Topic Descriptions
Admissions and Enrollment
Legislation addressing state policies for managing admissions, recruitment and enrollment, including applications, registration, testing and other requirements.
Adult Education
Legislation relating to programs and financial aid scholarships to support postsecondary education for students 25 and older.
Appropriations
Legislation that includes appropriations to higher education institutions or programs. May not include a comprehensive list of appropriations bills for all states and all institutions.
Athletics
Legislation relating to collegiate athletics or sports, including athlete safety; name, image and likeness issues; and athlete participation rules.
Campus Safety – Guns
Legislation relating to firearms on college campuses, including campus carry laws and weapons issues for law enforcement.
Campus Safety – Other
General legislation relating to campus safety issues at postsecondary institutions, including student discipline, hazing and campus police.
Campus Safety – Sexual Assault and Title IX
Legislation relating to sexual violence issues on campus, including Title IX standards, sexual harassment and assault, and gender-based violence.
College Preparation
Legislation relating to efforts in K-12 education systems to increase college preparation and readiness.
Community and Junior Colleges
Legislation addressing community colleges, including programs, funding and policy changes.
Competency-Based Education
Legislation relating to competency-based learning approaches at higher education institutions.
Corrections and Prison Education
Legislation relating to education programs, appropriations, financial aid programs, and policies addressing currently or formerly incarcerated students.
Credentials
Legislation addressing non-degree credentials, including governance and quality evaluation for credentials; also includes legislation relating to state degree requirements.
Credit for Prior Learning
Legislation relating to state programs to provide learners with credit for prior learning or work experience, including military service.
Data
Legislation relating to postsecondary data systems, including longitudinal data systems, data and reporting requirements.
Dual Enrollment
Legislation addressing dual enrollment, early college, concurrent enrollment or other programs that allow high school students to earn college credit while in high school.
Equity and Affirmative Action
Legislation addressing state policies for affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Faculty
Legislation relating to faculty issues at postsecondary institutions, including compensation, tenure and adjunct faculty.
Finance
Legislation addressing finances for postsecondary institutions, including funding formulas and structural changes to appropriations.
Financial Aid and Affordability
Legislation relating to state financial aid programs and efforts to address unmet financial needs for students, including state scholarship programs and measures related to federal financial aid and the FAFSA.
For Profit/Proprietary
Legislation relating to for-profit or proprietary postsecondary education institutions.
Free Speech
Legislation relating to campus free speech issues, including free speech rights, zones and student journalism.
Governance
Legislation addressing higher education oversight, management and regulation.
Health
Legislation relating to campus health care and well-being, including mental health and sexual health issues.
Other/Miscellaneous
Legislation relating to postsecondary education topics not covered by other topic headers.
Remedial and Developmental Education
Legislation addressing state approaches to remedial education at postsecondary education institutions.
Research
Legislation relating to research programs and funding at postsecondary education institutions.
Rural Education
Legislation addressing rural education programs, including funding and program creation.
Student Disabilities
Legislation relating to students with an intellectual or a physical disability attending a postsecondary institution.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Legislation relating to state student loan forgiveness and repayment programs, including profession-based programs and residency programs.
Student Loan Oversight
Legislation addressing student loan oversight issues, including borrower protections and regulations on private lenders.
Student Loan Tax Credit/Deduction
Legislation creating or modifying a state tax incentive for student loan borrowers.
Student Loans – Other
Legislation relating to student loan issues not covered by other topic headers, including state loan programs, transcript withholding and occupational licensing.
Student Supports
Legislation addressing student costs beyond tuition, including housing, hunger, transportation and other emergency expenses.
Textbooks
Legislation relating to the cost of student textbooks and other necessary course materials while enrolled in postsecondary education.
Transfer and Course Articulation
Legislation relating to transfer of credits between postsecondary institutions and systems.
Tuition and Fees
Legislation relating to tuition and fees at public postsecondary education institutions.
Undocumented Students
Legislation addressing policies on student admission and access to financial aid for undocumented students.
Veterans
Legislation addressing policies for students who have military service.
Vocational and Technical Education
Legislation addressing funding, program creation or governance of career and technical education.
Workforce Development
Legislation addressing workforce development and career pathways in postsecondary education.