AACRAO and Federal Relations Update Presented by: Michael Reilly, AACRAO Executive Director Michelle Mott, Associate Director, Government Relations & Communications Quintina Conway, Assistant Director, Legislative Affairs

AACRAO Update Government Relations staff Washington Office Renovations New Initiatives Public Policy and Education Agenda –Board approval February 2013 AACRAO website revamp –Compliance –State legislation tracking tool

Federal Budget Update Sequestration –Military Tuition Assistance Program –Science Research Funding –Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, federal work-study, TRIO, GEAR UP –U.S. Education Dept. Guidance FY 2013 Continuing Resolution –Tuition Assistance amendment –Sen. Coburn’s amendment to limit poli sci funding

Federal Budget Update FY 2014 Budget Plans –House budget plan: freezes maximum Pell grant, consolidates federal job-training programs, tightens eligibility for federal student aid, allows federally subsidized student loan interest rates to double. –Senate budget plan: prioritizes Pell Grant funding, prevents the interest rates from doubling, rolls back the increased loan origination fees, expands access to Income-Based Repayment program. President Obama’s FY 2014 Blueprint

Legislative Developments “Know Before You Owe” Private Student Loan Act (S 113) Fairness for Struggling Students Act (S 114) Students First Act (S 406) Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act (S 528 and HR 340) Smarter Borrowing Act (S 546) Student Loan Fairness Act (HR)

Legislative Developments Student Right to “Know Before You Go” Act –Federal unit-record data system –National Student Clearinghouse –State longitudinal data systems –Status quo Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act –Campus SaVE Act provision Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act

Military Students and Veterans VA secures GI Bill trademark Executive Order – Principles of Excellence –Financial Aid Shopping Sheet DoD MOU for TA program –Effects of sequestration –Spring/Summer 2013 agreement –Incorporation of POE Student Complaint Form

Issues to Watch Fisher v. U. of Texas at Austin (No ) –U.S. Supreme Court poised to issue a decision Interest rate on Stafford loans –Set to double, from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, July 1 Pell Grant program “shortfall” Transparency and College Costs –College Scorecard Immigration and the federal DREAM Act

Issues to Watch Higher Education Act Reauthorization –Program integrity “Gainful Employment” metrics State longitudinal data systems and student privacy concerns –Accreditation and the role of the “triad” –State authorization for distance education programs –Federal definition of credit hour –Pell grant eligibility and funding –Higher education tax credits

AACRAO Advocacy AACRAO Public Policy Advisory Committee AACRAO Advocacy Group –Join listserv at Public Affairs Task Force –NACAC, NASFAA, NASPA Higher Education Compliance Alliance –FERPA, Voter Registration