Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues:

This has been a difficult time for higher education and our students.  We are all seeing the images and reading the stories from the protests and demonstrations happening on college campuses across the country in communities large and small. 

I know how hard leaders are working to ensure a safe and vibrant campus environment while also guiding students through final exams and planning and hosting graduation and other year-end celebrations.  These last few weeks are the culmination of so much effort by campuses and I sincerely wish for your year-end activities to be impactful, inclusive, and energizing for your entire campus community.

Responding to these protests, the House this week passed an antisemitism bill that, among other things, gives the Department of Education certain guidelines in determining whether a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act has occurred (see lede story below for more details).

The NAICU team has been hard at work analyzing the recently released Title IX and overtime regulations.  As a reminder, NAICU is hosting or co-hosting webinars on both sets of regulations next week.  Additionally, for Title IX we have created an executive summary and a more detailed technical summary of the regulations and provide further reporting in this week’s Washington Update story below.

As it is still very early in the process of determining the full extent of the implications these regulations will have on our students and institutions, I will want your feedback after these webinars to determine whether we need to create additional resources to ensure you and your campus are prepared for compliance.  Here are the details for next week’s webinars:

• Title IX: May 6, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT (Register). This webinar will explore the major provisions of the rules, highlight notable changes, and discuss the implementation challenges that institutions may face. Speakers: Barbara Mistick, NAICU president; Jody Feder, NAICU’s director of accountability and regulatory affairs; and Joshua W.B. Richards, partner, litigation department vice chair, Saul Ewing. 
• Overtime: May 8, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT (Register).  NAICU is joining other higher education associations in partnering with the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) on a webinar on the final overtime rule and its impact on college campuses.  The webinar is open to the entire NAICU membership free of charge.  Speakers: Josh Ulman, chief government relations officer, CUPA-HR and Laurie R. Bishop, partner, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP.

One final reminder, this one regarding the financial responsibility composite score survey we are partnering on with the National Association of College and University Business Officers.  The survey is meant to help us gauge how institutions are faring and understand, in particular, the effect the new rules concerning long-term debt and the pandemic are having on institutional scores.  The deadline for submitting the survey is May 12, and it should take less than ten minutes to complete. The staff positions on campus best suited to complete the survey are likely to be Controllers, AVPs, or CFOs.

Soundbite

• As the appropriations process gets underway, NAICU, along with nearly 50 member associations, sent an appropriations request letter urging Congress to continue its strong support of the federal student aid programs.  This also becomes the season for congressional “Dear Colleague Letters” in support of various programs. New this year was a Republican letter spearheaded by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) that communicated support for the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and Federal Work-Study programs. The letter to appropriators requesting robust funding for the programs garnered 29 House Republican signatures.

Today’s Washington Update also reports on the status of the FAFSA rollout, the start of the FY 2025 appropriations process, and new grants from the Department to help increase the number of disadvantaged students completing college. 

Regards,

Barbara

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