AASCU on the Hill
Join AASCU for an in-person Hill Day and make your voice heard in the halls of Congress. Your institution’s voice can help shift the needle on key federal policy priorities for regional public universities (RPUs).
Register now.
Meet in person with your federal delegation.
The start of the second session of the 119th Congress in 2026 provides a renewed and timely opportunity to engage with the members of your federal delegation after a tumultuous 2025. AASCU invites all its members and leaders at regional public universities (RPUs) to attend the Washington, DC, event on March 24-25 to promote the successes of the sector and its positive social and economic impacts on their surrounding communities.
Members of Congress need to hear from you directly to help them better understand this cohort of institutions and the significant effects the loss of previously dependable national investments in higher education will have on student success and university goals. Specifically, it is crucial that you share how institutional achievement is directly correlated with student success and regional social and economic prosperity.
AASCU is accentuating this call to protect federal institutional and student support programs, including Pell Grants, Postsecondary Student Success Grants, Minority-Serving Institutions Grants, TRIO and GEAR-UP, and the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Grants. The 2026 AASCU on the Hill provides you with such an opportunity.
What can advocates expect on March 24–25, 2026?
Join your friends and peers from across the country for the 2026 AASCU on the Hill and have an impact on the development of the following important federal policy issues:
- Preserving federal funding for student financial aid and institutional assistance
- The development and implementation of accountability provisions in H.R. 1
- Preserving the authority to fund Minority-Serving Institutions
- Show Congress the unique impact and the crucial role regional public universities play
Share your expertise and unique insights to help educate your federal delegation on the complexities of modern higher education institutions, the composition of today’s students, and the innovative approaches, recommendations, and challenges in advancing your organization’s mission.
Who should attend?
- Presidents and chancellors
- System presidents and chancellors
- Government relations/public affairs staff
- A member of the president’s/chancellor’s cabinet
- Student government or association presidents, invited by campus leadership
Benefits of participation?
- Meet directly with the offices of your senators and representatives
- Get briefed on the latest news and actions on Capitol Hill
- Utilize practical materials, trainings, and resources for meeting talking points, suggestions, and advocacy best practices
- Network and connect with other AASCU presidents/chancellors and share knowledge and best practices
Schedule at a glance
Sessions will be held at AASCU’s office, located at 1350 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC.
On Wednesday, March 24, participants will make their own transportation arrangements to the Capitol.
| 12:15–1:15 p.m. | Lunch and Washington Policy Update Session
Lunch will provide attendees with an opportunity for an informal and private facilitated conversation about what is on the membership’s mind regarding policy developments and activity on and off Capitol Hill. This session will provide a policy overview of current developments in the 119th Congress and within the Administration, as well as what to expect when meeting with the members of your delegation.
|
| 1:15–1:30 p.m. | Welcome and Introductions
President Chuck Welch will level-set the various event sessions, share an overview of AASCU’s advocacy work on behalf of the membership, and discuss what policy expectations remain from the administration.
|
| 1:30–1:45 p.m. | Break |
| 1:45–2:30 p.m. | Is Your Institution Ready for New Accountability Provisions?
The passage of HR1 (OB3) introduced significant changes to the Higher Education Act, particularly on institutional accountability. For the first time, colleges and universities will be subject to an earnings test of their graduates to maintain program-by-program eligibility for federal student loans. The speakers for this session will highlight the deliberations and expected regulatory structure of the new accountability provision, as well as the implementation of the new Workforce Pell Grants.
