INSTITUTE FOR COMPUTER POLICY AND LAW AUGUST 13, 2008 POLITICS 101 – WHEN, WHY AND HOW TO TALK TO CONGRESS STEPHEN PHILIP JOHNSON VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS CORNELL UNIVERSITY 305 DAY HALL, ITHACA NY PH: (607) FAX: (607)
EXPECTED THEMES IN THE NEXT CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION SUSTAINABILITY THE ECONOMY GLOBAL STATUS OF THE UNITED STATES HELPING THE MIDDLE CLASS ACCESS/COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION GRADUATE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE
NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS BEGIN JANUARY 2009 NEW/RECYCLED STAFF PROVIDE SUPPORT HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL STATE GOVERNMENTS WILL BE INFLUENTIAL REALITIES IN THE NEXT CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION
TAKING STOCK OF FACTORS INFLUENCING YOUR APPROACH/AUDIENCE The seemy image of politics The partisan nature of debate Red State vs Blue State The politics of your home state University politics Your department
DEVELOPING YOUR MESSAGE What do you propose? Who are your allies? Who stands to lose? How will this play in the media?
WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE? Competition Investment Innovation Privacy Security
WHO ARE YOUR ALLIES? IN HIGHER EDUCATION – THE BIG 6: American Council on Education Association of American Universities (AAU) National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) a public University Association Association of State Universities and Colleges and Universities (ASCUE) National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) American Association of Community Colleges Others: National Association of College and University Business Officers Big Ten Ivy League Association of American Medical Colleges EDUCAUSE
Who might oppose your idea? The Bureaucracy? Civil Libertarians? Industry? How Can You Use Media to Your Advantage?
It’s a game Focus on your goal Avoid partisan battles Be flexible Seek partners carefully Keep it simple (KISS) Don’t make enemies! SUMMARY