Here’s a selection of articles the Federal Relations team found of interest.
Refueling Research – An op-ed by Senator Ed Markey about the value of basic science and federal investment. Read more at the Huffington Post.
IX – ED released a new packet of info for Title IX coordinators. First instruction, don’t forget to designate someone as a Title IX coordinator. Read more at Inside Higher Ed.
Jobless Lawyers – An article on the growing issue of law school graduates, from such prestigious institutions like Columbia University, that cannot find jobs after graduation. Only 40% of 2010 law school graduates are practicing in a law firm, but all have the same law school debt. Read more at the New York Times.
Whether MOOCs? – There has been massive hype about Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) changing the model of higher education, but who is researching their effectiveness? The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is out with a new report on what is being researched on MOOCs. Read more at The Chronicle.
Ahhem – President Obama participated in a “virtual field trip” this week, and his interview with a 6th grader was big on the internet by because the 6th grader cut the President off, because Obama was cutting into lunch time. Read more at Politico.
Here’s a selection of articles the Office of Federal Relations is reading this week.
Earth from James Web Telescope. (Smithsonian Air and Space Museum)
Murray-Ryan 2.0? – Republicans are also feeling the chafe from the Sequester spending caps. That’s the problem with a deal no one wanted in the first place. Read more at Politico.
Serious Flaws – The piece looks at the 10 serious underlining issues and assumptions in both the House and Senate budgets. Read more at CPBP.
College Ratings – Insider Higher Ed has a better look at the Administration’s plans for their College Ratings system…something obtained after a FOIA request. Read more here.
Not as Bad as It Used to Be – A new study suggests this Congress is “healthier” than previous Congreses and shows an inclination to do more and work together. Read more at USA Today.
Share the Blame – A new books, using the Univ. of Montana as an example, says college towns fail students on reporting sexual assult as much as colleges fail victims. Read more at Vox.
Drones – In partnership with a branch of the 32 Advisors consulting firm, the American Red Cross is set to release a report this morning on how drones can help first responders and improve disaster relief efforts, making several policy recommendations to the FAA on allowing drones for emergency and disaster response. The report recommends that the FAA allow small commercial drones to be flown over populated areas during declared emergencies and within controlled airspace within disaster areas. The report also suggests the FAA ensure it can scale up staff resources to process drone flight requests during disasters. The report is here. A six page summary is here.
Resign, Please – Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp is asking senior leadership to submit open-ended resignation letters in advance of incoming-president Michael Young’s start date. Sharp says the move is designed to allow more lattiude for Young to establish his leadership team, which are all at-will employees, and the effort will “be easier on the president” and “cause less conflict”. Fifteen vice presidents and advisers have been asked to submit letters. Read more at Insider Higher Education.
Medicare > Higher Ed – A recent Moody’s Analytics report found that, nationwide, state Medicaid spending will increase as a share of overall state spending to 17.9 percent by fiscal 2024, up from 15.6 percent in fiscal 2013. This means that higher ed funding is directly shortchanged due to Medicare funding. Read more at Diversity Education.
Cherry Blossoms and Magnolias on the Capitol Grounds
After taking the two week recess with Congress, here’s a selection or articles the Federal Relations team is reading this week.
For the Win – A look as to why it’s likely (right now) that Hillary will win the presidency (or at least a Democrat will). Read it at New York Mag.
Fake – An article on why legitimate publications are publishing fake “peer-reviewed” articles. Read it at Slate.
NCLB – Ed Week did a nice overview of what to expect during this week’s HELP Committee mark up of the long-awaited and much over due Elementary and Secondary Education legislation. Read more at Ed Week.
Starving – An Op-Ed about the need for the Humanities and humanities education, which is what makes us well rounded humans. Read read it at NY Times.
Here’s a selection of articles the Office of Federal Relations has been reading this week.
Deal or No Deal? – The House Republicans and Democrats are increasingly optimistic that they have a deal to fix the Sustainable Growth Rate formula for Medicare. Maybe they will? Read more at The Hill.
Truth Teller – As the 2016 presidential field begins to take shape, some are taking unique tactics on how to engage votes. Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) has decided to pick honest and is telling his party, “You can’t govern angry.” He’s at the bottom of the polls. Read more at Politico.
NO! – A response to the Congressional Republican budgets, or 10 reasons not to cut education funding. From the White House blog.
We Did It Our Way, For Now – House fiscal conservatives in the House Budget Committee managed to muster enough votes to pass their budget proposal. It was 24 painful hours of stops and starts, failed whip counts (from the Republican Whip Steve Scalise) and much drama. Read about the drama at Roll Call.
Schock & Awe – Congress lost one of it’s youngest Members (and avid Instragrammer), Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) this week in what has been a slow spiraling discover of increasing malfeasance. The final straw? Milage reimbursements. His decision to resign was so quick, that Speaker Boehner heard about it at the press conference (and probably his staff too). Read about Rep. Schock’s political last hours at Politico.
