Student Data; NIH Strategy; Office of Naval Research
BU IN DC
Harvey Young of the College of Fine Arts attended the Association for Theatre in Higher Education 2026 Annual Conference between July 22nd and 26th.
Veronique Mintz (CAS ’28) introduced Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD) during the Committee on House Administration Intern Lecture Series on July 16th.
SENATE COMMITTEE ADVANCES HIGHER ED BILLS
On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions approved several higher education-related bills. The College Transparency Act (S. 2511), which passed with a bipartisan 21-1 vote, would establish a postsecondary education data system to provide prospective students with detailed information on student outcomes, including enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across institutions and majors. The committee also advanced bills that would prohibit the transfer of certain Department of Education offices to other federal agencies; streamline the process for students with disabilities to obtain campus accommodations; and allow colleges and universities to identify certain state agency student loan lenders as “preferred lenders.” Several of the measures have counterparts in the U.S. House of Representatives, though they have not yet been scheduled for consideration.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH TO HOST WEBINAR ON FUNDING STRATEGY
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a conversation with NIH leadership on its Unified Funding Strategy on Friday, August 14, 2026, between 10 and 11 a.m. The strategy guides agency officials as they “make funding decisions that consider peer review assessments of scientific merit, Institute/Center priorities, scientific opportunity, program balance, geographic balance, and workforce needs.” During the webinar, NIH leaders will discuss the policy’s rationale, goals, and implementation, as well as address questions from the extramural research community. Attendees may submit questions in advance, and a recording will be made available after the event.
BUZZ BITS…
- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) released the ONR Science & Technology Strategy for 2026 last week, outlining scientific priorities to align ONR’s portfolio with Department of Defense goals and support warfighters. Among other topics, the document indicates ONR will hold Focus Area Crosswalks to “consider and brainstorm future warfighting needs” and details how the agency intends to use tools like AI.
- On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a new policy prohibiting federally funded “dangerous gain-of-function” (DGOF) research and increasing federal oversight of certain international research collaborations. Implementation guidance is expected from federal agencies within 120 days.
- Last Thursday, the Department of Education (ED) issued a final rule removing disparate-impact provisions from its Title VI civil rights regulations. Under the rule, data showing unequal outcomes alone will not be sufficient to establish a civil rights violation; instead, ED will focus its enforcement on claims involving evidence of intentional discrimination.
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