- Partial Government Shutdown Continues
- Associations Comment on NIST Return on Investment ‘Green Paper’
- Education Department Releases Accreditation and Innovation Proposals
- Secretary DeVos Adds Staff to Key Higher Ed, Leg Affairs Posts
PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
Congress has adjourned for the weekend, making it all but certain the partial government shutdown will be the longest in U.S. history. As of 4:00 p.m. ET today, there are no indications from either congressional democrats or the administration that serious talks are underway. Earlier in the week, President Trump met with congressional leaders to discuss a possible end to the impasse. Those talks quickly proved unsuccessful with President Trump labeling the meeting a “total waste of time” and congressional democrats accusing the President of walking out.
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Reminder: The NIH and Education Department are funded, while other agencies including the NSF, NASA, NOAA, USDA, NIST, and NEH are not. The Office of Management and Budget has issued agency contingency plans and FAQs. |
ASSOCIATIONS COMMENT ON NIST RETURN ON INVESTMENT ‘GREEN PAPER’
AAU, along with AAMC, ACE, APLU, AUTM, and COGR, on Wednesday submitted comments to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in response to NIST’s Return on Investment Initiative Green Paper. The comments express the associations’ strong support for the Green Paper’s overarching aims and for many of the paper’s recommendations, several of which reflect a positive response to the associations’ July 2018 comments on NIST’s Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Technology Transfer Authorities and Processes. AAU and the associations will continue to work with NIST towards achieving the administration’s goal of improving technology transfer between our member institutions and the private sector.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RELEASES ACCREDITATION AND INNOVATION PROPOSALS
The Education Department on Monday released a set of draft proposals aimed at encouraging innovation in higher education. The proposed overhaul would largely reduce federal oversight for accrediting bodies, giving those agencies more flexibility in approving colleges and programs for receiving federal financial aid. The department also announced the names of individuals selected to serve in the negotiated rulemaking panel, which is set to begin considering the proposals January 14. If the panel fails to reach a consensus by November 1, the department may begin developing proposed regulations.
The Chronicle of Higher Education has more.
SECRETARY DEVOS ADDS STAFF TO KEY HIGHER ED, LEG AFFAIRS POSTS
Education Secretary DeVos earlier this week announced more than 20 new hires, including Dan Currell to serve as Deputy Under Secretary, and Anna Raymond Bartlett to serve as Director of the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs.