Interesting Policy Reads: Higher Ed and the COVID National Emergency, the Distance Learning Transition, and Barriers to Broadband Access

With our "Interesting Policy Reads" blog posts, the EDUCAUSE Policy Office highlights recent articles on federal policy issues and developments that are directly relevant to members or provide insights on higher education policy in general.

• Coronavirus Cybersecurity Fallout Might Not Be Felt for Weeks or Longer, The Wall Street Journal, March 25, 2020. (As millions of US workers move to remote work, federal officials warn that an uptick in cybersecurity breaches is likely.)
• Universities Get Creative with Technology Due to Coronavirus Closures, The Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2020. (Universities across the nation discuss how they’re making the transition to online distance learning while ensuring the same quality education students received on campus.)
• The Big Transition, Inside Higher Ed, March 31, 2020. (The University of Washington, one of the first campuses to move to online distance learning due to the coronavirus, offers insights on the successes and troubles of its transition to a new style of education.)
• ‘Explosion’ in Distance-Learning Tech Sparks Privacy Worries, Bloomberg Law, April 6, 2020. (As schools are turning to online distance learning during the COVID-19 national emergency, complying with privacy laws is at the top of administrators’ minds.)
• Rural Students without Wi-Fi: We’re Doing School Work in Chick-fil-A Parking Lot, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 9, 2020. (Students who are enrolled at colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia are urging administrators to consider an opt-in pass/fail grading system, citing challenges associated with broadband access.)
• Pandemic Builds Momentum for Broadband Infrastructure Upgrade, The Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2020. (The coronavirus pandemic is boosting momentum for major broadband legislation as more people are forced to work and go to school in homes and areas that lack access to broadband connections.)
• Microsoft Can’t Get Its Privacy Bill Passed in Its Home State [https://www.protocol.com/microsoft-privacy-bills-in-four-other-states], Protocol, April 28, 2020. (After many years of fighting and failing to pass a Microsoft-backed privacy bill in Washington state, advocates for the privacy bill are now looking to introduce and pass it in other states.)
• Will Parents Pay? Inside Higher Ed, April 27, 2020. (Surveys show that parents are skeptical of the quality of online higher education as compared to on-campus learning, leading them to feel less inclined to pay regular tuition rates for their children if instruction is online.)
• US Wireless Firms Extend Concessions for Coronavirus-Hit till June 30, Reuters, April 27, 2020. (In an effort to help people accommodate remote education and work, major wireless and internet providers are voluntarily extending their commitment to not cancel service or charge late fees through June 30.)
• House Democrat Introduces Bill to Ensure Students Have Internet Access amid Pandemic, The Hill, April 21, 2020. (House Democrats have introduced the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020. The legislation would create a $2 billion fund for the Federal Communications Commission to disburse so that schools and libraries can buy Wi-Fi hotspots and other tools and devices students need to continue their studies during the coronavirus pandemic.)

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Kathryn Branson is a Senior Associate with Ulman Public Policy.