SA Weekly: April 29
Civic Engagement Policy and Advocacy Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement
April 30, 2019
Welcome to SA Weekly, your destination for higher ed news, NASPA research and policy, constituent blogs, and more.
Bridging the Gap on Accountability “Democrats are talking more about how failures happen across the higher education system, not just at for-profit colleges -- their traditional punching bag. So can they agree with Republicans on new standards for all colleges?”
Judge: No More Delays on State Authorization Rules “The U.S. Department of Education will be required to implement long-delayed rules around state authorization of online programs following a judge’s ruling on a lawsuit against the department.”
Ed Dept: New Accreditation Rules Will be ‘More Aggressive’ to Prevent Abrupt College Closures “Diane Auer Jones, principal deputy under secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, outlined how forthcoming regulations on accreditation would address college closings during an event Tuesday hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.”
Warren Shakes Up Student Loan Debate “Presidential candidate proposes canceling student debt for most borrowers, making public higher education free, adding billions in support for minority-serving institutions and kicking for-profit colleges out of federal aid system.”
Governor Got Free Community College, Wants More “An expanded free-college plan in Rhode Island offers an unusual way for a state to promote higher education, giving students the option of either two years of free community college or a scholarship covering their third and fourth years at a state university.”
Reinvesting in Community Colleges “A new report challenges federal and state policy makers to increase funding for community colleges to improve social mobility.”
11 Semifinalists, 4 Finalists: 0 Women “University of South Carolina hears from students and professors after a presidential search committee -- one that's mostly male -- proposes four finalists who are all male, three of them white.”
Stealing Innovation “FBI director addresses efforts by China to steal academic research and technology. Higher ed groups say they're taking the issue seriously.”
Policy Update
Advocacy Week to Support Passage of the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (HR 6)
This week, NASPA is joining the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, FWD.us, United We Dream, and other higher education associations to encourage advocacy in support of passage for the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (HR 6). NASPA supports a pathway to citizenship for the 2.3 million qualifying Dreamers as both a measure of equity and inclusion and as a means to strengthen our national knowledge economy. The House is expected to mark-up the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 in May so now is a perfect time for higher education professionals and students to reach out and contact their Representatives to support a pathway to citizenship. Connect with your Representative’s office directly by phone or email to #ProtectTheDream.
Taking Inventory of Your Institution’s Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Violence by Sarice Greenstein, Assistant Director, Culture of Respect
Federal Updates
Much like campuses across the country, Congress enjoyed a spring recess for two weeks in April so that legislators could spend time working in their districts. In May, both chambers of Congress are expected to continue to work on the FY2020 budget and appropriations process, including the passage of legislation that will raise the caps set by the Budget Control Act (BCA) on both defense and non-defense appropriations. House Democrats are also planning to move forward legislation central to their platform, including the Equality Act (HR 5), which would amend the Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, but many of the bills do not have promising outlooks in the Senate.
State Updates
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response
Tuition and/or Financial Aid for Undocumented Students
Around NASPA
When Your Compass Points You to the Wilderness by Barbara LoMonaco, James E. Scott Academy
From the Projects to the PhD by Marquisha Frost, Women in Student Affairs
Scholar’s Corner: Mothering as a Critical Education Scholar by Ruth M. Lopez, Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community