Higher Education Committee Hosts Post-Election Policy Outlook Panel
On December 1, The New England Council’s Higher Education Committee hosted a briefing for Council members focused on the outlook for federal education policy in the 117th Congress and under the incoming Biden Administration. This briefing was part of a series of Post-Election Policy Outlook programs that the Council presented in the weeks following the 2020 election.
The virtual meeting featured a panel discussion with the following Council members:
- Richard Doherty, President of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts
- Dr. Tom Sannicandro, Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges
- Dr. Debby Scire, President & CEO of the New Hampshire College & University Council
- Daniel Walker, President of the Maine Independent Colleges Association & Partner at PretiFlaherty.
The discussion was moderated by Higher Education Committee co-chair Daniel Egan, President of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Rhode Island.
Some of the topics discussed included education provision in pandemic response legislation, the incoming Biden Administration’s higher education priorities and possible use of Executive Orders to reshape policy, and the possible candidates for Secretary of Education. The panel also addressed concerns related to international students, the contribution of the higher education sector, workforce development initiatives, and the outlook for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
We are grateful to Dan Egan and our panelists for taking the time to share their expertise and insight. If you have question about the Council’s Higher Education Committee, or would like a recording of this session, please contact Taylor Pichette at tpichette@newenglandcouncil.com.