COVID-19 Policy Developments
Section 1 Content
COVID-19 dramatically reshaped how colleges and universities educated their students, protected their campus communities, and conducted operations. Institutions across the country continue to work tirelessly on prevention and response efforts, while also trying to minimize the unprecedented disruption and profound financial and administrative upheaval.
ACE led the higher education association community's efforts to urge Congress and the federal government to address the many challenges students and campuses faced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can trace this work through the documents and news stories found below.
Section 2 Content
Vaccines and Other Preventative Measures
Moving into spring 2021, campuses faced a number of questions in deciding the best way forward on vaccine policies for their communities. ACE has produced several issue briefs to help.
December 13, 2021
Legal Challenges Complicate Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors, Including Universities
In the latest development on vaccine mandates, a federal district court in Georgia last week blocked President Biden’s mandate for millions of federal contractors’ employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
October 1, 2021
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Federal Contract Requirements on Colleges and Universities
The Biden administration has issued guidance to implement its executive order mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for federal contractors. This issue brief will help you sort through the details and plan your institution's response.
April 5, 2021
Issue Brief on Potential COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements at Colleges and Universities for Fall 2021
The brief looks at issues such as whether institutions can require students to be vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine and other questions involved in making the decision.
June 7, 2021
CDC, ACHA Release Guidance on How Campuses Can Operate Safely This Fall
CDC and ACHA have released new guidance on how higher ed can operate safely this fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, taking into consideration the substantial progress the US has made in the months since vaccinations were made available.
Federal Emergency Relief
The higher education association community worked with Congress and the Biden and Trump administrations throughout 2020 and 2021 on supplemental spending bills, student debt relief, and other assistance for students and institutions.
August 23, 2021
Comments on Expansion of COVID-19 Relief Fund Reporting
Comments to the Department of Education on the proposed expansion of reporting requirements for colleges and universities that received funding under the three COVID-19 emergency relief bills passed in 2020-21.
March 11, 2021
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Simulated Distribution of Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides almost $40 billion in relief funding for higher education institutions. ACE has prepared a simulation of how the Education Department could distribute this money.
March 15, 2021
Letter of Appreciation to Congressional Leaders for Passing the American Rescue Plan
Letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for including support for postsecondary students and institutions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319).
March 4, 2021
Department of Education's Response to Questions About HEERF Fund Distribution
Response from the Department of Education to some of the questions ACE sent on Feb. 11 about the rules for spending the COVID-19 relief funds in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.
March 2, 2021
Letter to Senate Leadership in Support of the Reconciliation Package
We are particularly appreciative that nearly $40 billion is included in the legislation for students and institutions. While this amount falls short of our most recent estimate of at least $97 billion in need, it represents the largest federal effort s...
February 25, 2021
Letter to House Leaders in Support of Funding for Students and Institutions in Budget Reconciliation Bill
As the House of Representatives moves to consider the reconciliation package on the floor, ACE and over 50 organizations write on behalf of U.S. colleges and universities to express strong support for the measure.
February 10, 2021
Questions to ED on Emergency Relief Funding Distribution
Letter to incoming Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona outlining questions campuses have about the rules for spending the most recent round of COVID-19 relief funds approved by Congress in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriatio...
February 10, 2021
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding
We look forward to working with lawmakers and the Biden administration as the bill moves forward. But we continue to stress that additional federal assistance, either now or in a future emergency relief measure, is needed to address the shattering impact.
February 8, 2021
Letter to the House Committee on Education and Labor on Emergency Relief in Budget Reconciliation
ACE and other higher education associations write to support emergency relief for higher education students and institutions as committee members create the FY21 budget resolution’s reconciliation instructions.
January 28, 2021
Letter to Acting Secretary of Education on Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
ACE and other higher ed associations ask for clarification that emergency relief funds in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 can be used to help all students, including undocumented and international students.
January 29, 2021
How Colleges and Universities Can Help With the Federal COVID-19 Pandemic Response
In this letter to President Joe Biden, ACE and 38 other higher education groups outline some tangible ways that colleges and universities with sufficient capacity and resources could volunteer to contribute to this critical national endeavor.
January 25, 2021
Letter to Congress About the Continuing Needs of Students and Institutions During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 relief bill Congress approved in December provided just under $23 billion for postsecondary students and institutions. While this will deliver some help, at least $97 billion in critical needs remains unaddressed.
January 7, 2021
CRRSAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Simulation
Simulated distribution of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, the pandemic relief bill signed into law in December 2020.
