Sign-on Deadline for Principles of Excellence Extended to August 1
Reacting to letters from NACUBO, ACE, and 11 other associations, as well as two senators, the Department of Veterans Affairs has extended the deadline to agree to comply with the Principles of Excellence outlined in Executive Order 13607.

Ruling on State Authorization Regulations Upheld
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a lower court ruling that struck down the part of the Department of Education’s state authorization rules dealing with distance education.

Leading the Nation to a Safe and Secure Energy Future
NACUBO and Second Nature released a policy brief at the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Climate Leadership Summit that explores how the federal government can develop and enhance clean energy incentives and investments specific to the nonprofit higher education sector.

Transportation Bill Includes Student Loan Interest Rate Fix
On Friday, June 29, 2012, Congress sent to President Obama a $120 billion federal transportation bill. The legislation prevents a scheduled doubling to 6.4 percent of the federal student loan interest rate and covers the costs through pension-related reforms.

Total State Funded Student Financial Aid Dollars Increased in 2010-11
State financial aid dollars for U.S. college students totaled nearly $11 billion in 2010-11, a 1.3 percent increase from the previous academic year, according to the annual survey conducted by the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs.

Senate Bill Would Increase Funding for NIH and Pell Grants
On June 14, 2012, on a party line vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the FY13 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. The measure would increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by $100 million and set the Pell Grant maximum award at $5,635. The House has not yet marked up its version of the legislation.

Proposed Regulations for Charitable Hospitals Released
The IRS has issued proposed rules for 501(c)(3) hospitals that would provide guidance on the definition of hospital facilities, financial assistance policies, limitations on charges, and billing and collections. The proposed regulations flow from provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

Contributions to Education Rose Just 0.9 Percent in 2011
American educational institutions at all levels received $38.9 billion in financial contributions in 2011, an increase of only 0.9 percent in inflation-adjusted value over 2010, according to the 2012 Giving USA report. The small increase in voluntary support to education in 2011 follows a 4.3 percent rise in 2010.

Proposed Rules Could Affect College Radio and Television Stations
The Federal Communications Commission is considering allowing noncommercial educational broadcast stations to conduct on-air fundraising activities that interrupt regular programming for the benefit of third-party nonprofit organizations.