NACUBO On Your Side: July 7-12, 2021
7/12/2021
As things move quickly in Washington, DC, NACUBO is your constant advocate in action. NACUBO On Your Side covers important legislative and agency activity NACUBO staff are tracking, what we’re currently advocating for, and how you can take action with us.
Here are the issues we are tracking and advocating for this week.
Agency Action
HEERF Endowment Tax Waiver Coming Soon
The Department of Education has requested an emergency review of a new form from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The form addresses restrictions placed on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) (a)(1) allocations provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which prevented institutions that have had to pay the net investment income excise tax from receiving the entirety of their allocation. Pending approval from the OMB, the form should be available on the Department’s CRRSAA page.
DHS Withdraws Duration of Status NPRM
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has withdrawn a controversial notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), published in September of last year, that would have established fixed terms of up to two to four years for international students and exchange visitors on F and J visas to complete their degrees. DHS noted in its NPRM withdrawal notice that it had received more than 32,000 public comments on the proposal, with “[m]ore than 99 percent of commenters oppos[ing] the proposed rule.” NACUBO joined with over 80 other higher education associations in a letter to DHS last year, urging the agency to withdraw the rule because of its potential negative impact on international student enrollment.
Advocacy
NACUBO Supports Expanded TRIO Access
NACUBO joined a community letter to ED requesting that it use upcoming rulemaking to remove regulations that prevent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students from accessing TRIO programs, which provide services to help disadvantaged students earn a college degree. The letter, led by the Coalition for Opportunity in Education, notes that the Higher Education Act does not exclude undocumented or other immigrant students from using TRIO’s services and that ED has the authority to extend access to these students.
Take Action
New Resource on COVID-19 Impact on Higher Education
NACUBO’s policy team has put together a new resource for members, examining the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on higher education. This resource provides valuable data on student access to online learning, enrollment and retention data throughout the pandemic, and much more.
