Higher education is a major piece of the puzzle being negotiated, and it is a small example of the bigger argument over why the stimulus bill’s progress has been hindered. Republicans aren’t going far enough, critics say, and are putting too much emphasis on banks and corporations. They have provided funding short of what leaders of the higher education community say is necessary for adequate relief and dollars for students and institutions. Democrats are trying to enact their own legislative goals, with efforts like $10,000 per person in federal student debt forgiveness and including non-specific COVID-19 tax relief for renewable energy, and are unfairly using it as leverage to pass their version of the bill, their critics have argued. What everyone agrees on is that the uncertainty, damage, and present loss of funding is real, and warrants a major response. How to be prescient about what comes next and how to best serve those hardest hit while helping to prop up the economy is where the challenge lies.

Legislative and regulatory changes have already occurred due to this crisis, and institutions and their interaction with the government over the next year will be important. Below, we are highlighting some major news items and actions that the U.S. Department of Education has taken, like relaxing rules on accreditation and approvals on an emergency switch to online learning instruction among other topics. We also highlight letters and responses to other policy actions occurring over the past few weeks that UPCEA has advocated for.