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How to Play the Game: Navigating the State Legislative Process


State legislatures have always had significant power over college and university budgets and operations. However, in recent years, legislatures across the country have decreased deference to higher education and ramped up their involvement and interest in daily campus operations. This new reality requires campus counsel to be involved in actively monitoring and at times participating in the legislative affairs process, whether an institution has a government relations team or not.
Please join us for this 2-hour webinar where three expert NACUA member attorneys will provide advice and guidance for how to successfully oversee and interact with the legislative process, including:
  • Information on how to build an internal legislative affairs process, including pre and post legislative session considerations and action items;
  • Tips for developing and maintaining positive working relationships with legislators and all of the other players involved in the legislative process, including legislative staff;
  • Advice for how to successfully be responsive to and manage relations among various stakeholders during session, including the president, governing board, system leadership (if applicable), legislators, and the Governor’s office;
  • Techniques and strategies for campus counsel’s crucial role of on-campus implementation for new laws once a legislative session ends; and
  • Exploration of related legal issues, such as tension between the legislative process and fiduciary duties and accreditation principles.
Who should attend?
This webinar will be of interest to in-house and outside counsel to colleges and universities, as well as other higher education administrators who work in the areas of government affairs or compliance with state laws. Much of the content will be from the perspective of public institutions, but private institutions will also benefit from information on navigating the legislative process.