The AAUP's government relations program tracks legislation that is relevant to our mission at both the federal and state levels. We build relationships with policymakers, their staffs, and other higher education organizations to inform and influence policy discussions by offering our expertise as a resource. We also communicate legislative information to members and encourage them to become active in the issues affecting higher education in general and faculty in particular. The following are some of the issues we have been working on.
November AAUP Government Relations Newsletter
The November newsletter is available online. Read about predictions for the New Secretary of Education, election outcomes, federal updates, and more..
All the tools you need to advocate for higher education will be accessible in one place and at any time. Find tips on building relationships with policymakers, networking to create coalitions, the importance of messaging, and more.
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, after multiple temporary extensions, is finally complete. The House passed its version in February (the Senate passed its version, S. 1642 (.pdf) in summer of 2007). The final bill emerged from conference the last week of July 2008 and was signed by the president. Originally, the bill was anticipated to be finished by the Memorial Day recess. However, news of Senator Kennedy's health condition significantly delayed completion. In addition to our overview, bill analysis is available from Inside Higher Ed., The Washington Post, and the American Council on Education.
Border Searches of Electronic Materials
The AAUP sent a mailing to all members and other faculty on October 14 detailing its concerns over Department of Homeland Security policies re: searching the materials of travelers at the border. Whereas internal regulations once required reasonable suspicion, these policies have been relaxed in recent year so that no justification need be given for an intrusive search into laptops, cell phones, and other devices. Furthermore, electronic materials may be copied, kept, and disseminated to other agencies and entities if CBP deems it necessary. The AAUP believes that stricter standards for reasonable suspicion must be applied and upheld, and that more information should be given to the public about safeguards to protect their information. For more information, see the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing and the Featured Article links on this page.
AAUP Endorsements of Issues of Concern
The AAUP has recently endorsed several multi-organization letters addressing issues of concern to the academic community.
1A.) Letter regarding the "Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act"
2.) Letter regarding the "Aid Elimination Penalty"
3.) OpentheGovernment.org letter addressing new program to restrict unclassified materials
4.) Letter objecting to the seizing and searching of digital and electronic materials at the border by DHS
5.) AARP letter on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
6.) Letter supporting the Free Speech Protection Act
7.) Joint letter to the Senate Banking Committee making the case for transparency in the financial bailout bill
Foreign Scholars' Visa Troubles Being Examined in Congress
The exclusions of foreign scholars and students is the focus of a new series of hearings in the House Committee on Science & Technology. Representative Brian Baird held a hearing on February 7 to examine the issue and the impact of these exclusions on the U.S. higher education community and on the global scholarly community. The AAUP, which has been very active in casework pertaining to this issue, submitted a joint comment with the ACLU to the Committee.
“Academic Bill of Rights” Failed; “Intellectual Diversity” Continues to Be the Trend in 2008
David Horowitz’s so-called Bill of Rights was introduced in nearly half of states from 2003 to 2006, but failed to gain traction as legislators and campus communities saw past the misleading rhetoric. Though a few state legislatures compromised with university administrators to strengthen self-policing on campuses, in most places the proposals simply failed to take hold, many of them DOA in committee. In 2007, a crop of similar bills, dubbed “Intellectual Diversity” bills, were first introduced, and as of June 2008, had almost entirely supplanted ABOR legislation. View the updated legislative status memo. See the AAUP statement on Horowitz and ACTA's proposals.
Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act
The AAUP advised the Senate Committee on Homeland Security of its concerns over HR 1955, the "Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act ." Read the letter sent to Chairman Lieberman and his colleagues and the bill text. (.pdfs).
Aid Elimination Penalty
The AAUP offered comments at a Congressional briefing on November 1 regarding the possible repeal of the Aid Elimination Penalty in the Higher Education Act. The penalty punishes students convicted of drug-related crimes by revoking their eligibility for federal financial aid. The AAUP believes that this is a mistaken approach for several reasons. First, educational attainment is strongly correlated with lower crime rates and less need for public assistance, making clear the societal benefits of helping students earn their degrees, rather than holding them back from finishing college. Second, those convicted have already been punished by the judicial system, so revoking aid is above and beyond what the courts have seen as fitting sentences. Third, those most likely to be convicted are the same students most likely to have to drop out of school if their financial aid is revoked, encouraging social stratification. Read the complete comments offered at the briefing. (.pdf)
Free Exchange on Campus Coalition
The AAUP participates in the anti-"Academic Bills of Rights," pro-free speech Free Exchange on Campus Coalition. Together with our partners, we have helped defeat legislation based on ABOR; no such legislation has been passed in any state to date. To learn more about the coalition, read the statement of principles or look at our new brochure. For specific organizing efforts on your campus (or ideas on how to get started!), look through the Campus Voices organizing toolkit. To take a stand against "Intellectual Diversity" legislation before it comes to your campus, consider passing a Faculty Senate Resolution.