January 7, 2021
Methodology for the CRRSAA Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Simulation
How we modeled the simulated distribution of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund provided by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.
January 7, 2021
Summary of the Higher Education Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
High-level summary of the higher education provisions in the latest COVID-19 emergency relief bill, including the a breakdown of the $22.7 billion in emergency assistance for higher education institutions and students.
December 8, 2020
Letter to Congress in Support of the SAFE TO WORK Act
ACE and the higher education community urge congressional leaders to include the SAFE TO WORK Act in the next COVID-19 relief package to provide limited liability protections during the pandemic.
December 4, 2020
Letter to Congress on Borrower Relief Extensions
Letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to extend the current suspension of payment and zero percent interest for all federal student loan borrowers, as well as the suspension of collections on defaulted loans, as the pandemic continues.
December 2, 2020
Letter to Congressional Leaders on COVID-19 Relief for Higher Education
The CARES Act was vital to keeping students enrolled and colleges running in the spring. But the scope of the financial duress has grown, and coleges and universities now have at least $120 billion in new expenses and lost revenue.
November 20, 2020
Request to Extend Relief for Federal Student Loan Borrowers
Letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos asking for an extension of the current suspension of payment and zero percent interest for federal student loan borrowers and the suspension of collections on defaulted loans during the pandemic.
November 2, 2020
Request to Extend Student Loan Relief During the Pandemic
Letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from NASFAA, TICAS, and ACE urging the administration to extend and expand repayment relief to federal student loan borrowers.
October 26, 2020
The Need for Federal Relief for Colleges and Universities During COVID-19
Since the start of the pandemic, colleges and universities and their students have been overwhelmed by a unique combination of factors. To stave off catastrophic consequences, at least $120 billion in new federal support is needed immediately.
October 27, 2020
Higher Education Priorities in the Next COVID-19 Supplemental Spending Bill
Congress should provide a minimum of $120 billion for colleges and universities in the next supplemental spending bill to cover the costs of reopening, lost revenue, and emergency financial aid for students.
October 19, 2020
Request to Congress for Emergency Funding for Higher Education
Letter to congressional leaders requesting at least $120 billion in new federal support for students and colleges and universities in the next COVID-19 supplemental spending bill.
September 28, 2020
Letter to House Leaders on Fall COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill
Letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting that any new COVID-19 supplemental funding bill include at least $120 billion for higher education in order to partially mitigate the challenges that students and instit...
August 5, 2020
Letter to Congress on Higher Education Needs in the Fifth COVID-19 Emergency Spending Bill
Letter to House and Senate leaders expressing the views of colleges and universities on what student and institutional aid provisions should be included in the fifth COVID-19 spending bill.
July 29, 2020
Summary of the Higher Education Provisions in the HEALS Act
The emergency spending package released by Senate Republicans on July 27, 2020, is comprised of multiple bills known collectively as the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act.
July 29, 2020
Request for Senate to Extend Relief for Student Borrowers
Letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority leader Chuck Schumer requesting an extension of the student loan borrower relief provided in the CARES Act.
July 22, 2020
Letter to Senate on Effective Implementation of COVID-19 Emergency Supplemental Funds
Letter to Senate leadership encouraging Congress to give careful consideration to ensure that any new initiatives in the next COVID-19 supplemental appropriations act are implemented effectively by the Department of Education.
July 2, 2020
Letter to HELP Committee on Reopening Costs for Institutions
Letter to HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray on reopening costs for institutions.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Allocations to Institutions Authorized by the CARES Act
The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide emergency grants to students whose lives have been disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 3, 2020
Letter to the Senate HELP Committee on Reopening Campuses This Fall
Letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in advance of its June 4 hearing on reopening campuses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 29, 2020
Higher Education Priorities for the Fifth Supplemental Spending Bill
Request from ACE and 83 other higher education associations requesting $46.6 billion in support for students and institutions in the fifth COVID-19 spending bill.
May 28, 2020
The Need for Liability Protections for Colleges and Universities During the Pandemic
Letter to House and Senate leadership requesting Congress to quickly enact temporary and targeted liability protections for higher education institutions, affiliated nonprofits, and healthcare providers and facilities.
May 14, 2020
Letter to the House on the HEROES Act
Letter to House leadership in support of the Health, Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act.
May 14, 2020
Summary of the HEROES Act
Summary of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, the House bill that would be the fifth COVID-19 emergency funding measure.
May 7, 2020
Letter to Congress Requesting CARES Act Technical Corrections
Letter to House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions containing requests for clarifications and technical corrections to the CARES Act.
