Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues:

As we approach the halfway point of the fiscal year, Congress finally made its appropriations decisions for student aid programs. The approved deal provides level funding for the Pell Grant maximum at $7,395, and full funding for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work-Study (FWS) programs at last year’s funding levels. This is in stark contrast to the proposed elimination of SEOG and FWS in the House, and the proposed $10 million cut to each program in the Senate last summer (see story below for more details).

Now that we have the final numbers, institutions can complete their award packages as the FAFSA ISIRs start to trickle into campuses. 

While we had hoped for a Pell increase, the overall political and economic pressures on Congress make level funding a win. This is particularly true for SEOG and FWS. When both chambers have proposed program cuts, it is extremely unusual to have full funding restored. So, in this environment, the final deal is a success. 

This accomplishment is only because of the persistent advocacy of NAICU members during the last year, particularly during Advocacy Day in February and in response to our recent Action Alert. Those efforts tied the delay in FAFSA with Congress’s funding delays to make it clear to Congress that this was not the year to cut student aid and that decisions needed to be made immediately so award packages could go out. Without this direct communication to Congress, the importance of the federal student aid programs would have been lost in the overall contentious negotiations that characterized the process this year.

The final education spending bill also includes over $202 million for projects at colleges and universities, many of which are at private nonprofit, institutions.

Of course, even with this chapter complete, our work for the coming fiscal year, which is only six months away, will begin shortly. Stay tuned for continued updates on what is happening and our strategy and engagement tactics to help inform these future funding conversations.

Also last week, we were signatories to a community letter asking for a delay in the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment reporting requirements. The request included survey findings from the American Council on Education, the National Association of College and University Business Officers, and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers on the impact of the regulations on campuses. This community letter is a nice reinforcement of the letter sent by NAICU in conjunction with 56 members of our Secretariat and state executive networks requesting a one-year delay in the full regulatory package.

In addition, the grassroots advocacy of the NAICU membership is bearing fruit on Capitol Hill where we are seeing Members of Congress send their own letters to Secretary Cardona seeking a delay in these reporting requirements (see examples here and here). These letters are critically important. Please keep us informed of your efforts in this regard by emailing our government relations team at GovernmentRelations@NAICU.edu so we can provide any necessary assistance to your continued efforts.

Finally, I have heard from several NAICU members that FAFSA’s are slowly trickling in, although some institutions have still not received any. Having said that, I am also hearing that some campuses had a positive experience in applying for a grant through the FAFSA College Support Strategy initiative. One president described this as the “Easiest federal grant we will ever receive!” For those who need additional support with the FAFSA rollout, I hope this experience continues to be positive. And a reminder that if you have applied and want NAICU’s support in your efforts, please email NAICU’s Cynthia Moore (Cynthia@NAICU.edu) who is helping bring NAICU applicants to the Department’s attention.

Soundbites

• The Department of Education held a webinar this week to provide an update on the FAFSA rollout. The webinar provided the latest information on the ISIR delivery timeline and guidance on common questions to technical issues related to EDConnect software and Student Aid Internet Gateway mailboxes. NOTE: to access the webinar requires creating a Federal Student Aid Training Center login.

• The House Committee on Education and the Workforce moved rapidly this week to mark-up the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act (H.R. 7683), a bill that would impose new free speech requirements on colleges and universities. Although the bill would exempt private institutions from some of its most onerous requirements, NAICU joined a community letter in opposition to the bill, which would set a dangerous precedent that encourages further governmental intrusions into matters of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

• Last week, Reps. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Andy Barr (R-KY) reintroduced the Building Civic Bridges Act that would establish a pilot program within AmeriCorps to foster and fund initiatives that help build constructive connections across diverse groups. The bill would authorize the creation of a new Office of Civic Bridgebuilding within AmeriCorps, which would distribute competitive federal grants “to support civic organizations and initiatives that promote civic engagement and bridgebuilding within the U.S.” NAICU formally endorsed the bill, as did a number of higher education, faith-based, youth-serving and business organizations. Rep. Kilmer serves as Co-Chair and Rep. Barr is a member of the Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus.

This week once again demonstrated the value of our engagement with Congress and the Administration on the issues of critical importance to our students and institutions. These are yet more examples of the success we can achieve when we work together united in purpose. Thank you to all who have lent their voices these past several weeks. We will continue to need them in the months ahead.

Regards,

Barbara

Barbara K. Mistick D.B.A.
President, NAICU