Department of Education

AAU commented in response to the U.S. Department of Education's Notice for Public Rulemaking (NPRM) that includes the consensus language from the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) committee regarding the implementation of the H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB).

Friends of IES, of which AAU is a member, sent a letter to leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to include the highest possible amount for the IES top line in the final Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill.

On October 31, the Department of Education released a final rule making changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which could arbitrarily deny loan forgiveness to some people working for organizations that administration officials disfavor.

AAU joined ACE and 36 other higher education organizations in sending a letter to the Department of Education expressing their strong opposition to the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) survey component.

AAU joined ACE and 19 other higher education associations in sending a letter to congressional leaders, urging them to increase funding for Minority-Serving Institutions in FY 2026 and to reinstate funding that was cut during FY 2025.

AAU submitted a comment memo to the Department of Education in response to their request for comments on the implementation of H.R.1. AAU expressed concerns regarding clear definitions on graduate and professional degree programs, clearly communicating changes about available federal funds to all audiences, and including an additional constituency group to the negotiated rulemaking committee. Negotiated rulemaking for H.R.1 Implementation will run from the end of September to early January.

AAU sent a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary Trainor at the Department of Education, urging the Department to withdraw their February 14, 2025 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) intended to “provide clarity to the public regarding existing legal requirements” for colleges and universities under the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA).

AAU joined ACE and four other higher education associations to send a letter to Secretary Cardona expressing their concerns about reports that the Department of Education intends to rescind the 2011 bundled services guidance.

AAU and APLU sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young urging continued robust support in the administration’s FY26 budget for higher education and scientific research investments that are crucial to the health, security, prosperity, and future of our nation.

The Student Aid Alliance, of which AAU is a member of the Steering Committee, sent a letter to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education and Director Shalanda Young of the Office of Management and Budget urging them to increase federal student aid for the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.