Public Policy and Governmental Affairs
ACPA-College Student Educators International is consistently involved in high-stakes and high-profile government processes that affect higher education. We often find it necessary to join in advocacy with other associations to amplify our voices, take a position on certain issues, and offer support to public policy that aligns with our mission, vision and values. With the ever changing climate in our world today, it is imperative that we are transparent with members about our positions on pressing issues and work in public policy. This webpage serves as a resource to review formal documents that ACPA has drafted, are in the process of reviewing, or signed on to support.
The public policy work is guided by the ACPA Public Policy and Governmental Affairs Task Force. The task force is responsible for scanning and evaluating the political landscape, and developing strategies to address the concerns, issues, and challenges of members and/or the higher education field particularly related to political and legislative activities, as well as advise and recommend position and public policy statements to the ACPA Leadership Council.
Public Policy and Government Affairs Task Force
Raymond Plaza, Chair
Terrian Garvis
Erin Mayo
Colleen McChesney
Cody Nielsen
Terry Paape
Judy Schabel
Gregory Sikora
Nicholas Stroup
Adam Williamson
Brian Hercliff-Proffer, ACPA International Office Liaison
Position Statements
The ACPA Leadership Council and Public Policy & Governmental Affairs Task Force have worked together to construct position statements on areas within the political and social climate that effect higher education. These statements serve as reference materials for those interested in understanding more about where ACPA stands on certain issues and current events.
We invite you to click on the links below to learn more about ACPA’s position on each topic. ACPA will continue to review, edit, and add to this list over time. If you have suggestions or feedback, please email us at [email protected].
sign-ons
ACPA often joins relevant organizations in sharing support or concerns on a plethora of issues often referred to as sign-ons. Below are sign-ons ACPA has agreed to be a part of.
Budget and Appropriations
- Letter to House Leaders in Support of Funding for Students and Institutions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill (2/25/2021)
- ACE Letter to Congress addressing the financial impact of COVID on colleges and universities (11/30/2021)
- ACE Letter to Congress on Increased COVID-19 Funding Relief for Higher Education (9/28/20)
- ACE Letter to Congress on Institutional Loans in the next COVID Supplemental bill (8/4/20)
- ACE Letter to Congress expressing appreciation for recent budget appropriations (7/9/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate on consideration of new higher education costs during future COVID-19 supplemental deliberations (7/2/20)
- ACE Letter to Federal Reserve on Nonprofit requirements for Main Street Lending Program (6/22/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate Banking Committee on nonprofit facility for Main Street Lending Program (6/4/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate re: Higher Education Eligibility for Refundable Tax Credit for Paid Sick and FMLA Leave Mandates (6/2/20)
- EDUCAUSE Letter to House and Senate on Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act (6/5/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate on state unemployment insurance (6/1/20)
- ACE letter to Federal Reserve and Treasury on nonprofit facility for Main Street Lending Program (5/22/20)
- ACE Letter to Congress on HEROES pandemic support (5/14/2020)
- ACE Letter to Congress on SBA and Mid-Sized Loan Programs (4/23/2020)
- ACE Letter to Congress regarding the need for additional pandemic recovery aid for higher education students and institutions (4/9/20)
- ACE Letter to Congress to increase tax credits related to pandemic recovery for higher education students and institutions (4/9/20)
- ACE Letter to DOE to release COVID19 emergency funds to higher education institutions (4/2/20)
- ACE Letter to Hill on COVID-19 Stimulus (4/21/20)
- Alaska State Legislators Higher Education Letter (7/5/19)
- Letter to House Leaders in Support of the FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill (6/19/19)
- Letter to House Supporting FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill (5/8/19)
Financial Aid
- Request to Congress: Double the Pell Grant (3/25/2021)
- ACE Letter to Acting Secretary of Education on Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (1/28/2020)
- ACE Letter to Request to Extend Relief for Federal Student Loan Borrowers (11/19/20)