April 20, 2020
Letter to House Leadership on Borrower Relief During the Pandemic
Letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy requesting relief for both the 13.7 million students borrowing to finance their college educations and the 44 million already in repayment.
April 20, 2020
Letter to Senate Leadership on Borrower Relief During the Pandemic
Letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting relief for both the 13.7 million students borrowing to finance their college educations and the 44 million already in repayment.
April 10, 2020
Memo on the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
From Hogan Lovells, this memo describes pertinent provisions of the $14 billion Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability (CARES) Act.
April 9, 2020
Letter to House Leadership Requesting Additional Support During the Pandemic
Letter to House leadership requesting additional assistance for the higher education community during the COVID-19 pandemic as Congress prepares the next stimulus bill.
April 9, 2020
Letter to Senate Leadership Requesting Additional Support During the Pandemic
Letter to Senate leadership requesting additional assistance for the higher education community during the COVID-19 pandemic as Congress prepares the next stimulus bill.
March 26, 2020
Summary of the Higher Education Provisions in the CARES Act
Summary of the higher education provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which provides over $2 trillion in emergency relief to address the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic.
April 2, 2020
Letter to Secretary DeVos on Distributing Funds in the CARES Act
Letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos on the need to distribute the higher education emergency relief funds included in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act as soon as possible.
March 26, 2020
Summary of the Higher Education Provisions in the CARES Act
Summary of the higher education provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which provides over $2 trillion in emergency relief to address the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic.
March 20, 2020
Letter to House on Higher Education Priorities in Supplemental Spending Bill
Letter to Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy outlining how the federal government can assist students, educators, and institutions in recovering from the impact of COVID-19.
March 20, 2020
Letter to Senate on Higher Education Priorities in Supplemental Spending Bill
Letter to Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer outlining how the federal government can assist students, educators, and institutions in recovering from the impact of COVID-19.
March 20, 2020
Letter Urging Student Loan Repayment Relief During COVID-19 Crisis
Letter to Congress from ACE, the NASFAA, and TICAS urging Congress to provide immediate repayment relief to federal student loan borrowers amid the COVID-19 crisis.
March 19, 2020
Memo to Congress: Supporting Higher Education During the Pandemic
Recommendations from the higher education community for what to include in the coronavirus emergency stimulus bill Congress is drafting to support college students and institutions.
Tax Policy and Access to Low-Cost Loans
Tax policies to support students and higher education institutions, such as suspending the taxability of scholarship and grant aid and enhanced tax credits for families, were a critical part of pandemic relief. Institutions also were in need of access to loan programs to help with the dramatically high costs associated with COVID-19.
November 25, 2020
Comments on the Small Business Administration's Loan Necessity Questionnaire
ACE and 41 other higher education associations submitted these comments expressing concern about some of the questions on the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Necessity Questionnaire and their potential impact on nonprofit higher education institutions.
August 6, 2020
Letter to Congress in Support of Changes to COVID-19 Loan Programs
Letter to Senate and House leadership in support of changes to the Small Business Administration, Paycheck Protection Program, and Main Street Lending Program in next COVID-19 relief package to make these programs more accessible to colleges and univer...
August 3, 2020
Letter to Congress on Tax Credits in Next COVID-19 Emergency Aid Bill
Letter to the leaders of the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees on making colleges and universities eligible for certain tax credits in the next COVID-19 spending bill.
June 22, 2020
Comments on the Proposed Main Street Lending Program Nonprofit Facility
ACE and 53 other higher education associations submitted comments to the Federal Reserve on a dedicated program for nonprofits to access affordable loans to help mitigate the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.
June 8, 2020
Request to Exclude All Student Workers from the Paycheck Protection Program Threshold
Letter to the Small Business Administration requesting the exclusion of both Federal Work-Study and other students workers from the total number of campus employees for purposes of the Paycheck Protection Program loan eligibility.
June 2, 2020
Make Higher Education Institutions Eligible for FMLA Tax Credit
Letter to Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer urging them to colleges and universities eligible for the paid sick and family leave refundable tax credit created in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Direct Lending for Nonprofits During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell about setting up facilities that can provide direct lending to colleges, universities, and nonprofit medical institutions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 29, 2020
Expanding the Paycheck Protection Program to All Nonprofits
Letter to the Senate Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship urging support for the House HEROES Act provision that expands the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program to all nonprofits, regardless of size.
May 29, 2020
Expanding the Main Street Lending Program to Nonprofits
Letter to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs in support of the House HEROES Act provision requiring the Federal Reserve to expand the Main Street Lending Program to all nonprofits, including colleges and universities.
