AAU Weekly Wrap-up, April 16, 2021

AAU JOINS MORE THAN 40 ASSOCIATIONS IN SUPPORT OF JAMES KVAAL NOMINATION

On Wednesday, AAU joined more than 40 other associations in higher education signing a letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) supporting President Biden’s nomination of James Kvaal to be the under secretary of education. Kvaal, who currently is the president of the Institute for College Access and Success, also served as a policy adviser in the Obama administration. The letter says Kvaal’s “wealth of skill and experience has always been focused first and foremost on elevating the needs of students and their families to the center of policymaking. In his current role…, Mr. Kvaal has continued this dedication to ensuring that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed in postsecondary education.”

The committee held Kvaal’s hearing yesterday, and video of the hearing is available here .

APARD GUIDE RELEASED

Yesterday, AAU and APLU released a  Guide to Accelerate Public Access to Research Data . The document is designed to help institutions develop and promote systems that support data transparency and access. It includes information about the infrastructure and support that may be required to facilitate data access, and specific examples of how various institutions are approaching challenges to sharing research data and results.

The guide been developed with support from the NSF and NIH; it is based on information gleaned from a series of workshops and national summits involving 261 campus representatives from 111 institutions, representatives from several federal agencies, and other key stakeholders. AAU has launched a companion  website  with resources including past AAU and APLU public-data-access reports and information about our upcoming four-part webinar series, which will feature institutions that are implementing recommendations contained in the guide.

HIGHER ED ASSOCIATIONS ISSUE STATEMENT OPPOSING VOTING RESTRICTIONS

On Wednesday, AAU joined more than 50 American higher-education organizations on a statement strongly opposing attempts in states across the country to limit voting access. Noting that one of the main goals of higher education is to create civically informed and engaged young people, the statement says, in part: “We stand with all who seek to expand rather than restrict voting and civic participation. We are particularly concerned with proposals that would roll back some of that progress by raising barriers to student voting, including prohibiting students from using their campus addresses to register or qualify for absentee ballots.”

UPDATE: FY22 DISCRETIONARY BUDGET OUTLINE ANALYSIS

AAU staff continue to analyze the outline of President Biden’s request for FY22 discretionary funding that the White House issued last week. The analysis is available here, and AAU President Barbara Snyder’s statement welcoming the outline’s recommendations is available here . In part, the statement noted: “After years of spending caps that have held back federal higher education and research investments, President Biden’s discretionary budget outline charts a bold new course to a healthier, greener, more equitable, and more prosperous future for all Americans.” The president’s full budget request is expected in May.

HOUSE SCIENCE AND ARMED SERVICES CHAIRS SEEK COLLABORATION WITH BIDEN TO ADDRESS RISKS TO U.S. RESEARCH ENTERPRISE

Leaders of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the House Armed Services Committee recently sent President Biden a letter expressing interest in collaborating with the administration on science and security policy. “We strongly support a measured and balanced approach to this issue, one that promotes research integrity and security without impeding academic freedom, international collaboration, and the global competition for talent, all of which are critical to our continued leadership in science and innovation,” said the letter, which was signed by Science Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX); Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA); Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI); and Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems Subcommittee Chairman Jim Langevin (D-RI). On Monday, AAU tweeted appreciation for the letter, noting the authors’ past bipartisan efforts on research security.

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 27 COSSA 2021 SOCIAL SCIENCE ADVOCACY DAY; More information and registration here.

MAY 7 AAU SPEAKER SERIES: FOSTERING EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS AT RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES; “A Model for Building Diversity, Equity and Community.” 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET. Register here.

MAY 11-12 VIRTUAL CFR MEETING; Registration, an agenda, and the meeting footprint will be circulated in advance.

MAY 31 GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD 2021 SPONSORSHIP DEADLINE; More information here.

ICYMI

CFR Update, April 14, 2021 (login required)
AAU President’s Report, April 13, 2021 (login required)