Policy

Maximizing economic growth will require higher rates of college readiness, higher rates of completion among students who enroll in higher education, tighter alignment between higher education and workforce needs, and federal and state policies that support these outcomes.

• College and Career Readiness: Improving the quality of preparation for college and career through the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Act.
• College Access and Completion: Promoting sound higher education policies and funding that support students’ enrollment on higher education and training, including support for need-based aid, particularly for underrepresented populations and veterans through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
• Competitiveness: Increasing the country’s economic competitiveness by supporting innovation, research and development, and evidence-based programs intended to strengthen research and education, particularly in STEM fields, as well as better align education the workforce through the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act.

As BHEF members address the mutual concerns of the business and higher education communities about the importance of supporting economic growth, they bring a unique voice to the policy arena. With BHEF’s national partners, they connect with the administration and Congress on key issues, such as sequestration, STEM undergraduate education, workforce development, and competitiveness. 

Letters and positions BHEF supports: 

• Written testimony submitted to the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations Hearing on “Driving Innovation Through Federal Investments” (April 2015)
• Statement of Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer, Business-Higher Education Forum Before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on “Closing the Achievement Gap in Higher Education” (March 2015)
• Close the Innovation Deficit Coalition commends the introduction of the American Innovation Act (March 2015)
• NDD United’s letter calling for Congress to use the Budget Conference as an opportunity to replace sequestration with a bipartisan, balanced approach. (December 2013)
• A letter to the members of the Budget Conference Committee about the impact of sequestration. (November 2013)
• A letter to the members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation about a damaging innovation deficit. (October 2013)
• A letter to President Obama and Congressional leadership about the impact of sequestration on the U.S. economy (February 2013)

Key points include:

• Protect student financial aid. Any reduction, or its elimination, will effect postsecondary education opportunities for low-income students and impede the growth of America’s future workforce. 
• Safeguard federal grants for R&D. The decrease or elimination of federal grants that support critical research and development, causing our nation’s top researchers to relocate overseas, decreasing U.S-based patents and taking their IP and our nation’s competiveness with them.
• The PCAST goal of one million STEM graduates by 2020 goal is attainable. BHEF’s National STEM Undergraduate Partnership is committed to the following:
  • Increase the number, rate, and diversity of undergraduates in STEM disciplines;
  • Identify roles and responsibilities for academic, industry, and government organizations to study, advance, and evaluate comprehensive and systemic reform in undergraduate STEM education and workforce development, recruitment, placement, and retention.
  • Align undergraduate education (including community college education) with STEM industry workforce needs.