What's Happening in Washington DC: An Update
This week, our eyes have been on Washington, DC and education policy activities at the federal level. While many of us spend the majority of our time focused on what is happening at our institutions, within our organizations or the state level, I share a short recap of federal policy developments.
Today, the U.S. Department of Education will host the ‘Raise the B.A.R.: Bold + Action + Results in College Excellence & Equity’’ Summit where postsecondary education leaders will?discuss opportunities?to uplift inclusivity, equity and excellence in our postsecondary education system. The forty invited college leaders - including Metropolitan State University of Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. - will share their experiences in reforming higher education to promote stronger outcomes, particularly for students of color and low-income students. A moderated conversation between Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Ed. D. and Chair of the Louisiana Board of Regents (and former Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Higher Education!) Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Ph.D. will be live streamed?here?beginning at 11:45 MT.
The Department will also announce today their plans to extend its Project Success initiative for three more years. Through this initiative, more than 200 HBCUs, TCUs and MSIs, including HSIs, receive access to resources and support services to help improve their students' outcomes.
Over the last few weeks, the Department has also?released?proposed regulations on a variety of topics including veterans and service members, increasing oversight of postsecondary education institutions and policies in support of access for incarcerated individuals. These proposed regulations include the following:
The proposed regulations will be officially published in the?Federal Register?and the public is invited to?provide comments?for 30 days following their publication. It is expected that the rules will be finalized this year so they take effect no later than July 1, 2023.
And finally, according to our friends at the?National College Attainment Network (NCAN), there are early signs that a “larger-than-usual” Pell Grant increase will occur in the 2023-24 academic year. This news comes from draft text of the Senate Appropriations committee’s?proposal?that “marks an increase of $7.248 billion above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level.” NCAN shared that this would be the largest increase in the Pell grant since fiscal year 2009 and matches the increase proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill also includes a new general provision making DACA students (and students with temporary protected status or grant of deferred enforced departure) eligible for Pell grants and federal student loans.
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What else are you tracking at the federal level that we should highlight in a future newsletter? Or are you interested in a deeper dive on particular federal policy issues? Let us know?here?and we will add your suggestions to a future newsletter!
Spotlight on Colorado Education and Workforce
Last week, the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) hosted the second annual Equity Day of Dialogue on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver. This year’s event focused on building brighter futures in the pursuit of equity in higher education. Speakers included?state legislators, college and university leaders, and a dynamic student panel. Highlights of the event can be found on?Twitter. You can also watch Governor Jared Polis ’s?remarks?that highlighted the event’s commitment to action in continuing to build a more equitable Colorado postsecondary education system. Gov. Polis shared Colorado can only reach its true potential “when all Coloradans can live, work, learn, play, and thrive in healthy and inclusive environments. We don’t build walls of exclusion in Colorado, we build ladders of opportunity and bridges of understanding.” CDHE’s Office of Educational Equity shares more information on their?website, including Colorado’s pledge to educational equity, the full recording of the first Equity Day of Dialogue, and the?Report on Educational Equity?with detailed actions to create a “Colorado for all.”
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