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| 2:30–3:15 p.m. | All Rise: Legal Cases and Actions Affecting Higher Education
From executive orders to interagency agreements, every administration action seems to wind up on a judicial docket. Join our panelists as they break down the present status of court actions directly affecting higher education. After discussing top cases and their potential impact on future policy, panelists will invite attendees to confer in small groups before reconvening to answer questions and provide a potential map for the remainder of 2026’s legal landscape. |
| 3:15–3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Measuring What Matters: Data Availability, Transparency, and Federal Capacity
Reliable data underpins effective higher education policy. This session explores how recent reductions in federal data capacity, including the Department of Education RIFs affecting NCES and administrative data functions, are reshaping the postsecondary data landscape. Drawing on analyses from the National Student Clearinghouse, the session will highlight how public institutions are navigating growing data gaps and reporting uncertainty. Attendees will engage in a brief collaborative reflection before transitioning to a panel of higher education data experts, including former NCES leaders, to discuss long-term implications for transparency, accountability, and policymaking. |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | NegReg: The Good, the Bad, and the Consensus
Last year’s negotiated rulemaking produced several noteworthy changes as the administration sought to implement provisions included in H.R. 1 – the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Hear from those who were in the room as they share the intricacies of the new Workforce Pell program, application of student loan caps, and explain the “consensus” that was reached that led to a fixed definition of professional degree programs. |
| 5:30-7 p.m. | Reception
The reception will take place at the new AASCU Offices located at 1350 Eye Street, NW, Suite 810, Washington, DC. |
| 8–9:30 a.m. | Breakfast and Final Charge
Join your friends and colleagues for breakfast and some parting words of wisdom from invited members of Congress as everyone prepares for their congressional visits. |
| 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Capitol Hill Meetings |
Hill Meetings
Hill Meeting Scheduling: Attendees are responsible for scheduling meetings with their congressional delegation: one member of the U.S. House of Representatives and both U.S. Senate offices. Meetings should preferably be scheduled between 10 am – 5 pm on Wednesday, Mar.25. For those attendees requiring assistance, AASCU Government Relations staff stand ready to assist with any scheduling needs.
*Reminder*
Most meetings in Capitol Hill offices are scheduled for only 20-25 minutes. AASCU recommends asking for a meeting with your elected official AND their legislative assistant covering higher education policy issues. Attendees should determine the necessary travel time between meeting locations and take that into account when scheduling meetings between both sides of Capitol Hill. We recommend, at least 30 minutes to get from the House to the Senate or vice-versa.”
Please reach out to AASCU Government Relations staff if you require assistance in scheduling any meetings. We encourage you to share any time constraints, additional requests, or previously scheduled meetings you may have via email. You can contact our team at govrel@aascu.org.
Testimonials
“AASCU institutions embody thousands of powerful stories that demonstrate how their work transforms lives and strengthens the socioeconomic fabric of our nation. These stories deserve to be shared with leaders who shape priorities for funding. AASCU on the Hill provides an invaluable platform to share these stories and showcase the profound impact of our institutions. Therefore, I am honored to participate in this effort and to highlight the role of the State University of New York at Fredonia in advancing social mobility and preparing students to enrich our nation.”
“Bringing my student leader to AASCU on the Hill was highly impactful. He clearly conveyed student needs and priorities to our elected representatives and their staff, and he carried the authority to speak on behalf of students. He also gained a greater understanding of how federal legislation affects students, which benefits his ability to advocate for our students on campus and beyond.”
“AASCU on the Hill provides an essential forum for developing and advancing the shared priorities of public universities, as well as the students and states we serve. Engaging directly with federal policymakers and colleagues from across the country has never been more important, as together we reinforce the importance of expanding affordable access, aligning education with workforce needs, and supporting student success and economic mobility. AASCU’s leadership in Washington, along with our participation in events like AASCU on the Hill, ensures that our public institutions — and the communities we educate and support — have a strong and effective voice.”
“AASCU on the Hill is a well-organized event that provides attendees with critical information and access to experts to inform advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels. The experience is beneficial to the immediate conversations that occur during the event in Washington, D.C., as well as to planning and advocacy work upon attendees’ return to their campuses. The event provides a beneficial opportunity to network with AASCU members and staff, which, when combined with the array of AASCU resources and professional expertise available to members, demonstrates the value of a national organization committed to the success of regional public universities.”
“AASCU on the Hill is one of the most impactful advocacy experiences I’ve had as a university leader. The 2025 event provided a powerful platform to engage with policymakers while learning from experienced and strategic leaders how to amplify messages to our legislators on the issues directly impacting our institutions. In a time when higher education faces rapid change at both the federal and state levels, AASCU’s advocacy equips us to navigate that landscape with clarity and a collective voice for our students and communities.”
Join us in March and make your voice heard.
| Attendee type | Early Bird Rate (ends Jan. 16) |
Regular Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Member Presidents, Chancellors, Government Relations staff, Cabinet members |
$250 | $350 |
| Nonmember Presidents, Chancellors, Government Relations staff, Cabinet members |
$500 | $700 |
| Students | Complimentary | Complimentary |
Non-Refundable Registration Fees
Should your travel plans change, please be advised that all registration fees for the meeting are non-refundable.
Accommodations
Viceroy Washington DC
1430 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20005
Cut-off for the block is Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Meeting location
Sessions will be held at AASCU’s office, located at 1350 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC.
On Wednesday, participants will make their own transportation arrangements to the Capitol.
AASCU on the Hill Partner
Have questions about AASCU on the Hill 2026? Let us know.
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