This week, 32 AACRAO advocates will meet with over 70 Congressional offices to discuss the association's legislative priorities. Our annual Hill Day allows lawmakers to learn more about AACRAO, our members, and the important work that you do. I would like to personally thank the members who gave us their time to advocate on behalf of AACRAO and the profession. Member participation is a key component of our advocacy efforts, since legislators want to hear directly from our members who reside in their districts and states.
Advocates will encourage lawmakers to support the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act, S. 2379, H.R. 4533, to assist institutions in identifying students who have earned enough credits to be awarded a credential through reverse transfer. The bipartisan, bicameral bill includes language, championed by AACRAO, to increase the flexibility to complete an assessment of student records while still adhering to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) standards. Additionally, attendees will advocate for a number of other changes to FERPA to identify electronic records in the definition of educational records, clarify that third-party record collectors should be subject to the law, and correct the 2012 regulatory amendments that dramatically expanded FERPA. The group will also will urge congressional offices to #DoublePell and increase the maximum award to $13,000 to bring affordable, high-quality college education within reach of all students.
In addition to advancing the association's public policy agenda, AACRAO Hill Day also provides a unique professional development opportunity for attendees to network with other AACRAO members and to hone their advocacy skills. Attendees engaged in training sessions ahead of this week's meetings, including AACRAO's on-demand Federal Legislative Process and Advocacy 101 course. The course, which is open and free to all AACRAO members, provides a breakdown of the federal legislative process, helpful insights on how to set up and prepare for meetings with your representatives, and tools to help State & Regional organizations engage with both state and federal issues while remaining in federal compliance.
Such training aims to provide our members with all of the skills necessary to advocate for policies that are important to you, and the students that you serve. Whether that is on Capitol Hill, your state legislature, or on your own campuses, your voice can make a huge difference.
Learn more about how you can help to advance reverse transfer practices and promote the #DoublePell campaign. Also, please visit AACRAO's Advocacy Center to learn about other issues we support and lend your voice.