May 6, 2020
Letter Endorsing the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act
Letter signed by ACE and 15 other associations to Representative Lloyd Doggett in support of the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act of 2020.
April 23, 2020
Letter on the Main Street Lending Program
Letter to the leaders of the House Committee on Financial Services and Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs requesting changes to the CARES Act Main Street Lending program to help accommodate higher education institutions.
April 23, 2020
Letter on the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program
Letter to the House and Senate Small Business Committees requesting changes to the Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Program to help higher education institutions more easily apply for support.
April 21, 2020
Letter to Congress on the Taxability of Emergency Student Financial Aid Grants
Letter to House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees requesting that the emergency student financial aid grants authorized by the CARES Act are not subject to taxation.
April 16, 2020
Comments on the Main Street Lending Program
Comments to the Federal Reserve Chairman requesting updated guidance on the Main Street Lending Program to clarify that nonprofit private and public institutions are included and to exempt student workers from the employee threshhold.
April 16, 2020
Letter to Treasury and IRS on CARES Emergency Grant Aid
Letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig on the taxibility of emergency grant aid for college and university students in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stimulus.
April 9, 2020
Letter to Congress on Higher Education Tax Priorities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Letter to the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees outlining the higher education tax proposals needed to support students and institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2, 2020
Letter on CARES Act Loan Provisions
Letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Administrator Jovita Carranza on Paycheck Protection Program and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans in the CARES Act economic stimulus bill.
April 1, 2020
Summary of the CARES Act Loan Programs Available to Colleges and Universities
Summary of the programs of interest to higher education institutions in the CARES Act, inlcudint the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Main Street Loans.
March 23, 2020
Letter in Support of Charitable Giving Amendment to the CARES Act
Letter to Sen. James Lankford in support of his amendment to the in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that would create an above-the-line deduction for charitable giving for taxpayers not itemizing their deductions
Support for Research
Research universities, medical schools, and teaching hospitals are at the forefront of our nation’s fight against COVID-19, and it is vital to safeguard the research workforce and capabilities.
January 26, 2021
Request for Supplemental Funding for Federal Science Agencies During COVID-19
Higher education associations are urging Congress to provide $26 billion in supplemental funding for federal science agencies that provide critical support for the nation’s scientists and engineers and research operations.
September 25, 2020
Request to House to Make Research Funding a Priority in the Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
Letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting that the next COVID-19 relief package provide emergency funding for the nation’s research agencies, including research relief funding consistent with the RISE Act.
August 3, 2020
Request for Continued Support for Research During the Pandemic
Letter to Congress, the Department of the Treasury, and the White House requesting emergency funding for scientific research in the next COVID-19 relief package under consideration.
May 28, 2020
Supporting Research During the Pandemic
Letter to Senate leadership and the Appropriations Committee on requesting $26 billion in additional support for research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 7, 2020
Letter to Congressional Leadership on Support for Research During the Pandemic
Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting relief for the university research workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 20, 2020
Letter to Congress in Support of Research During COVID-19 Pandemic
Letter from ACE, AAU, APLU, and AAMC outlining a four-point strategy to help U.S. universities continue leading in the battle against COVID-19 and ensure that research in other areas can continue.
Veterans
Student veterans required additional consideration given the benefits they receive under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
September 23, 2020
Letter to the House in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
Letter to the House Committee on Veteran Affairs in support of extending a law to help ensure that veteran education benefits are not disrupted because of COVID-19. The new end date is December 2021.
September 23, 2020
Letter to the Senate in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs in support of extending a law to help ensure that veteran education benefits are not disrupted because of COVID-19. The new end date is December 2021.
April 14, 2020
Letter to Senate Veterans Committee on Veteran Coronavirus Response Act
Letter sent to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Veterans in support of the Student Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020.
March 18, 2020
Letter in Support of Ensuring GI Bill Benefits for Online Programs During COVID-19 Pandemic
Letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy asking the House to approve a bill ensuring veterans continue to receive their GI bill benefits when campuses move courses online due to COVID-19.
March 12, 2020
Letter to Senate on Ensuring GI Bill Benefits Are Not Interrupted During Coronavirus Pandemic
Letter to Sens. Jerry Moran and Jon Tester of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in support of legislation to ensure that veterans continue to receive their GI bill benefits if their institution moves courses online due to the coronavirus.
March 12, 2020
Letter to House on Ensuring GI Bill Benefits Are Not Interrupted During Coronavirus Pandemic
Letter to Rep. Phil Roe in strong support of H.R. 6194, legislation to ensure that veterans continue to receive their GI bill benefits if their institution moves courses online due to the coronavirus.
