Election update & 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 partnership, along with other SAHEC associations, have with Active Policy Solutions, see below.)

2024 Election Analysis

Active Policy Solutions (APS) provides an analysis of the impacts—based on what they know so far—of the 2024 Election. NIRSA members can access that analysis on NIRSA Connect.

Policy Pages

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

• College policy implications with President Trump winning election subject of Insider Higher Ed article
• College campuses antisemitism report released by House Committee on Education and the Workforce
• Republican lawmakers abolishing the US Dept. of Education subject of Inside Higher Ed article
• Undocumented college students’ concerns over DACA amid US presidential election subject of article from Inside Higher Ed

Federal Legislation

• Convicted college student ineligibility for tax credits bill, “Education Not Agitation Act” (HR 10013), introduced
• College student with disability accessibility and degree completion support bill, “Improving Access to Higher Education Act” (HR 10080), introduced
• College opioid rescue kit availability within campus bill, “Saving Lives on Campuses Act” (HR 10085), introduced

State and Local Government

District of Columbia

• DC Counseling Compact joining bill signed by mayor and sent to US Congress

Massachusetts

• In Massachusetts, UMass colleges will offer low-income students free tuition starting fall 2025 reports NBC Boston

New Jersey

• New Jersey college students’ unemployment benefits permitting bill passes the state legislature
• New Jersey college reproductive health plans and services requiring bill awaiting committee action
• New Jersey public college food waste reduction program requiring bill introduced
• New Jersey college food assistance programs information dissemination requiring bill introduced

Texas

• Texas college students’ lawsuit over enforcement of Gov. Abbott’s antisemitism executive order allowed to advance reports local news source

Virginia

• Virginia lawmakers delay college campus protest policies action amid growing concerns over students’ rights reports local news source
• Virginia college Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program creating bill incorporated into another bill which was signed into law

Wyoming

• University of Wyoming student suicide campus announcement was delayed reports local news source

Funding

• The Ohio State University receives pedestrian safety funding from the US Dept. of Transportation

Education, Health & Wellness, Civil Rights

• Washington college dean faces allegations of neglecting sexual violence prevention efforts reports college news source
• College affordability gap decreased during COVID-19 pandemic according to study
• Colleges should rethink sorts of disability accommodations to better prepare students according to Inside Higher Ed
• International college student support focus of article by Inside Higher Ed
• University of Missouri-Kansas City to close campus DEI office reports Campus Reform
• College DEI issues at the University of Michigan focus of article from campus newspaper
• College staff additional mental health support needed according to Healthy Minds study
• College student mental health challenges and their impact on academic work focus of survey
• Three colleges named as “institutions of particular concern” by Islamic rights group due to alleged mistreatment of students and staff/faculty with pro-Palestinian opinions in new report

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.