With the recent election of President Trump, institutions of higher education need to prepare for and understand the potential ramifications of a new Trump Administration. There are likely to be profound shifts in federal policy, such as reduced student aid, the end of student debt forgiveness, and substantial changes to the structure of the U.S. Department of Education. Institutions must understand their vulnerabilities and positioning. Fitler Square Strategies can help institutions navigate these challenges by conducting political vulnerability audits.
Vulnerability audits can help institutions understand how policy and administrative changes may impact their operations and public responses.
Understanding the Implications of a Political Shift
Anticipated Policy Changes
The re-election of Donald J. Trump could precipitate policy changes that directly impact higher education, including the possibility - however remote - of dismantling the Department of Education, which manages student loans and educational grants.
For example, over the last year, the Heritage Foundation outlined a Project that aims to fundamentally change and structure the federal government, including student financial aid delivery and oversight.
Additionally, the Trump Administration may take regulatory or administrative action on issues ranging from the participation of trans athletes in sports to deportations that impact students and faculty.
Conducting a Political Vulnerability Audit
Identifying Key Policy Changes
A political vulnerability audit examines potential federal and state policy changes and internal university policies, actions, structure, and recent news. Audits evaluate how policy shifts could affect operations and funding, both immediate effects, such as changes to funding, and long-term implications, such as the potential restructuring of educational programs.
Assessing Internal Vulnerabilities and Impact of External Actions
A political vulnerability audit helps institutions evaluate their vulnerabilities, external changes, and actors. During the audit process, an institution can understand its internal policies, budget, staffing, and structure and how external policy changes or actions could impact the school.
For example, an audit could review the percentage of students and faculty on foreign visas, the lines of federal funding, and other interactions with the federal government or controversial policies that could create exposure.
Lastly, audits should study how effectively an institution can adapt to changes in federal policy and funding structure.
Enhancing Crisis Management Systems and Creating Crisis Communication Plans
Part of a vulnerability audit is to evaluate processes and systems to address crises. As we expect abrupt policy shifts, strengthening crisis communications plans and protocol systems will help institutions weather attacks and threats.
Institutions must have clear decision-making and communication protocols to elevate and respond to changes in policy or attacks from internal actors. Higher education institutions can create processes that flag issues for key decision-makers and approval processes that make responding to an issue clearer.
Further, colleges and universities should prioritize the development of crisis communications plans that outline strategic responses to likely scenarios, including reductions in government support and federal administrative and regulatory actions against university operations and policy.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for policy shifts during the Trump era demands a proactive and comprehensive approach from higher education institutions.
Colleges and universities can begin to understand these challenges by conducting thorough political vulnerability audits and investing in crisis communications planning.
Fitler Square Strategies has experience conducting vulnerability audits at various institutions, including higher education institutions. We specialize in developing crisis communications plans responsive to our audit findings. We can help higher education institutions understand the threats they face and safeguard their future.
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