Regulations and Guidance
Campuses have been compelled to streamline operations during the pandemic to better serve their students. Regulatory relief and clear gudiance on implementing rules and laws play a prominent role.
August 23, 2021
Comments on Expansion of COVID-19 Relief Fund Reporting
Comments to the Department of Education on the proposed expansion of reporting requirements for colleges and universities that received funding under the three COVID-19 emergency relief bills passed in 2020-21.
March 8, 2021
Higher Education and the Future of Telehealth
Letter to the chairs and ranking members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Subcommittee on Health following the subcommittee's March 2 hearing on “The Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care.”
July 2, 2020
Letter to Secretary Devos on Interim Final Rule in the CARES Act
Letter to Secretary Betsy Devos on the Interim Final Rule for establishing student eligibility for emergency grants under the CARES Act.
June 1, 2020
Labor Department's Unemployment Guidance Undermines CARES Act Intent
Letter to Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer seeking relief from the Department of Labor's CARES Act guidance, which is intended to provide emergency unemployment relief to governmental entities and nonprofits.
April 2, 2020
Letter on Telemedicine Licensing Reciprocity
Letter to the nation's governors urging them to provide reciprocity in licensing health care and mental health care professionals to enable them to practice across state lines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 24, 2020
Letter Requesting a Delay on Title IX and Section 117 Rules
Letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting the department delay further action on the final Title IX rule and Section 117 foreign gifts and contracts information collection request until after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.
March 23, 2020
Letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Waiving Financial Responsibility Standards
Letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos requesting the Department of Education use its authority under Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act to temporarily waive financial responsibility standards.
International Students
Responding to the flow of students to and from China, followed by other highly impacted countries, was the first line of defense in January 2020. ACE and other associations, along with colleges and universities, continue to work for fair and equitiable visa and other policies to ensure international students and scholars can study and work in the United States.
October 14, 2021
Flexibility Needed for International Students and Scholars Under New Travel Policy
Letter to the White House coordinator of the COVID-19 response and the CDC urging flexibility on vaccines for international students and scholars under the Biden administration's new travel policy that goes into effect in November 2021.
July 20, 2021
Letter to State Department on NIE Travel Restrictions
ACE and other associations request clarification on the.national interest exemption for students and other academics from countries under current COVID-19 travel restrictions.
March 18, 2021
Letter to State and DHS Requesting Support for International Students in Fall 2021
Letter to the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas asking that the agencies act now to make it possible for international students to travel to the United States for the fall 2021 semester.
February 3, 2021
Higher Education Priorities for Department of Homeland Security
Letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas discussing issues of importance to the higher education community that are relevant to his new role in the Biden administration.
January 28, 2021
Letter to Acting Secretary of Education on Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
ACE and other higher ed associations ask for clarification that emergency relief funds in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 can be used to help all students, including undocumented and international students.
January 27, 2021
Letter to Secretary of State on Supporting International Students
Letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on initial actions his department can take to help support international students and restore the United States as a destination of choice for global students and scholars.
January 26, 2021
Letter to DHS on OPT Work Authorization Application Delays
Recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security on how the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services can best extend flexibility to Optional Practical Training (OPT) applicants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
December 4, 2020
Request for Spring 2021 Guidance for International Students and Scholars
Letter to the Department of Homeland Security from ACE and over 30 other higher education associations seeking guidance for international students and exchange visitors during the continuing COVID-19 crisis.
September 15, 2020
Request to Congress to Protect International Student Visas Under the National Defense Authorization Act
Letter to the House and Senate Armed Services and Judiciary committees in support of Sec. 1763 of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which would allow international students to study online until the end of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
August 12, 2020
Letter to Homeland Security and Consular Affairs on Visa Guidance
Letter to Homeland Security and the Bureau of Consular Affairs asking for assurance that international students can safely travel to begin the academic term this fall.
July 22, 2020
Letter to DHS on ICE Directive for International Students
Letter from ACE and other higher education associations to the Department of Homeland Security asking for clarification on the the withdrawn Immigration and Customs Enforcement directive and the status of international students.
July 13, 2020
Amicus Brief: President and Fellows of Harvard College and MIT v. Department of Homeland Security, ICE, et al
Amicus brief from ACE and 70 other higher education associations supporting the first of several legal challenges to the Trump administration’s new directive that prohibits international students from remaining in the U.S. if their colleges hold course...
