Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues,

While the federal government may be shutdown, the NAICU leadership – our board of directors and leadership committees, the National Association of Independent College and University State Executives, our Secretariat, and Legal Services Review Panel – was hard at work in Washington this week for our annual Fall Leadership Conference. 

During these meetings, we are updated on the key federal higher education policy and regulatory issues and work to set a course for addressing the most pressing concerns and identifying priorities and strategies for ensuring our voices are included in key policy debates.

Throughout the week we have dug deeply into several topics and issue areas, including the impact of the shutdown, the status of funding and appropriations, implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, perceptions of higher education, and the current state of affairs concerning federal data collection.

We also had a preview of what may be on the horizon in Congress, the administration, and the courts, which will inform our strategies for all three branches of government in the weeks and months ahead. 

One casualty of the shutdown was that Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent had to cancel his appearance at the meeting. I am grateful to Bradley Andrews, President, Brevard College, Josh Figueria, Deputy General Counsel & Managing Director Office of Compliance, Risk and Legal Affairs, BYU-Idaho, and Rob Manuel, President, DePaul University for accepting my very last-minute invitation to participate in a panel discussion addressing the implications of federal policies on campus activities.

Throughout the meeting, NAICU leadership ensured that our government relations, communications, and research priorities and strategies are designed to effectively advance private, nonprofit higher education and the students we serve.

We could not be effective advocates in Washington, DC without the work of our members and the willingness of all institutions, despite our varying missions, to stand up for the importance of the entire sector.

I hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Regards,

Barbara

Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
President, NAICU