Tracking Legislation: A Practical Guide

Brian M. GlickAssistant Director, Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, Northern Illinois University

Learning Outcomes

1. Be able to summarize the benefits of tracking proposed legislation

2. Be able to list at least three (3) websites/sources for tracking proposed legislation

3. Create a protocol, checklist and schedule for staying abreast of changing legislation

Why Track Legislation?

Some Benefits

To become a resource for your department, the Division, and the campus

To help inform your practices on a departmental /campus level

To stay abreast of potential policy requirements.

What To Do With This Information?

Share it with your department and the division• Submissions to a newsletter or create your own newsletter

• Drive-in conference session on current legislation

• E-mail updates

Use it as a professional development opportunity• Keep up with trends and developments to stay informed yourself.

Prepare for a new class of incoming students

Form or increase partnerships with other departments that the legislation may affect

Anticipate change on your campus• Be a change agent

Federal Resources

The United States Department of Education◦ Office for Civil Rights◦ Family Policy Compliance Office

The Library of Congress (THOMAS)

The National Conference of State Legislatures

Your Representative or your Senators

CAUTION: NIU has a policy regarding who may speak with a legislator as an official representative of the institution

State Resources

• Illinois State Legislature website

• State Legislators

• Remember, state issues can become national issues

CAUTION: NIU has a policy regarding who may speak with a legislator as an official representative of the institution

Professional Resources ASCA Legislative Issues Advisory Committee

National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Center for Public Policy

ACUHO-I Public Policy Advisory Committee

ACPA Commission for Student Conduct and

Legal Issues

Security on Campus

NASFAA- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

NIRSA-National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association

Many others

Campus ResourcesUniversity Legal Services

Political Science Department

Other staff on campus who track legislation

Governmental Relations office◦ State Budget Update

Tracking Currently Proposed Legislation

HR/SR Bill # Title Sponsor # of Co-Sponsors

Status Status Date

Related Notes

Feedback and Questions?

References for WebsitesU.S. Department of Education-http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

U.S. Department of Ed. Office of Civil Rights-

http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

U.S. Department of Ed. Family Policy Compliance Office

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/index.html

Library of congress Legislative Research database (THOMAS) – http://thomas.loc.gov

Association for Student Conduct Administration Legislative Issues Advisory Committee-

http://www.theasca.org/en/cms/?556

National Association for Student Personnel Administrators Center for Public Policy-

http://www.naspa.org/divctr/pp/default.cfm

Association of College and University Housing Officers-International Public Policy

Advisory Committee- http://www.acuho-i.org/Default.aspx?tabid=670

College Student Educators International Commission for Student Conduct and Legal Issues-

http://www.myacpa.org/comm/judicial

Security on Campus- http://www.securityoncampus.org

Contact

Brian Glick

Campus Life Building 280

bglick@niu.edu

815-753-9288