July 10, 2020
Request to DHS to Withdraw ICE Guidance on International Students
Letter from ACE and 80 other associations to Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, asking him to withdraw the recent guidance issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding international students and the upcoming 2020-21 academic year.
July 6, 2020
Statement by ACE President Ted Mitchell on ICE Guidance on International Students
The new guidance from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raises more questions than it answers and unfortunately appears to do more harm than good.
July 2, 2020
Letter to the State Department and DHS on Guidance for International Students
Letter to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security requesting guidance on international students for the 2020-2021 academic year.
May 19, 2020
Letter to the White House on Optional Practical Training
Letter to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell on the review of non-immigrant programs, including Optional Practical Training, as part of the administration's recent order on immigration.
April 30, 2020
Letter on President Trump's Immigration Executive Order
Letter to the secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Labor about President Trump's recent executive order on immigration, specifically on the section that calls for an examination of and recommendations regarding non-immigrant programs.
April 8, 2020
Request to State Department for Guidance for International Students During the Pandemic
Letter to Secretary Mike Pompeo seeking further guidance from the Department of State guidance for international students and scholars during the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 16, 2020
Letter Requesting Additional Guidance on Coronavirus for International Students
Letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf requesting additional guidance for international students and scholars on U.S. campuses in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
January 24, 2022
Federal COVID-19 Emergency Relief Funding Critical to Underserved Students
A new analysis of ACE's HEERF survey from fall 2021 finds that the federal relief funds were especially critical for lower-resourced institutions and their students, many of whom come from lower-income backgrounds.
November 17, 2021
ACE, Other Higher Education Associations File Briefs Correcting Tuition Refund Lawsuits’ False “Windfall” Claims
In response to the hundreds of tuition refund class action lawsuits filed against colleges and universities, ACE and 18 other associations have filed amicus briefs to clarify the financial impact of the pandemic on higher education institutions.
December 13, 2021
Legal Challenges Complicate Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors, Including Universities
In the latest development on vaccine mandates, a federal district court in Georgia last week blocked President Biden’s mandate for millions of federal contractors’ employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
October 4, 2021
What Colleges and Universities Need to Know About the Biden Vaccine Mandate for Federal Contractors
A new ACE issue brief summarizes the Biden administration’s new guidance on mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for federal contractors, including colleges and universities.
September 20, 2021
While Biden's Vaccine Mandate Will Impact Colleges and Universities, Details Remain Unclear
President Biden’s recently announced COVID-19 action plan has a number of provisions that will impact colleges and universities in the coming weeks and months, although many of the specifics are still unknown.
June 7, 2021
CDC, ACHA Release Guidance on How Campuses Can Operate Safely This Fall
CDC and ACHA have released new guidance on how higher ed can operate safely this fall as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, taking into consideration the substantial progress the US has made in the months since vaccinations were made available.
May 14, 2021
Education Department Releases $36 Billion in COVID-19 Emergency Relief Funds
The Department of Education has announced more than $36 billion in emergency grants for nonprofit higher education institutions and students under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.
April 5, 2021
ACE Issue Brief Suggests Framework for Campus Vaccination Requirement Questions
The brief looks at issues such as whether institutions can require students to be vaccinated with one of the three COVID-19 vaccines so far approved in the United States, and some of the questions involved in making the decision to do so.
March 8, 2021
Nearly $40 Billion in Relief for Higher Education in Sight as Congress Nears Completion on COVID-19 Bill
Nearly $40 billion in new relief funds for students and colleges and universities is a step closer to becoming reality, after the Senate voted 50-49 on Saturday to approve President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus package.
March 1, 2021
House Approves COVID-19 Relief Bill With Nearly $40 Billion for Higher Ed
ACE and a number of higher education associations sent a letter of support for the bill before the vote, but noted that it still falls short of the at least $97 billion that is needed to address the financial impact of COVID-19.
February 1, 2021
ACE, Other Associations Outline How Higher Education Can Help Combat COVID-19
A letter sent Friday to President Biden by ACE and more than three dozen other higher education associations suggested a range of ways that colleges and universities may be able to help the country fight and conquer COVID-19.
January 25, 2021
Biden Executive Orders Preserve DACA, Extend Student Loan Deferrals, More
In his first days in office, President Joe Biden has focused on reversing a number of Trump administration policies, as well as introducing new measures to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 19, 2021
ED Announces Plans for Distributing Emergency Relief; Biden COVID-19 Relief Plan Would Give $35 Billion to Higher Education
The Department of Education has announced its plan for distributing the largest pool of funding for students and higher education institutions in the COVID-19 relief bill passed in December.
