Policy Issues


Rural Libraries Hosting Movable Makerspaces

The Nebraska Library Commission is using a $531,000 grant to purchase "mobile" maker labs and spread them into rural communities.

SXSW EDU Policy Forum session

SXSW EDU Featuring the Whimsical and Serious to Spark 'Creative Thinking' in Higher Ed

There may be no better place to combine lofty education issues with a sense of fun and creativity than the SXSW EDU Conference & Festival, coming to Austin next month. Where else can you attend a variety show inspired by student writing projects, participate in a Moth StorySLAM, view a powerful documentary film screening, discuss teaching and learning strategies and debate policy, all in one event?

Scott Seeks 'Comprehensive' Reform for Higher Education Act

The chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee is willing to work with his counterparts in the Senate, but only if they agree to make "comprehensive" changes to the Higher Education Act a priority.

Alexander Looks to Overhaul Federal Student Aid by Christmas

The chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is looking to produce a bipartisan law by the end of this year to dramatically change how the federal student aid process works.

Government Shutdown Puts Pressure on University Research

The month-long shutdown of critical federal government agencies puts university research work at risk, causing delays and the loss of critical funding.

arrows changing direction

Christensen Institute: Now's the Time for a Makeover in College Accreditation

As a committee charged with rulemaking for the U.S. Department of Education dukes it out on accreditation matters in higher education, the Christensen Institute has weighed in with recommendations to keep innovation in mind.

Best Practices for the Release of Data Under FERPA During School Emergencies

"A delicate balance exists between privacy and security in schools," a recent federal report on school safety noted. "On the one hand, there is the legal requirement to protect the privacy of student education records. On the other hand, it is critical to recognize that some education records may contain information that, if disclosed to appropriate officials, could help prevent students from harming themselves or others."

closeup of two people negotiating over documents

Negotiated Rulemaking Efforts Begin Tackling Accreditation and Innovation

A Washington, D.C. blizzard was bad enough to knock a day and a half off of the first three-day effort to dig into work on proposed regulations for federal student aid programs. The regulations, authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act, are being undertaken by a "negotiated rulemaking" committee that brings together various stakeholders to hammer out language that the U.S. Department of Education is expected to use for two regulatory areas: accreditation and innovation.

view of blue sky through columns of a government building

ED Lays Out Rules to Overhaul Higher Ed

The U.S. Department of Education is starting the rulemaking process to address several topics in the higher education space.

College Researchers Impacted by Federal Shutdown

The third-longest federal government shutdown in history is impacting researchers who rely on agencies to fund their college and universities projects.