- AAU Comments on Education Department’s Proposed Title IX Regulations
- President Supports Short-term Funding Patch to End Shutdown
- Coalition Urges Congress and the Administration to End the Shutdown
- SCOTUS Takes No Action on DACA
AAU COMMENTS ON EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
AAU yesterday submitted comments on the Education Department’s proposed Title IX regulations. The comments, informed by AAU universities’ experiences in administering campus sexual assault and misconduct proceedings, identifies key concerns and requests the department: 1) eliminate requirements that institutions permit cross-examination and appoint aligned advisors; 2) remove the requirement that universities apply the same standard of evidence and process across all disciplinary processes; and 3) clarify whether the department intends to preempt other relevant laws and under what circumstances an institution may forbid and investigate behavior that falls outside the department’s “sexual harassment” definition.
President Mary Sue Coleman released a statement saying, “AAU universities are committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of their campus communities and are working diligently to prevent and address allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.” She also said that AAU and its universities look forward to working with the department as the rulemaking moves forward.
PRESIDENT SUPPORTS SHORT-TERM FUNDING PATCH TO END SHUTDOWN
After dueling bills to end the partial government shutdown failed yesterday in the Senate, President Trump today announced he supports a short-term spending bill to reopen the government that does not include border security funds. Shortly after the announcement, the Senate began debate on the three-week spending patch, which Congress is largely expected to pass some time this evening. The House is expected to pass the bill this evening.
SCOTUS TAKES NO ACTION ON DACA
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday took no action on the administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Appeals are still pending in the Second and Fourth Circuits, with the Second Circuit scheduled to hear oral arguments on the case this Friday. If the Supreme Court were to agree to take up these cases in the future, the earliest it would hear them now is Fall 2019, with no decision until early 2020.
- Prior to the president’s announcement, the Coalition for National Science Funding, of which AAU is a member, wrote to President Trump and congressional leaders urging they end the government shutdown and provide at least $8.175 billion for the National Science Foundation in FY19.