December 21, 2020
Higher Education Receives More Than $20 Billion in COVID-19 Relief Funding
Congressional leaders Sunday night reached an agreement on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, including a $22.7 billion higher education emergency fund, and the House and Senate this afternoon were poised to vote on a final measure.
December 7, 2020
ED Extends Student Loan Borrower Relief To Jan. 31; Associations Call on Congress to Address Issue Through End of 2021
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced Friday that the pause on repaying student loans would be extended through Jan. 31, leaving the Biden administration to deal with further relief.
October 26, 2020
With Fate of COVID Relief Bill Uncertain, Financial Future Looks Dire for Colleges and Universities
ACE and nine other higher education groups have written to congressional leaders outlining the “existential crisis” American higher education faces without new federal support as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 28, 2020
COVID Relief Negotiations Restart; Associations Ask for Additional Funds for Colleges and Universities
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are resuming negotiations on a new COVID-19 economic relief package. ACE and 45 other higher education associations are asking for at least $120 billion in the new measure.
August 17, 2020
Associations, Lawmakers Call on Administration to Clarify Policy on Allowing International Students Into the Country
ACE and three other major higher education associations sent a letter to the Bureau of Consular Affairs and U.S. Customs and Border Protection asking for clarification that international students can safely travel to begin school this fall.
August 10, 2020
As Talks on COVID-19 Emergency Bill Falter, Associations Write to Congress on the Needs of Students and Institutions
As negotiations continue on the next COVID-19 relief bill, ACE and other associations made recommendations on the best path forward for needed assistance to students and institutions.
July 29, 2020
Senate Republicans Introduce COVID-19 Spending Bill With $29 Billion for Higher Education
Senate Republicans introduced their version of the fifth COVID-19 supplemental spending bill late Monday, proposing about $29 billion in emergency aid for students and colleges and universities among the provisions.
July 27, 2020
ICE Guidance Bars New International Students From Coming to the U.S.
ICE has announced that international students who plan to enroll at a college or university that has adopted an all-online instruction plan for the fall will be barred from entering the country.
July 20, 2020
Trump Administration Withdraws Directive Banning International Students
The Trump administration has rescinded its directive that said international students could not legally stay in the United States if they were taking all their classes online.
July 13, 2020
ACE, Higher Education Groups File Brief in Support of Challenge to ICE Directive on International Students
ACE and 70 other higher education associations filed a brief supporting a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s new directive that prohibits international students from remaining in the US if their colleges hold courses online-only this fall.
July 8, 2020
New ICE Guidance Bans International Students From Online-Only Instruction
ICE has issued new guidance that would prohibit international students from returning to or remaining in the United States if their colleges adopt an online-only instruction model for the fall, a move ACE President Ted Mitchell called "horrifying."
July 6, 2020
ACE, Higher Education Groups Outline Costs of Reopening Campuses This Fall in Letter to Senate
ACE and 38 other higher education groups sent a letter July 2 to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to detail the costs involved in reopening college campuses in the midst of the pandemic.
June 24, 2020
Trump Administration Suspends Issuing New H-1B, Other Visas Until Next Year
President Trump has signed an executive order to suspend new H-1B, L-1, and other non-immigrant work visas for through the end of the year, along with an extension of the freeze on green cards for new immigrants.
June 19, 2020
Department of Education’s CARES Act Interim Final Rule Gets Scrutiny in the Courts
The Department of Education’s interim final rule saying that only students eligible to receive Title IV financial aid and enrolled in Title IV-eligible programs of study may receive support under the last COVID-19 emergency spending bill is now in effect.
June 12, 2020
Education Department’s Interim Final Rule on CARES Act Excludes Nearly 8 Million Students
The Department of Education has released an interim final rule explicitly stating that only students who are eligible for Title IV federal financial aid can receive emergency grants provided in the CARES Act, the COVID-19 stimulus bill sign
June 5, 2020
Senate Education Committee Hearing Looks at Reopening College Campuses This Fall
A hearing Thursday in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing looked into the question dominating the higher education community this summer: how to safely reopen campuses this fall.
June 1, 2020
ACE, Other Associations Call for Expansion of COVID-19 Emergency Loan Programs
As the creation of a new lending facility for nonprofits through the Main Street Lending Program is not a certainty at this point, ACE is calling for the expansion of existing loan programs to better serve colleges and universities.
May 18, 2020
House Approves 5th Emergency COVID-19 Spending Bill With $100 Billion for Education
House lawmakers approved a new emergency supplemental spending measure to address the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 11, 2020
Emergency Student Aid Grants Will Not Be Taxed; House Bill Would Give Additional Relief to Students and Families
The IRS announced last week that CARES Act emergency student financial aid grants will not be taxable.
