- AAU Urges Congressional Leaders to Finish FY19 Appropriations
- AAU, Associations Submit Comments on Proposed Title IX Regulations
- Senate Committee Holds “China and Russia” Hearing
- House Education and Labor Committee Announces Hearing Topics, Subcommittees
- Annual Endowment Study Shows 8 Percent Return in FY18
AAU URGES CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO FINISH FY19 APPROPRIATIONS
A bipartisan panel of 17 House and Senate members has just 14 days to reach an agreement that can pass both the House and Senate and win President Trump’s approval. AAU today wrote to congressional leaders and the conference committee to urge they provide full-year and increased funding for research agencies not yet funded for FY19, including NSF, NASA, NEH, and the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
ICYMI: President Coleman earlier this week issued a statement urging Congress and the administration to finish FY19 appropriations, boosting federal investments in NSF, NASA, NEH, and the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. She also strongly encouraged Congress to reach a permanent solution to protect DACA registrants from lingering uncertainty about their ability to remain in the U.S.
AAU, ASSOCIATIONS SUBMIT COMMENTS ON PROPOSED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
AAU on Wednesday joined 60 other organizations in a higher education community comment letter concerning the Education Department’s proposed Title IX regulations. The comment letter notes that while there are some helpful elements of the proposal, overall the draft rule would do “more harm than good.”
ICYMI: AAU last week submitted its own comments to the Education Department regarding the proposed Title IX rules. President Coleman released a statement saying that AAU and its universities look forward to working with the department as the rulemaking moves forward.
SENATE COMMITTEE HOLDS “CHINA AND RUSSIA” HEARING
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a Tuesday hearing titled “China and Russia” to discuss the Defense Department’s 2018 National Defense Strategy, U.S. alliances abroad, and how the federal government can combat Chinese and Russian attempts to undermine U.S. leadership and threaten national security. Witnesses stressed the need for bipartisan efforts to invest in research and technology, maintain strong relationships in NATO, and raise the American people’s awareness of economic and security threats. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) expressed concern regarding U.S. involvement with Huawei and ZTE. Witnesses agreed with his concerns and discussed how China can use Huawei and ZTE to expand their influence in Asia and undermine U.S. technology.
The Navy Times has more.
HOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE
ANNOUNCES HEARING TOPICS, SUBCOMMITTEES
The House Education and Labor Committee on Tuesday announced the topics of the committee’s first four hearings: 1) raising the minimum wage to $15; 2) preventing gender-based wage discrimination; 3) investing in public schools; and 4) protecting workers with pre-existing conditions. The hearings have yet to be scheduled.
The committee also announced a list of subcommittee chairs and ranking members, including Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) to serve as chair and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) to serve as ranking member to the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee. Notably, the committee also announced a new subcommittee on “civil rights and human services” to be led by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), chair, and Rep. James Comer (R-KY), ranking member.
ANNUAL ENDOWMENT STUDY SHOWS 8 PERCENT RETURN IN FY18
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) yesterday released its annual NACUBO-TIAA Study of Endowments, showing an average investment return of 8.2 percent in participating institution’s endowments, down from 12.2 percent in 2017. The study showed the 10-year average annual return increased to 5.8 percent, an increase from 4.6 percent in 2017. Institutions have continued to increase their spending dollars despite long-term returns remaining below 6 percent.
This year’s data, gathered from 802 U.S. colleges and universities, includes for the first-time information on how endowment-generated money is allocated. On average, 49 percent of withdrawals were applied to student scholarship and financial aid programs, 16 percent to academic programs, 10 percent to faculty positions, and 7 percent for campus operations. The remaining 18 percent falls under a category covering all other purposes.
Inside Higher Ed has more.