This is the 11th paper in AGB's series summarizing federal and state public policy issues affecting higher education. We hope that governing boards, institutional and university-system leaders, and senior staffs will find it useful for board discussions and retreats and in formulating institutional responses to these issues. For the next two…

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) targeted substantial School Improvement Grants (SIGs) to the nation's "persistently lowest achieving" public schools (i.e., up to $2 million per school annually over 3 years) but required schools accepting these awards to implement a federally prescribed school-reform model.…

The Teacher Education Accreditation Council's (TEAC's) "Guide to Accreditation" is primarily for the faculty, staff, and administrators of TEAC member programs. It is designed for use in preparing for both initial and continuing accreditation. Program personnel should understand and accept all the components of the TEAC accreditation process…

To address some of the financial challenges facing low-income students, federal policymakers enacted a provision in the 2008 Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) that makes financial literacy a required service of all TRIO programs (or, in the case of McNair, simply makes permissible). Effective August 2008, these programs started offering…

The purpose of this guide is to help chronically struggling schools restructure. "Restructuring" means major, rapid changes that affect how a school is led and how instruction is delivered. Restructuring is essential in achieving rapid improvements in student learning. The focus is on helping education leaders choose strategies that…

This document provides a Fundamentals of Title IV Administration Workshop Agenda. The agenda includes an introduction and high level overview: the process in general; history of the programs; laws and regulations; and overview of the programs. Following this is a section on applying to participate and understand your school's responsibilities…

Because higher education institutions have become dependent on federal funding for academic and research activities, compliance with federal regulations is mandatory. Keeping up with these regulations, implementing them, and providing necessary certifications requires careful planning and management. Accomplishing this efficiently will both help…

Colleges and universities have been major beneficiaries of nonenforcement of existing regulations in the areas of civil rights, the environment, employee safety, and financial accountability. Lists prominent existing federal regulations that should be reviewed in order to achieve compliance. (MLF)

Nutrition integrity ensures that all foods available in schools for children are consistent with recommended dietary allowances and contribute to the development of lifelong, healthy eating habits. Attaining nutrition integrity is the goal of numerous changes in National School Lunch and Breakfast Program regulations. Outlines new federal…

A discussion of informed consent by human subjects in experimentation presents background on the consent issue, including federal requirements; lists factors that may affect a subject's ability to understand the consent document; and offers suggestions for preparing consent forms to ensure the subject's better comprehension. (Author/MSE)

Discussion of highly publicized regulatory problems and legal settlements involving colleges and universities leads to a proposed five-step process for improving an institutional compliance structure. Steps include selecting the compliance officer, determining appropriate reporting relationships, setting up the committee/council structure,…

This handbook presents guidelines for the installation, use, and storage of full-size or nearly full-size movable soccer goals to help prevent deaths and serious injuries from soccer goal tipover. The guide first reviews soccer goal injuries and deaths occurring in the United States and briefly examines the soccer rules associated with goals. It…

In addressing the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Board, the National Association of College and University Business Officers' president urged the accounting standards boards to work together to establish a multiyear accounting research agenda for higher education. (Author/MSE)

Outlines the federal legislative and regulatory processes concerning student financial aid, with the objective of encouraging participation in modification of the rules by which schools, lenders, servicers, and guaranty agencies must administer Title IV (Higher Education Act) financial aid. Topics discussed include authorization/reauthorization,…

Summarizes highlights of the Government Accounting Standards Board's proposed standard for college and university accounting, known as GASB 35. Topics addressed include enterprise fund financial statements, reporting of state appropriations, segment reporting, effective dates, and infrastructure assets. (MSE)