Next Tuesday marks the official opening of the Institute’s new administration office in Washington, D.C. Officials from Congress, the state, and the Institute, as well as some alumni, will attend the ceremony.
The new office will act as the second Government and Community Relations office. It is strategically located in the Hall of the States. The building houses 30 states offices, major national media outlets, and other prestigious research universities.
Originally proposed by President Jackson, the office is described under the Performance Plan. After two years of scouting for the right building and renovation process, the office is finally ready to be used. The building, which comes with a five year lease, is going to be multi-purpose. It is for the use of any members of the Institute who need a meeting or conference space in the area. It is also to enhance the visibility and profile of the Institute.
According to Larry Snavley, vice president of Government and Community Relations, the opening of the new office comes at the time when the Institute has an increased need to have a permanent presence at the nation’s capitol.
This office allows more direct and proactive input in legislative and regulatory activities, and serves as a platform for leadership role in setting science and technology policy.
He continued, “The office is our medium for better communication with other organizations in Washington, D.C., especially with the Congress.”
“President Jackson and other members of the Institute’s leadership line have been spending a significant amount of time in Washington, D.C. working with the Congress on policy advisory boards, agency review panels, or presenting Congressional testimony,” added Snavley.
Legislation passed by the Congress and regulations promulgated by agencies governs universities in many ways and affects a broad range of activities.
The soonest educational impact that the office will be able to make will be in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The act will review all federal financial aid programs, and try to impose more restrictions on financial aid. The Institute, in collaboration with other schools, is actively opposing the restriction. A change in the review will affect 85 percent of the Institute’s undergraduate students negatively. The total federal financial aid to the Institute is currently $38.5 million.
The research field needs a boost in its funding to go along with the Rensselaer Plan. The total research funding over the past five years has seen an increase of around 70 percent. The office will facilitate access to federal research funding and congressional grant. The nanotechnology research that has been going on currently is the proof of the Institute’s important presence in Washington, D.C.
The Institute is also lobbying the Congress to legislate the law for a tax cut to every donor. This is to encourage more donations to schools.
Everything that happens in Washington, D.C will be monitored by a permanent staff that is yet to be announced. They will be responsible for monitoring federal priorities and programs and sharing the information with everyone on campus.
