Alongside institutional policy, local, state, and federal legislation affects the practice of higher education professionals every day in their work to educate students. Our Policy and Advocacy focus area serves the need for timely information and analyses related to emerging policy, and offers resources to help you understand evolving higher ed law curated by our research and policy team.
Empowered by the work of NASPA’s Public Policy Division, and featuring numerous high-impact professional development opportunities such as NASPA Hill Days and the Certificate Program in Student Affairs Law and Policy, this focus area aims to educate higher ed pros about the legislative, compliance, and policy issues relevant in today’s higher ed landscape.
State Legislation Affecting Student Affairs
State by state tracker | Click on a state to see current relevant legislation.
NASPA supports the possibilities created by the DACA program, which provides educational and career pathways for immigrant students, faculty, and staff and creates a more robust and inclusive higher education community. We wish to amplify advocacy efforts by experts and organizations such as the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the American Immigration Council, who are supporting students and advocating for permanent, comprehensive legislative solutions.
The U.S. Supreme Court dismantled race-conscious admissions in higher education with its decision in two cases brought by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. In its ruling, the Court’s majority relied on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, but they dismissed the reality that in the U.S., race continues to affect access and educational outcomes. Over the course of five decades, affirmative action - and race-conscious admissions in particular - has fundamentally altered colleges and universities to be more racially diverse and to expose students to a broader range of perspectives. More than ever, we must affirm that fostering an inclusive campus remains an integral part of the mission of higher education, and is key to cultivating academic inquiry and advancing student success.
Statements and Comments on Recent Policy Matters NASPA Has Joined in the Last Year
Collective advocacy, the intentional leveraging of many voices on a single issue or set of issues, is a powerful and effective way to get lawmakers’ attention. Whether you join in to add your voice on issues that affect our students and their ability to access and complete their education, or organize a call-in or letter writing campaign to mobilize others, your voice is needed. The list below represents a sampling of current calls to action, though please note that calls for an institutional commitment or comment should be handled in cooperation with your campus government affairs or senior leadership team.
#DoublePell Campaign
NASPA is a part of coalition-building in support of doubling the Pell Grant program in hopes of expanding college access and success prospects for students. Take action and explore the website to learn more about the campaign.
#SaveStudentAid
NASPA is a member of the Student Aid Alliance, which works to support student financial aid through the federal budget and appropriations process. You can reach out to Congress to join them with just a few quick minutes!
Moving From Words to Action: The Influence of Racial Justice Statements on Campus Equity Efforts
We want to hear from you! NASPA regularly tracks and analyzes federal and state policies to inform NASPA statements, endorse legislation, and create advocacy strategies to best serve the field of student affairs. We work to be nimble and respond to the needs of the membership in an evolving policy atmosphere, and what better way than to hear directly from you! Please fill out this form to let us know about what legislative activity, and topical issues you are most impacted by. Whether it's a link to an article that passed your desk this morning, or proposed legislation you are actively monitoring, we want to hear from you. We encourage you to add your voice to the conversation in elevating the role of student affairs in higher education policy today.
For any follow up questions you may have or to learn more about NASPA's advocacy strategies and the NASPA Public Policy Agenda, please reach out to Diana Ali, Associate Director of Policy Research and Advocacy at [email protected].