Biden Orders Up More COVID Guidance for CollegesPresident Biden signed an executive order Thursday directing the secretary of education to provide, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, “evidence-based guidance to institutions of higher education on safely reopening for in-person learning, which shall take into account considerations such as the institution’s setting, resources, and the population it serves.” The “Executive Order on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers” was one of 10 orders signed by Biden in conjunction with the release of a new 200-page strategy from the White House on COVID-19 response. One of the seven goals listed in the strategy is to support schools, colleges and businesses in safely reopening while supporting workers. The document calls for more guidance to colleges to that end. ( Inside Higher Ed - Jan. 22, 2021)
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A Long and Complicated Road AheadJoe Biden entered the White House this week with high and wide-ranging expectations from higher education leaders, advocates for survivors of sexual violence and students for how his new administration will require colleges to handle and reduce sexual assault on college campuses. In addition to addressing the public health and economic consequences of the pandemic, supporting the ongoing movement for social justice and equity for Black Americans, and trying to unite a politically polarized population, President Biden has also promised to strengthen Title IX, the law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded institutions, which mandates how colleges should respond to student reports of sexual misconduct. He has so far vowed to “immediately” put an end to the Title IX regulations issued by former secretary of education Betsy DeVos, which dramatically shifted how colleges respond to allegations of sexual misconduct. ( Inside Higher Ed - Jan. 22, 2021)
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Biden Names Political Appointees to Ed Dept.The Biden administration Thursday night named Rich Williams, an expert in the problems faced by student loan borrowers at Pew Charitable Trusts, chief of staff of the Education Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education. The department also named Ben Miller, vice president for postsecondary education at the progressive Center for American Progress, as temporary senior adviser to Williams. The department further announced a number of other political appointees, including Sheila Nix as chief of staff to Miguel Cardona, President Biden’s nominee for education secretary. ( Inside Higher Ed - Jan. 22, 2021)
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DARPA Changing Directors Again in Third Recent ShuffleThe Biden administration is reportedly tapping Stefanie Tompkins to run the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, spurring the third leadership change at the secretive Pentagon organization since January 2020. Former director Victoria Coleman’s last day at the agency was Jan. 20, DARPA spokesman Jared Adams confirmed. Coleman joined the agency in September but served in the top job for only four months before leaving on Inauguration Day. ( Air Force Magazine - Jan. 21, 2021)
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Menendez: Passing Immigration Bill Has ‘Herculean’ ChallengesNew Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the lead sponsor of President Joe Biden’s immigration overhaul bill, said Thursday he’s willing to negotiate with Republicans to reach the threshold necessary to pass the measure in the Senate. Democrats would need to find at least 10 Republicans, and no defections from their party, for the measure to reach the 60 filibuster-proof vote threshold in the 50-50 split Senate. Biden’s immigration bill includes measures that would pave a pathway to temporary legal status and, ultimately, citizenship, for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country, according to a White House outline of the measure. In addition, the bill would make it easier for foreign graduate students in STEM-related fields to stay in the U.S. . . . ( Roll Call - Jan. 22, 2021)
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