May 4, 2020
ACE, Other Groups Highlight Importance of International Students as Agencies Respond to Trump’s Immigration Order
ACE and 62 other associations have offered to assist the departments of Labor, Homeland Security, and State in the review of non-immigrant programs mandated by President Trump's recent executive order on immigration.
April 27, 2020
Consider the Needs of Small and Mid-Sized Colleges in Emergency Loan Programs, Higher Education Groups Ask
President Donald Trump signed the latest coronavirus relief bill into law Friday, a $484 billion package that would revive the depleted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for distressed small businesses and provide much-needed funds for hospitals.
April 21, 2020
ACE, Higher Education Groups Ask Congress to Ensure Emergency Student Aid Is Not Taxed
ACE and 41 other higher education groups are calling on Congress to ensure that emergency student financial aid grants authorized by the CARES Act are not taxed.
April 20, 2020
ACE, Higher Education Associations Advocate for Relief for Student Loan Borrowers
ACE and 31 other higher education associations are asking Congress to provide relief to the 13.7 million students borrowing to finance their college education and to the 44 million borrowers already in repayment.
April 16, 2020
Higher Education Associations Craft Statement of Principles on Acceptance of Credit During Current Emergency
ACE and five other higher education associations today released a statement of principles on the acceptance of credit during the COVID-19 emergency.
April 10, 2020
Higher Education Community Requests $46.6 Billion for Students and Institutions in Fourth Supplemental Package, Proposes Tax Changes
ACE and other higher education organizations are requesting that Congress include $46.6 billion in emergency aid for students and institutions in the next COVID-19 supplemental package to at least partially mitigate the damage done by this pandemic.
April 10, 2020
Education Department Emergency Aid Coming to Students Next Week, Institutional Assistance Coming Soon
The Department of Education (ED) announced the first phase of distributing the roughly $14 billion for higher education institutions and students included in the CARES Act, the stimulus bill signed into law March 27.
April 2, 2020
ACE, Other Organizations Urge Governors to Cooperate on Health Care Licensing Reciprocity During COVID-19 Pandemic
ACE and more than 60 other organizations are asking governors to take immediate action to ensure their states provide reciprocity in licensing of health care and mental health care professionals.
April 2, 2020
ACE, Other Associations Ask for Swift Distribution of Higher Education Stimulus Funds
ED should move quickly to distribute the money to higher education institutions and students contained in the $2 trillion CARES Act, urge ACE and 40 other associations.
March 30, 2020
Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Allocates $14 Billion to Higher Education
ACE President Ted Mitchell called the higher education provisions in the plan, which total approximately $14 billion, “woefully inadequate.”
March 24, 2020
Senate Likely to Vote on Stimulus Package Later Today; Support for Students and Institutions Still Being Negotiated
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said last night that they were nearing a deal on a $2 trillion economic aid package to help Americans, U.S. businesses, and specific groups survive the coronavirus pandemic.
March 23, 2020
President Signs Legislation Protecting Veterans GI Bill Benefits During Coronavirus Crisis
Veterans will continue to receive their GI bill benefits in situations where campuses are forced to move courses online due to COVID-19.
March 22, 2020
ACE, Other Higher Ed Groups Ask Congress to Support Students and Institutions in Wake of COVID-19 Pandemic
It is vital for higher education leaders to contact their members of Congress to request assistance.
March 16, 2020
House, Senate Introduce Financial Aid Legislation for Coronavirus Outbreak
Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate last week would provide more than $3 billion in COVID-19 support funding for higher education.
March 13, 2020
House Passes Bill to Automatically Forgive Student Loans for Disabled Veterans
Permanently disabled veterans would automatically have their student loan debts canceled under a bill passed by the House on March 10.
March 13, 2020
ACE, Higher Education Groups Comment on New Foreign Gift and Reporting Information Request
The Department of Education should make changes to the latest version of its proposed expansion of foreign gift and contract reporting requirements, ACE said in comments submitted March 11.
March 9, 2020
Education Department Issues Coronavirus Guidelines as Campuses Continue to Prepare and Respond
The Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid has released guidance to help colleges and universities comply with student financial aid policies for students whose activities are impacted by the new coronavirus.
March 2, 2020
CDC Issues Coronavirus Guidance for Foreign Programs and Domestic Campuses
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control has recommended that colleges and universities “consider" postponing or canceling foreign exchange programs and asking students on study abroad programs to return to the United States.