Associations Ask for Regulatory Flexibility in Light of COVID-19

Posted on March 18, 2020

On March 9, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) granted federal agencies the authority to provide regulatory flexibility on research and other federally funded efforts that they viewed as important in response to COVID-19.

Earlier today, four higher education associations representing a vast swath of the research university community– AAU, APLU, AAMC, and COGR– wrote to OMB asking that such regulatory flexibility be expanded to other federally funded research as institutions are grappling with research environments that are rapidly changing, sometimes by the minute. The letter is available here.

ED OCR Releases Info on How to Ensure Accessibility of On-Line Programs

Posted on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020

The Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released today information, including a webinar, on how institutions moving to on-line delivery as a result of Covid-19 can ensure that their students with disabilities can still be served.

The release from OCR is available here.

Higher Ed. Associations Support OPT in Letter to State Dept.

Posted on December 13, 2019December 13, 2019

Various higher education associations addressed a letter, dated December 9th, 2019, to Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce expressing concerns about the future of OPT. UW is a member of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) and Association of American Universities (AAU), which both signed the letter circulated by the American Council on Education. The letter requests that the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs meet with the Department of Homeland Security and relevant agencies to affirm the future of OPT and address long visa processing times.

Executive Order on Antisemitism

Posted on December 12, 2019

President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at tackling antisemitism on college campuses. The order gives Jewish persons special protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which is enforced by the Department of Education. Under statute, Title VI only gives protection for race, color, or national origin. In a press statement at a White House Hanukkah event, President Trump said colleges would be ineligible for federal funds if they “traffic in anti-Semitic hate”.

New Energy Secretary Confirmed

Posted on December 3, 2019

The Senate confirmed yesterday Dan Brouillette as the new Energy Secretary. Brouillette takes over from Rick Perry, whose resignation became effective Sunday evening. Before being confirmed for his new role, he served under Perry as the Deputy Secretary of Energy.

Read more about the new secretary here and here.