1. Getting Engaged in Public Policy
A Starter Kit for Higher Education Professionals

2. I’m Just a Bill

3. Public Policy Defined
Public policy can generally be defined as a system of laws, regulatory measures, course of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgated by a government entity or its representatives.
Kilpatrick, D. G. (2000). Definitions of public policy and the law, National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center
It is also helpful to understand that public policy has a number of key attributes [2]:
Policy is made in response to some sort of issue or problem that requires attention.
Policy is what the government chooses to do (actual) or not do (implied) about a particular issue or problem.
Policy might take the form of law, or regulation, or the set of all the laws and regulations that govern a particular issue or problem.
Policy is made on behalf of the "public."
Policy is oriented toward a goal or desired state, such as the solution of a problem.
Policy is ultimately made by governments, even if the ideas come from outside government or through the interaction of government and the public.
Policymaking is part of an ongoing process that does not always have a clear beginning or end, since decisions about who will benefit from policies and who will bear any burden resulting from the policy are continually reassessed, revisited and revised.

4. Effects on Higher Education
Direct orders (mandates)
Example: Campus SaVE Act
Unfunded mandates
Example: Advocates and Respondent Services
Unintentional consequences
Executive Order 13769
The Campus SaVE Act[1], for example, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in This legislative action required that any college or university, public or private, that received federal funding meet four requirements: increase transparency about the scope of sexual violence on campus, guarantee victims enhanced rights, provide for standards in institutional conduct proceedings, and provide campus community wide prevention educational programming[2] (Carter, 2016).
The Executive Order 13769: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States did not explicitly identify an impact on higher education nor mandate any specific action on higher education yet it had multiple ripple effects across our campuses. College students, faculty, and staff traveling abroad were prevented from returning to their campuses; some cancelled research agendas in fear of traveling; and others cancelled or delayed applying to US institutions due to the concern about coming to the US under these conditions. In addition, as the travel ban was announced, campuses throughout the United States experienced increased activism and student unrest [4] (Ali, 2017). 

5. What is the role of Student Affairs?
Influence policy changes
Capitol Hill
Evolving Issues
Website Access
On-Campus Response
Be informed
Anticipate concerns
Daily Developments
Financial Aid

6. State and Local Government
State government sets policy, financial decisions, and metrics for success
Performance funding
Policies such as guns on campus, removing free speech zones, LGBT rights
Local government manages host community
Limits on students in single-family housing, impacts to socializing for students

7. How to Get Engaged Follow current events by lawmakers
Subscribe to your local and/or state newspaper
Attend (or watch online) a hearing or meeting
Communicate with your lawmakers (as an individual—remember, you can’t represent your institution without permission)
Join a local organization of interest
Make sure you are registered to vote—and DO for each and every race!

8. NASPA’s Public Policy Tools
Agenda and advocacy
Robust publications and blog
Monthly online live briefings
NASPA Research and Policy Institute
2018 NASPA Hill Days and Student Affairs Days of Action
Subscribe in your membership to receive notifications of updates

9. Benefits Build your own civic knowledge and voice
Serve your constituency group
Make yourself valuable as an employee
Find a niche that fascinates you and become an expert
Serve your field as a subject matter expert
Be part of democracy

10. Serving in Office

11. Questions & Contacts Stacy Heldman-Holguin Jeanna Mastrodicasa
Interim Associate Vice President, Student Affairs, Sonoma State University
Jeanna Mastrodicasa
Associate Vice President, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida