Indiana University Bloomington
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

[Note, the following is both State and National] Affordability and Access: In 2017, US Representative Messer introduced H.R. 1429, modeled after an IU program, that requires institutions to transparently share with students what their current loan debts are and what future payments will look like. It has reduced borrowing by 22% at IU. https://messer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=36 President McRobbie has been supportive of the Bill and has spoken openly of IU's influence on the state legislature in this area. http://www.kokomotribune.com/news/local_news/interview-iu-president-michael-mcrobbie-discusses-student-debt-school-initiatives/article_558ac278-0340-11e6-9c3b-6b52a3709697.html The State bill was passed in 2015, now is being introduced at the national level: http://archive.news.indiana.edu/releases/iub/iu-in-the-news/2017-03-20-debt-bill.shtml During the 2014 legislative session, Indiana University, along with other state supported institutions, advocated for legislation that would increase the statutory limit on the amount of outstanding debt that institutions may have to finance Qualified Energy Savings Projects. Indiana University Bloomington is now able to bond up to $80 million for these projects, which allows the University to improve energy efficiency while providing a means to accomplish smaller repair and rehabilitation projects. Prior to the passage of this legislation, campuses were not able to bond more than $15 million for such projects. IU has a history of supporting this type of legislation and was successful in advocating for raising the limits during the 2009 legislative session. IU will continue to support increased bond limits for Qualified Energy Savings Projects in the future. In 2008, IU was supportive of HB 1280 which would have required large, state, educational, and local public works building projects (other than public schools) – those that are newly constructed, as well as those subject to repair or alteration – to be designed with the goal of achieving the silver rating under the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Globes Two Globes level or an equivalent rating system accredited by the American National Standards Institute.

Affordability and Access: In April 2017, IU President Michael McRobbie, together with other Big 10 University leaders, met with Speaker Paul Raul to advocate for affordable public education and an increase in financial support for university research. Full summary: https://news.iu.edu/stories/2017/04/iu/26-matters-mcrobbie-paul-ryan.html Summer 2017 meeting with Vice President Pence, during which IU advocated for the following: Reducing regulations affecting higher education and research. Building a scientific infrastructure that supports innovation. Continuing recent efforts to preserve federal work-study and student aid programs. https://news.iu.edu/stories/2017/07/iu/releases/31-mcrobbie-meets-vp-pence.html During Fall 2017, The American Council on Education, on behalf of the Association of American Universities, of which IU is a member, and 45 other higher education associations, sent a letter to the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee expressing strong opposition to several harmful provisions in the House Tax Reform legislation. In its letter, the ACE noted that these provisions would make higher education less accessible for low- and middle-income students. It also cited a Ways and Means Committee summary indicating that the bill would cost college students some $65 billion over the next decade. https://president.iu.edu/speeches/statements/2017/2017-11-28-tax-reform-legislation.html Mary Frances McCourt, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, testified before the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on October 7, 2015 to speak about IU's efforts to combat the rising costs of a college education. Jim Kennedy, Associate Vice President for University Student Services and Systems, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 3, 2015 concerning the IU's efforts to help ensure college affordability. Equity and support for underrepresented groups: President McRobbie's Fall 2017 letter to Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer in support of DACA: https://president.iu.edu/speeches/statements/2017/2017-12-12-daca-big-ten-letter.html Indiana University Statement on Immigration Executive Order BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie has issued the following statement about the executive order on immigration signed Friday, Jan. 27 2017 : "At Indiana University, we embrace openness to the world. This has long been a hallmark of great global universities such as ours that seek to attract the best students, scholars and researchers from every country and champion the cause of greater cultural understanding. "The executive order issued on Friday that bars citizens and refugees from certain countries from entering the U.S. is contrary to the very core of our values as an institution committed to excellence and innovation, a diversity of community and ideas, respect for the dignity of others and engagement in the economic, civic, cultural and social development of our state, our nation and our world. "IU's educational, research and service missions are inextricably bound with the rest of the world and rooted in a belief in the ever-increasing value of international literacy and experience. This is why we urge the administration to end this executive order, which threatens to disrupt these missions, as quickly as possible. We also would encourage the administration to make it clear to the rest of the world that our nation's colleges and universities will continue to open their doors to the best and brightest scholars and researchers who, through their teaching, discoveries and innovations, play a vital role in enhancing our nation's economic competitiveness and prosperity. "The directives contained in this executive order will have a considerable impact on IU's international students and scholars, many of whom are feeling frightened and unsettled, interfering with their travel plans and other commitments. In response, we are advising that all of our international students and scholars allow plenty of time for visa processing, as wait times are expected to increase, and we are also strongly recommending that citizens of the seven countries targeted for new visitation restrictions not travel to any country outside the U.S. at this time. "We recognize the critical importance of a strong and effective visa process to protecting our national security, which is why we continue to support collaborative efforts that ensure our visa system prevents entry from anyone who wishes to harm Americans. "At the same time, we remain committed to doing all that we can within the bounds of the law to vigorously protect and support IU students, faculty and staff. Additionally, we will continue to provide counseling to students on immigration-related concerns through our Office of International Services, which is maintaining a new webpage with current information and advice, while we intensify our advocacy for expanded access to higher education for all IU students living in the U.S. "We will conduct all of our actions in pursuit of our enduring mission: to educate our students for active, engaged and committed citizenship, prepare them for public service and contribute to the building of civil society around the globe." President McRobbie issued a similar statement regarding DACA, which can be read here: https://news.iu.edu/stories/2017/09/iu/releases/05-daca-statement.html

IU, through the Institute of International Business at the Kelley School of Business, and Australian National University, have worked together in recent years to support economic and educational reforms in conflict-torn Myanmar. https://blogs.iu.edu/japan-australia-2017/2017/11/06/a-premier-global-partnership-with-a-bright-future-ahead/

Though not explicitly connected to public policy, IU, in partnering with Ambedkar University in India, has advocated for issues of social justice and human ecology: "Provost Robel noted that Ambedkar University complements IU's academic expertise and interests in South Asia. Among its innovating offerings are programs in social entrepreneurship, human ecology with an interdisciplinary emphasis and development studies. The university is principally devoted to furthering the mission of Bhimrao Ambedkar, one of India's "founding fathers," an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He was a key author of India's constitution and throughout his life campaigned against social discrimination. "Our new partnership with Ambedkar University offers exciting opportunities for our students, faculty and staff to deeply engage with Indian culture and the Indian educational system," she said. "We envision many innovative exchanges in the near future focused on our mutual commitments to social equality and social justice." " http://archive.news.indiana.edu/releases/iu/2016/10/provost-robel-india-trip-agreement.shtml IU's support of Title VI and broadened access for underserved students: https://news.iu.edu/stories/2018/01/iub/inside/29-title-vi-provides-boost-for-international-programs.html