the state assembly and now before the state senate
  • California youth football chronic traumatic encephalopathy bill passes the state assembly and now before the state senate
  • California college student housing on campus information bill introduced

Connecticut

  • Connecticut NIL college marks and logos usage permitting bill signed into law

Colorado

  • Colorado college transcript and diploma withholding bill signed into law

Georgia

  • Georgia campus free speech zone prohibition bill, “Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act,” signed into law

Maine

  • Maine campus sexual misconduct commission, campus survey, and survivor care bill signed into law

Minnesota

  • Minnesota higher education funding bill passes the state house and awaits further action in a state senate committee

New Jersey

  • New Jersey college tuition-generated funds going to athletic programs prohibition bill introduced

Tennessee

  • Tennessee college NIL compensation bills signed into law

Vermont

  • Vermont telehealth licensure and registration system establishing bill signed into law

Funding

  • New York STD prevention funding available

Civil Rights

  • UNC college system leadership accused of political interference in the university system reports the American Association of University Professors

Health & Wellbeing

  • College student athlete mental health resources becoming priority according to USA Today
  • Female college student athletes’ mental health struggles focus of article in The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • Colleges offering more student mental health accommodations according to Inside Higher Ed
  • Students’ mental health continues moving in ‘wrong direction’ due to pandemic according to Forbes

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.

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.