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Advocacy

BHEF brings together an extraordinary coalition of corporate, academic and foundation members to influence public policy and inspire other corporate, academic and foundation leaders to act. 

BHEF members are driving change "on the ground." They develop, adopt and promote best practices and strategic approaches among corporate, education and foundation leaders, nationally and locally. They also advocate for policy changes at the federal, state and local levels.

Recent Advocacy Efforts

Education Department Plans to Simplify Financial Aid Application Process
On June 25, 2009, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced plans to streamline and simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the form used by the federal government, states, and most colleges and universities to make financial aid awards to students. Brian Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the Business-Higher Education Forum, responded to the announcement saying, “We are pleased to learn of Secretary Duncan and President Obama’s efforts to simplify the process by which students apply for financial assistance for college. Too many low-income students do not complete the FAFSA because of the form’s complexity, thereby dramatically reducing their chances of financial resources that provide access to and help foster success in college.”

Analysis from the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, the American Council on Education, and a variety of other institutions have found that high percentages of students do not apply for financial aid, and nearly twenty percent of those who do not file come from low –and moderate-income families. Moreover, about half of these low-income students would likely have been eligible for a Pell Grant if they had applied for financial aid.

Fitzgerald also stated, “The department’s ambitious plan to overhaul the online FAFSA application, eliminate certain questions, and allow students and families to use IRS data to answer other questions is commendable. We look forward to learning more details about the proposed changes and anticipate an engaging policy discussion with students and their families, institutions, and congress regarding additional changes in the coming months. We hope to work with the Education Department and the administration to make certain that the FAFSA does not pose barriers to college for low-income students, while ensuring that it provides credible information for states and institutions to made decisions about financial aid awards.”

For more information on the plans to redesign FAFSA, see the following related news stories:

BHEF Supports Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coordination Act of 2009
BHEF signed on to a letter supporting the passage of the STEM Education Coordination Act, legislation intended to reorganize the current White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a standing committee on STEM education with the responsibility to coordinate all federal STEM education programs. This act will help ensure that taxpayer funds are being spent more judiciously on this critical national challenge.  

BHEF Supports the SERVE Act
BHEF signed on to a letter supporting the passage of the SERVE Act , a bill that provides numerous
opportunities through the National Senior Service Corps for experienced STEM professionals to
assist teachers in classroom demonstrations or laboratory experiences, run after-school programs, and provide field trips to businesses and universities.

Read BHEF's May Advocacy Update
This month's Advocacy update provides information on the following items:

Read BHEF's April Advocacy Update
At BHEF’s 2009 winter meeting, members agreed upon a set of advocacy items related to the administration and congress’ education priorities that BHEF would pursue (see letters to President Obama and Secretary Duncan below). With these priorities in mind, BHEF is closely tracking education-related advocacy items that align with the College Readiness and STEM initiatives. This Advocacy Update includes information on:

BHEF outlines key education policy priorities for the Obama Administration.
At BHEF’s February 2009 member meeting, members committed to advancing four education policy priorities that align with the Obama Administration’s education agenda.  These priorities were shared recently with President Obama and Secretary Duncan in letters signed by BHEF Chairman David Skorton (president of Cornell), Vice Chair William Swanson (chairman and CEO of Raytheon) and Executive Director Brian Fitzgerald.  Read the letter to President Obama here (pdf) and the letter to Secretary Duncan here (pdf).

BHEF Joins STEM Education Coalition in Lauding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
BHEF was a signatory on a letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Reid, McConnell, and Boehner that commends their leadership in the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and notes in particular the numerous provisions in the package that demonstrate a strong commitment to strengthening our nation’s STEM education pipeline.

BHEF Joins STEM Education Coalition in Funding Requests
BHEF, in collaboration with the the STEM Education Coalition, signed onto four letters in support of additional funding for the bi-partisan America COMPETES Act. The STEM Education Coalition supports robust federal investments in NSF’s basic scientific research programs that will inspire current and future generations of young people to pursue careers in STEM fields and bolster U.S. capacity for innovation and global economic competitiveness.

BHEF Joins 240 Organizations in Advocating for STEM Funding
BHEF, in collaboration with the TAP Coalition and 240 additional business, scientific, and education organizations, has sent letters to the president, House leaders, and Senate leaders urging the inclusion of critical funding for science and engineering research, and math and science education in the upcoming supplemental fiscal year 2008 spending bill.

BHEF Advocates for Changes in the Higher Education Act
BHEF, along with more than 30 other organizations, has signed onto a letter encouraging Congress to make specific changes in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, including:        

  • Support for STEM teacher professional development;            
  • Incentives to encourage students to obtain STEM degrees and pursue STEM-related careers;           
  • Expansion of efforts to encourage diversity in the STEM workforce.

Prior Advocacy Efforts