Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
Dear Colleagues,
Last week, we reported that Congress was “taking steps” to avoid a government shutdown. Suffice it to say, this is a new week.
With no deal in sight to keep the government open, President Trump raised the stakes for Democratic negotiators this week with the announcement that the Office of Management and Budget has instructed federal agencies to pursue reduction in force plans for federal workers rather than the typical furlough option if the federal government shuts down on October 1. At the same time, the Department of Education opened the FAFSA for the 2026-27 cycle, one week ahead of the anticipated October 1 launch date. It is our understanding that there will be no disruption to FAFSA filings if the government shuts down.
If the federal government remains open, the first of two negotiated rulemaking panels announced by the Department of Education is set to begin next week. These panels are being convened to tackle the higher education provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. However, should the federal government shut down, so too would negotiated rulemaking.
The first panel out of the gate is the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee, which has wide-ranging charges and will be of particular interest to independent colleges and universities. Topics on the agenda include defining “professional” graduate degree programs for purposes of loan eligibility, the phase-out of the Grad PLUS program, and the establishment of new annual and lifetime loan limits. The RISE Committee will meet for two week-long sessions, scheduled to be completed by early November. The private, nonprofit sector will be primarily represented by Jenna Colvin, president of the Georgia Independent College Association.
2026 Annual Meeting & Advocacy Day
2026 marks NAICU’s 50th year. Fittingly, our theme for next year’s Annual Meeting & Advocacy Day (Feb. 1-4, 2026) is 50 Years of Impact: Charting the Future of Independent Higher Education. For more details, including registration and hotel information, please visit our conference webpage.
Soundbites
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H-1B Visa Costs Raised Significantly. President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation increasing the cost of an H-1B visa for high-skilled tech workers from $215 to $100,000. The Trump Administration also indicated there would be additional proposed rules and guidance to follow along with more changes to the H-1B program. The fee will only apply to new visa applications not existing visas or visa renewals. The fee increase, which could impact college faculty and other employees, went into effect immediately and will last for one year unless it’s extended or ruled unlawful by a court.
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Upcoming Sponsored Webinar: Beyond the Metrics. Join NAICU and Pearl Meyer on October 23 from 3:00-4:00 pm EDT for a practical framework on evaluating leadership, sustainability, and institutional vision with guidance on self-assessment, stakeholder input, and governance best practices. Featured speakers include Barbara K. Mistick (NAICU), Alexander Yaffe (Pearl Meyer), and Peter Thies (Pearl Meyer).
I hope you have a pleasant weekend,
Barbara
Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
President, NAICU
For more information, please contact:
Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.