CONTENTS:
- AAU Presidents and Chancellors Reaffirm Commitment to Free Speech
- AAU Endorses Budget Process Reform Recommendations; Congressional Panel Holds First Public Hearing
- NIST Announces ROI Initiative
- Rescission Package Coming Soon
- Higher Education Associations Call for Timely DACA Renewals
- Labor Department Issues FLSA Guidance for Higher Education
- 2018 Golden Goose Award Sponsorship Opportunities Available
AAU PRESIDENTS AND CHANCELLORS REAFFIRM COMMITMENT TO FREE SPEECH
AAU Presidents and Chancellors released a statement Wednesday reaffirming their universities' commitment to free speech and restating the critical role of higher education in supporting the free and open exchange of ideas.
AAU is promoting the statement via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The CFR are encouraged to continue amplifying the statement as appropriate.
AAU ENDORSES BUDGET REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS; CONGRESSIONAL PANEL HOLDS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING
AAU this week endorsed recommendations made by the Convergence Building a Better Budget Process Reform Project. Released earlier this year, the recommendations suggest shifting Congress into a two-year cycle for all major fiscal decisions. The group proposes that at the start of every Congress, lawmakers and the administration should strike a deal on a budget plan that at least sets discretionary spending levels for the next two years.
AAU's endorsement comes the same week the Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform held its first public hearing. Numerous proposals, including the Convergence reforms, were referenced throughout the hearing. The committee must report recommendations and legislative text by November 30, 2018.
NIST ANNOUNCES ROI INITIATIVE
Yesterday, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced its Return on Investment (ROI) Initiative, a project aimed at improving federal technology transfer efforts. NIST unveiled the new initiative at an event featuring three panels on federal government, university, and industry perspectives. During the university perspectives panel, APLU President Peter McPherson discussed a set of joint AAU/APLU recommendations that encourage universities to view technology transfer offices as vehicles to advance the public interest. NIST will release a Request for Information (RFI) in the coming days and intends to hold four public forums this year to engage stakeholders.
AAU will work with its partner associations to respond to the RFI and will encourage AAU universities to provide input, including seeking responses from faculty members that have benefited from existing university technology transfer practices.
RESCISSION PACKAGE COMING SOON
OMB Director Mick Mulvaney told lawmakers Wednesday that he will formally propose a package of spending cuts to Congress in the "next couple of weeks." The rescission request could target unused funding in existing accounts and appropriations in the FY18 Consolidated Appropriations Act (AAU summary linked here) the White House deems fiscally irresponsible. Funds proposed for rescission will be frozen more than six weeks while Congress decides whether to act on the request.
It is unclear which funds will be proposed for rescission. Prospects for congressional approval are also unclear. AAU will continue to closely monitor this for potential cuts to our research and higher education priorities.
HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS CALL FOR TIMELY DACA RENEWALS
AAU, along with 36 other higher education associations, last week sent a letter urging DHS to expedite the review and processing of DACA renewal applications, expressing concerns that delays could discourage many from renewing before current protections expire. The letter also asks DHS to convene a meeting of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council to discuss this and other issues of importance to higher education.
AAU continues to advocate for a permanent legislative solution on behalf of those affected by DACA's rescission.
LABOR DEPARTMENT ISSUES FLSA GUIDANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
The Department of Labor last week released overtime pay guidance for many occupations on campus under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Much of this document is similar to the DOL's now-overturned 2016 overtime rule and includes guidance on student-employees and applying the teaching extension to online teachers and extension agents.
2018 GOLDEN GOOSE AWARD SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Sponsorship opportunities for the 2018 Golden Goose Award are now available. Your organization's contributions help fund awardee travel and production of the 2018 awardee documentary, as well as support efforts to engage an ever-expanding audience. Funds are not used for staffing, which is provided in-kind by the Golden Goose Award Steering Committee organizations.
The deadline for sponsoring is July 31, 2018. Please contact Julia Smith ([email protected]) if your organization is interested in supporting the award.
Please visit us at www.aau.edu and follow AAU on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.