NACUBO On Your Side: January 24–February 6, 2023
2/06/2023
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.
On the Hill
New Senate Committee Chairs Selected
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has been selected to chair the committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) following Sen. Patty Murray’s (D-WA) decision to vacate the seat and helm the Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) will continue to lead the Senate Finance Committee, which he has chaired since 2021.
Agency Action
ED Requests Information on Measuring Low-Value Higher Education Programs
The Department of Education has published in the Federal Register a request for information on measures and metrics to assess low-value postsecondary education programs—those which are “most likely to leave students with unaffordable loans and provide the lowest financial returns for students and taxpayers.” Per the notice, ED intends to increase accountability of “low-value” programs by annually publishing a list of the programs with the lowest financial value. The Department also intends to send letters to implicated institutions. ED is accepting comments through February 10.
ED Shares Details on 2021-22 Campus-Based Awards Closeout Process
On January 27, the Department of Education shared that the closeout of the 2021-22 Campus-Based program awards will be completed by March 1, using the data submitted on the Fiscal Operations Report for 2021-22 and Application to Participate for 2023-24 (FISAP). The procedure—which ED details in its announcement—involves reconciling a school’s award in G5 for each of the programs with the amount reported as expended for the program on the school’s 2021-22 Fiscal Operations Report.
White House to End COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration On May 11
In a statement on January 30, the Biden administration shared that it plans to end the national and public health emergencies related to COVID-19 on May 11. Many federal agencies—including the Department of Education—were granted regulatory flexibilities when the emergency declarations were initiated at the beginning of the pandemic. Some of those flexibilities will end on May 11; a January 2021 announcement from ED shares when provisions will expire.
Take Action
Register Now for NACUBO’s Next Washington Update
NACUBO’s next quarterly Washington Update will take place on Friday, February 10 from 1–1:30 pm ET. The webcast is free for members, and you can send questions in advance to advocacy@nacubo.org.
