Protecting the independence of private, nonprofit institutions, and ensuring that all students, regardless of family income, have access to higher education, are the prisms through which NAICU views its policy choices and courses of action. In its simplest form, NAICU’s policy mission focuses on student aid, tax policy and appropriate regulation.
Below are additional NAICU resources to assist member institutions.


Advocacy Tools and Resources
Below are resources for NAICU members to use when reaching out to members of Congress.
- Federal Higher Education Issues Summary. Learn NAICU’s positions on range of federal higher education from our two-page leave behind on public policy topics.
- Action Alerts on key actions taken by Congress or the Administration.
- Home & Away legislative talking points to help with conversations with policy makers.
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Comment Letters and Letters to Capitol Hill. NAICU sends or signs-on to letters to Congress or key Administration officials on important public policy or regulatory issues.
- The Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus, launched in 2017, started the 118th Congress with 73 members, including 71 Representatives and 2 Senators.
- NAICU's Policy Statement for the 118th Congress, highlight our key legislative objectives.
- Payment in Lieu of Taxes. Increasingly, private, nonprofit colleges and universities are facing the ongoing challenge of defending their nonprofit tax status. Knowing that these issues erupt in very different forms and at different times in states, NAICU developed a resource page that includes case studies, legal briefs, news reports and proven strategies to be used as a reference for NAICU members facing similar circumstances.

Congressional Talking Points
NAICU encourages member presidents to meet with their Congressional delegation whenever possible. Whether you are in Washington, DC, or Congress is in a state/district work period and your representatives are home, these meetings are opportunities to advocate on behalf of private, nonprofit higher education. NAICU has prepared talking points to help you convey and address the many issues currently facing private, nonprofit higher education.

Put Students First: Support College Choice
Ensuring students and families are able to choose - and afford - the college or university that best suits their individual and educational goals and objectives is a key driver in the advocacy work NAICU undertakes on behalf of its members. The first set of resources from the Students First Initiative, includes policy proposals and infographics on affordability and college completion.

Student Aid Alliance
Support the work of a coalition of 80 higher education organizations united in support of federal student aid. The Student Aid Alliance is raising awareness about the importance of federal student aid to America’s future via the Twitter campaign #SaveStudentAid.
Federal Issues Brief
Learn NAICU’s positions on range of federal higher education from our two-page leave behind on public policy topics.
Letters to Congress & the Administration
NAICU sends or signs-on to letters to Congress or key Administration officials on important public policy or regulatory issues.
Congressional Caucus
The Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus, launched in 2017, started the 118th Congress with 73 members, including 71 Representatives and 2 Senators.
Free Public College
Track the advance of "free" public college programs across the country on this special webpage. Learn about the features offered in each state and view the news and opinion articles written about these quickly growing programs.
Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Resources
Increasingly, private, nonprofit colleges and universities are facing the ongoing challenge of defending their nonprofit tax status. Knowing that these issues erupt in very different forms and at different times in states, NAICU developed a resource page that includes case studies, legal briefs, news reports and proven strategies to be used as a reference for NAICU members facing similar circumstances.


Contact Congress
Below are resources for NAICU members to use when reaching out to members of Congress.
Webinars
Find recent webinars from NAICU:
The New Regulations: The Department of Education’s Goals and Rationale
- Powerpoint Presentation
- NAICU Summary: Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment
- NAICU Summary: Accountability Regulations
- Department of Education Fact Sheet: Regulations on Accountability, Transparency & Financial Value for Postsecondary Students
- Department of Education Fact Sheet: Non-Gainful Employment Final Rules
A Briefing on the Department’s Proposed Regulations on Financial Value and Transparency
- Powerpoint Presentation
- Gainful Employment and Transparency Fact Sheet (Education Department)
- Fact Sheet for Other May 2023 NPRM Issues (Education Department)
NAICU Policy Statement
View the NAICU Public Policy Objectives for the 118th Congress.