As Congress Returns, What’s on Tap?
BU IN DC
Dean Adil Najam of the Pardee School of Global Studies attended the annual deans meeting of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs on January 8 and 9.
AS CONGRESS RETURNS, WHAT’S ON TAP?
The 114th Congress began this week, with Republicans taking control of both chambers for the first time in eight years. While higher education issues are not among Congressional leaders’ top priorities, progress is possible for some areas relevant to research universities.
Once again, funding will likely dominate the headlines as lawmakers need to adhere to strict spending caps or face the prospect of another sequester (across-the-board spending cuts) in fiscal year 2016. President Obama is expected to propose alleviating the spending caps in his annual budget proposal, but deficit-minded Republicans have so far indicated they plan to keep the budget caps in place when spending bills are written later this year.
While Congress is overdue to renew the Higher Education Act, it is not expected to be an immediate concern for either the House or Senate. Congressional education leaders may weigh in on the Obama Administration’s proposed college ratings system, however. Lawmakers are also expected to continue to focus on combatting sexual assault on college campuses.
In addition to making the case for robust research spending, science advocates will be on alert for Congressional attempts to reduce support for social science and the humanities. As policymakers debate these and other issues, BU Federal Relations will continue to represent the University’s voice in meetings with legislators and other stakeholders.
EDUCATION DEPT. RELEASES DRAFT RATINGS PROPOSAL
The U.S. Department of Education released a draft of its long awaited college ratings framework on December 19. The Department proposed identifying institutions as high-performing, low-performing, or in the middle, with two-year and four-year institutions rated separately. The agency is soliciting feedback on a series of metrics to measure schools’ performance on access, affordability, and outcomes, with the goal of launching a ratings system students and parents can use in the 2015 – 2016 school year.
HIGHER ED, CHARITABLE TAX PROVISIONS EXTENDED
President Barack Obama signed into law the Tax Increase Prevention Act at the end of last year, renewing over 50 expired tax provisions for the 2014 tax year. The law continues both the IRA rollover provision that permits older adults to donate funds from their retirement accounts to charity without being taxed and the tax deduction for tuition and related expenses. With these provisions set to expire for the 2015 tax year, it is likely that Congress will have to address the issue again at some point this year.