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.
We appreciate the role the Forbes article plays in raising awareness of the morale issues that exist in the higher education workforce, and of the need to examine pay scales for the critical work of student affairs professionals – something that is long overdue. NASPA regularly provides input on policies that would impact the student affairs community. We are not opposed to raising minimum salary thresholds, and insist that the Department of Labor allow for input as part of making regulatory changes.
NASPA stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The war in Ukraine poses an immediate threat to the lives and well-being of many of our dedicated colleagues and their families. In addition, this crisis is generating consequences in the region that can be felt globally.
On behalf of 15,000 student affairs professionals represented by NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and the Undocumented Immigrants and Allies Knowledge Community, we submitted this comment letter in response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rule, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DHS Docket No. USCIS-2021-0006), published September 28, 2021. NASPA writes both in support of the proposed rule and to request several changes and additions to further strengthen DACA in tandem with the needs of today’s higher education community.
"On behalf of the 9 undersigned student affairs higher educational organizations, we are submitting this written comment in response to the Department of Education’s notice of a virtual public hearing on the Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 [Title IX] to strongly encourage the Department to reinstate and in some cases strengthen protections for gender non-conforming and transgender college students."
"Title IX should reinforce the importance of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in its regulations as a reminder that the Department will also look to institutions’ prevention efforts when determining their compliance with Title IX. The Department should provide funding or list federal funds available to support prevention work so that institutions do not perceive prevention as an unfunded mandate. The Department could use fines from Clery Act and Title IX violations to support prevention work in higher education in meaningful ways."
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!
