Federal Friday
- Department of Education: U.S. Department of Education Launches Learning Agenda Playbook to Support State Education Leaders and Improve Student Outcomes
- Department of Education: What They Are Saying: Pilot States Highlight Early Successes with the Learning Agenda Playbook
- Department of Education: Building Strong Readers: How the Trump Administration is Supercharging Evidence-Based Literacy to Combat Reading Crisis
- Department of Justice: Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions
Education and Workforce Committee Update
On Monday, September 7, the House Education and Workforce Committee “requested three Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies to examine major issues affecting students, colleges, and taxpayers: state and public university tenure reforms, barriers students face when transferring college credits, and the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in college admissions and scholarship decisions.”
If interested, you can read Chairman Walberg’s statement on each request via the Committee press release.
The full letters are available below:
- Read the full letter on tenure here.
- Read the full letter on transfers here.
- Read the full letter on AI here.
Political Activity Guidance Reminder
As a reminder, as uncertainty continues around the federal landscape, Universities of Wisconsin employees should be mindful of political activity and public advocacy guidelines.
Activities such as sharing a petition or contacting a legislator for political purposes using your university email address or state resources to engage in political campaign activities at any time or engaging in political activities during work time are prohibited.
In your capacity as private citizens, on non-work time, and without use of university resources (including the use of university email addresses) employees may circulate or sign a petition or letter of support advocating for public policy or a political candidate. However, if using your name and official title, it should be made clear that an individual’s endorsement indicates neither support nor endorsement by the university of a particular policy position or candidate, and that you are acting solely in your role as a private citizen.
For more information, you can read the Guidance on Political Activities Frequently Asked Questions document. Importantly, these FAQs should be treated as general guidelines and not legal advice.
Please direct specific questions regarding political campaign issues to the Office of General Counsel or your university’s Office of Legal Affairs.