An expert on Capitol Hill describes the maze of federal agencies and Congressional subcommittees concerned with higher education. A chart on House-Senate committees is provided. (Editor/LBH)

The best lobbyists for higher education are trustees, whose political power is that they can describe college concerns. Legislators want to know policy costs, who and how it will serve, what evidence there is of success, and who opponents will be and why. (MSE)

Good working relationships with governors and state legislators are extremely important to trustees. It is important to approach the governor and legislators mindful of and sympathetic to the state's total needs. (MLW)

Higher education enrollment is seen as declining during the next 15 years. The decision to struggle on or close down must rest with governing boards or legislators. They must take the responsibility for their institutions and at the same time provide the best education for the greatest number of students. (MLW)

The needs of legislatures for a source of reliable, independent information on higher education costs are examined along with the role of statewide planning or coordinating agencies in providing that information. (JT)

Politics is seen as likely to play an important role in higher education during the 1980s. The best way to ensure continued public support and funding from the state is by demonstrating academic quality. Trustees must play a central role in political influence/pressure brought to bear on legislators. (MLW)

In order to work within the legislative framework, it is suggested, administrators and trustees must concern themselves with five essentials: key calendar dates, specific committee structures, the chairman's power, the party in control, and the flow of legislation. Administrators must also know the legislators, the issues, and the governor. (MLW)

Effective use of faculty is an important consideration in the need for accountability as institutions must maintain institutional quality while increasing operational efficiency. Collective bargaining and new federal reporting requirements for faculty necessitate a continuing focus on workload issues. (MLW)

Techniques for preparing and making effective presentations before Congressional committees on behalf of an institution are outlined, including the statement content and length, behavior with legislators, audiovisual aids, answering questions, and posthearing activities. (MSE)

Each level of higher education funding decision making--governor, legislature, state coordinating agency, system boards, and campus administration--is examined and the decision alternatives available to each are discussed. It is found that campuses have more freedom and capability than higher levels to apply reductions differentially rather than…

Trustees and other officials of state higher education institutions should understand their role in the legislative process, including respecting and understanding the political process; working closely with the institution's lobbyist, knowing your limits and advantages, monitoring public opinion, understanding campaign contributions,…

When a state legislator requested that the president of Southwest Missouri State University stop production of a drama department production about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the administrator refused to accede to pressure and enlisted and won the board's support. (MSE)