- ACE Letter to U.S. Congress on Student and Institutional Aid in next COVID Supplemental bill (8/5/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate requesting extension of relief for student borrowers (7/29/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate regarding CARES Act guidance and solutions (7/22/20)
- Letter to DOE drawing attention to new CARES Act regulations that exclude intended eligible students (7/2/20)
- Letter to Congress to not make CARES Act emergency student loans taxable (4/21/20)
- Letter to Congress to ensure Veterans Education Benefits extend to periods of only online instruction (3/18/2020)
- FUTURE Act to ensure a continued funding stream for Minority Serving Institutions – Letter to U.S. House of Representatives (12/10/19)
- FUTURE Act to extend funding for STEM programs at HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges and other Minority Serving Institutions – US Senate
- FUTURE Act to extend funding for STEM programs at HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal Colleges and other Minority Serving Institutions
- VSO and Ed Groups Joint Support Letter on NDAA Shalala Amendment DOD Tuition Assistance (7/25/19)
Student Issues
- ACE Letter to DHS regarding additional guidance on international students (7/21/20)
- ACE Letter to DHS requesting ICE guidance on international students is withdrawn (7/9/20)
- ACE Letter to DOE to request guidance on international student’s return to campus (7/2/20)
- ACE Letter to Senate HELP Committee on safe harbor protections for colleges who reopen related to COVID-19 (6/3/20)
- Secretariat Letter to Governors in support of Licensing Reciprocity to Facilitate Telemedicine (4/2/20)
- SAHEC Letter to Secretary of Education to Suspend Title IX Regulation Changes (3/26/20)
- Letter to Secretary of Education to Delay Title IX Regulation Change Implementation until after COVID-19 Crisis (3/24/20)
- Letter in Support of allowing counseling services to cross state lines during Coronavirus – coming from AUCCCD (3/17/20)
- Letter in Support of the College Student Hunger Act (8/1/19)
- Department of Education Letter on Title IX Regulation (1/29/19)
- Comments to the Department of Education on Proposed Rule Amending Title IX Regulations (1/30/19)
- H.R. 2006- College Equity Act of 2019 (4/1/19)
Higher Education Act
- Letter to DOE from APS to delay Title IX Regulation Changes until January 1, 2021 (7/9/20)
- Letter to Senate from SAHEC/APS to delay Title IX Regulation Changes until January 1, 2021 (6/4/2020)
- Letter to Congress on Technical and Regulatory issues Higher Education Act stimulus package conditions recommendations (4/21/20)
- Letter on the College Affordability Act related to the Higher Education Act Reauthorization (10/28/19)
- Letter on the College Affordability Act related to the Higher Education Act Reauthorization (10/28/19)
- Testimony to Senate HELP Committee on Addressing Campus Sexual Assault (4/2/19)
Immigration
- Letter to State and DHS Requesting Support for International Students in Fall 2021 (3/18/2021)
- Letter to Senate Leadership in Support of DREAM Act 2021 (2/22/2021)
- Letter to Secretary of State Blinken on Supporting International Students (1/27/2021)
- Letter to DHS on OPT Work Authorization Delays (1/26/2021)
- ACE Comments on the Trump Administration’s Interim Final Rule on H-1B Visas (11/9/2020)
- ACE Comments on Proposed Rule on International Student and Exchange Visitor Duration of Status (10/26/2020)
- Secretariat/ACE Letter to State/ DHS / Labor re Presidents immigration Exec Order (4/30/2020)
- Letter Urging Senate to Pass Dream Act (6/27/19)
- Letter to the House Supporting the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (6/3/19)
- Letter to the House of Representatives on the Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (3/20/19)
Labor and Employment
Law and the Courts
General
SCOTUS Decision on Affirmative Action
ACPA College Student Educators International vehemently opposes the U.S. Supreme Court 6-3 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., v. University of North Carolina. As an...
Defending the critical work of DEI in Higher Education
ACPA - College Student Educators International expresses our profound sadness and alarm on the ongoing threats to the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within U.S. Higher Education. ACPA is committed to this work and to reinforcing the importance of...
Access to Health Services on Campus
One of the leading issues in higher education today has to do with the exponential growth in development of student health services. Increasing demands for these services has sparked conversation about the university's role in student health promotion. Investment in...