Election Results: Impact on Higher Ed
BU IN DC
Bart Lipman, Raymond Fisman, Tarek Hassan, and Daniele Paserman of the College of Arts & Sciences hosted a conversation about immigration, debt issuance, and the dollar for Washington-area alumni on October 29th.
Diane Baldwin, Kate Mellouk, Rachelle Joseph, and Ryan Russell of the Office of Research attended the Council on Government Relations 2024 meeting on October 24th and 25th.
Gabe Bolio and Corinne Tramuta Moloney of Development & Alumni Relationshosted the 2nd annual Washington, DC Alumni Network event on October 24th.
Kevin Gallagher of the Global Development Policy Center hosted Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for an event with the Brookings Institution and shared insights about a new report on reforming the International Monetary Fund on October 22nd.
David Gross of the Initiative on Cities attended MetroLab Network’s annual summit on October 1st and 2nd.
TRUMP WINS ELECTION: TAKEAWAYS FOR HIGHER ED
Former President Donald J. Trump was elected as president on Tuesday, securing a second term in office. His previous tenure as president and his campaign rhetoric provide insights into his plans for higher education. Proposals may include:
- Higher Education: Utilizing accreditation as a tool to restrict diversity practices or promote ideological balance in faculty hiring; assertive investigations into campus antisemitism and admissions practices; narrowing the federal definition of campus sexual misconduct; and immigration and travel restrictions.
- Research: Focusing on artificial intelligence, microelectronics, the bioeconomy, and energy independence. Restrictions on pathogen research. Heightened attention to malign foreign influence and limitations on foreign collaborations.
- Arts and Humanities: Eliminating the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities.
While some proposals could be enacted unilaterally, many would require the approval of a closely divided Congress. For example, during his previous term, Congress routinely rejected his plans to eliminate the cultural agencies, yet embraced his focus on malign foreign influence.
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CLOSELY DIVIDED CONGRESS: TAKEAWAYS FOR HIGHER ED
After Tuesday’s Congressional elections, Senate Republicans will hold at least 53 of the chamber’s 100 seats, with two races not yet called. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives is still unclear, with ballots still being counted in more than two dozen House races. Early takeaways for higher education include:
- Senate: Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a supporter of the National Institutes of Health, is expected to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which determines federal agency budgets. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will be the likely chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He has criticized NSF’s support for diversity efforts.
- Legislative priorities: In 2025, Congress is expected to consider comprehensive tax legislation that could affect employee and student tax benefits, charitable giving, and the treatment of college endowments. Policymakers are also interested in bills that would require colleges to report more data on student outcomes and place restrictions on foreign collaborations.
- BU connections: Representatives Lois Frankel (CAS ‘70), Jen Kiggans (PAR ‘93), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (PAR ’11, CAS ‘11), and Ayanna Pressley (CGS, Hon. ‘21) were reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Looking to elevate your research communication skills and make a lasting impact? Join the Office of Research and BU Public Relations | Social Media and the Office of Research for a virtual workshop on “Identifying and Effectively Conveying Your Core Messages” on Thursday, November 14th at 1 p.m. Participants will gain insights into core message building, making scientific information relatable, writing effective emails, and crafting successful media pitches. Speakers from the Throughline Group will help you discover the nuances of media relations, understand what reporters and editors find newsworthy, and develop strategies to handle challenging media encounters.