Final Rules
- National Environmental Policy Act Regulations Effective Date: 9/1/2026 #Campus Development
- Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation, Make Personal Protective Equipment in America Act Restrictions on Foreign Acquisition (HSAR Case 2024-003) Effective Date: 10/19/2026 #Procurement
- Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Diphenidine in Schedule I Effective Date: 10/21/2026 #Research #EHS #UAPD #UMC
- Public Access to Information Effective Date: 10/21/2026 #Campus
- Nonclinical Testing Terminology Effective Date: 2/4/2027 Comments Due: 12/7/2026 #Research
- Air Plan Approval; Alabama; Transportation Conformity Effective Date: 10/26/2026 #Fleet Services
- Recodification of Title IX Rules Effective Date: 9/29/2026 #Title IX
Proposed Rules
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 Comments Due: 10/19/2026 #Procurement
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 Comments Due: 10/19/2026 #Procurement
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 Comments Due: 10/19/2026 #Procurement
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 Comments Due: 10/19/2026 #Procurement
- Nonclinical Testing Terminology Comments Due: 12/7/2026 #Research
- Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of 4-Hydroxy-N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine (4-OH-DiPT), 5-Methoxy-alpha-Methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT), 5-Methoxy-N-Methyl-N-Isopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-MiPT), 5-Methoxy-N,N-Diethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DET), and N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT) Into Schedule I Comments Due: 10/23/2026 #Research #UAPD #EHS
Notices
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Aerial Lifts Standard Comments Due: 10/1/2026 #Campus Development
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Construction Fall Protection Systems Criteria, Practices, and Training Requirements Comments Due: 10/1/2026 #Campus Development
- 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program Comments Due: 10/27/2026 #Campus Development
- Determination That PHENAPHEN WITH CODEINE NO. 3 (Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate) Oral Capsules, 325 Milligrams and 30 Milligrams, and PHENAPHEN WITH CODEINE NO. 4 (Acetaminophen; Codeine Phosphate) Oral Capsules, 325 Milligrams and 60 Milligrams, Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness #UMC #SHC
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Credit Card Payment Form (1-786) Comments Due: 10/5/2026 #Campus
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Request for Title IV Reimbursement or Heightened Cash Monitoring 2 (HCM2) Comments Due: 10/5/2026 #Student Financial Aid
- Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program #Student Financial Aid
- Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Variable-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program Prior to July 1, 2010 #Student Financial Aid
- Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Variable-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program #Student Financial Aid
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: E-Verify Program Comments Due: 10/13/2026 #HR
- Call for Nominations to the National Geospatial Advisory Committee Nominations Due: 11/16/2026 #Campus
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification and Application Comments Due: 10/22/2026 #Student Financial Aid
- Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-006, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 Comments Due: 11/23/2026 #Procurement
- Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-010, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 Comments Due: 11/23/2026 #Procurement
- Information Collection; Paperwork Reduction Act Changes in FAR Case 2026-011, Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 Comments Due: 11/23/2026 #Procurement
- Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Federal Direct PLUS Loan Request for Supplemental Information Comments Due: 10/26/2026 #Student Financial Aid
Items of Interest
- Gulf of America Act Effective October 1, 2026, Alabama law requires state entities to use the term “Gulf of America” in newly created maps, documents, educational materials, websites, official communications, and similar resources. Existing materials are subject to a “reasonable efforts” standard and may not require revision where doing so would impose an operational or financial burden.
- How micro credentials could be a hidden opportunity to boost student engagement in higher education The uptick in student interest shouldn’t be ignored — according to Coursera’s Micro-Credentials Impact Report, 94% of students agree that micro credentials help build essential career skills.
- More Than Half of College Applicants Reported Key Home-Based Challenges New data from Common App’s responsibilities and circumstances question—added for all applicants last year—allows students to share the range of extracurricular tasks they perform beyond sports, clubs and volunteer work.
- Student Support Needs Outpace College Capacity A new EAB survey finds financial, mental health and academic challenges are straining colleges already facing staffing and budget constraints.
- Trump Administration Threatens Colleges’ Tax-Exempt Status Under the proposed rule, any college that adopts or maintains admissions policies, scholarships, loans or other programs for students of color could lose its tax-exempt status.OMB Grants Rule Delayed Until Mid-December President Trump signed legislation this week that will fund the government through Dec. 11 and delay a proposed rule that would give political appointees more power over grant making.
- ABA Accreditation Council Repeals Diversity Standard In a 10-to-6 vote, the council scrapped a long-standing requirement that law schools “demonstrate by concrete action a commitment to diversity and inclusion.”
- IRS tax plan could imperil college finances, Moody’s says If institutions lose their tax-exempt status over diversity efforts, they could face a loss of gifts and higher borrowing costs among other hits, analysts said.
- 4-year visa cap for international students halted by federal judge U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor paused the highly contested rule just a day before it would have taken effect.
- How Apprenticeships Can Help Colleges Access Workforce Pell Registered apprenticeships that include some instruction from a college automatically qualify as “in-demand,” giving institutions a potential fast track to Workforce Pell.
- More Than 500 Campus Hazing Incidents Confirmed in Last Year The estimate is based on the first full year of data available since Congress passed the Stop Campus Hazing Act in 2024. Advocates say the real number of cases is even higher.
- College athletics rack up millions in deficits as Senate eyes oversight bill The congressional chamber could vote this week on the Protect College Sports Act, a proposal intended to stabilize the shifting collegiate landscape.
- Higher Ed Groups Bash ED Proposal to Allow More Grant Terminations The Education Department received more than 5,500 public comments on rule changes that would allow the secretary to, among many other things, ax awards simply “for convenience.”
- Education Department takes 2024 Title IX rule off the books The move formalizes court decisions that had already blocked the Biden administration’s anti-sex discrimination rule protecting LGBTQ+ students.
Policy Updates
- The Facilities and Grounds Use Policy was revised on 9/2/2026 to provide clarifying language throughout the policy.
- The Data Ownership and Retention Policy was revised on 9/8/2026 to remove outdated regulations and replace with current requirements.
- The Student Pregnancy and Related Medical Conditions Assistance Policy was created on 9/11/2026 to ensure the University’s compliance with Title IX and other federal laws related to students who are pregnant or experiencing pregnancy-related medical conditions.
- The Campus Mail, Student Mail & Package Service Policy was revised on 9/14/2026 to add clarifying language.
- The Property and Inventory Management Policy was revised on 9/17/2026 to incorporate changes from Office of Counsel.
- The Web and Digital Materials Accessibility Policy was revised on 9/17/2026 to incorporate changes from the Office of Counsel.
- The Gramm-Leach Biley Act Information Security Program Policy was revised on 9/17/2026 to provide clarifying information.
- The Copyright Policy was revised on 9/18/2026 to update titles and clarify definitions.
- The Institutional Base Salary for Sponsored Projects Policy was revised on 9/22/2026 to update links and references to guidelines.
- The Data Governance Policy was revised on 9/22/2026 to update policy links.
- The Micromobility Policy was revised on 9/22/2026 to provide clarifying language.
- The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy was revised on 9/22/2026 to provide clarifying language.
- The Student Organization Campus Event Policy was revised on 9/30/2026 to provide clarifying language.
- The Pregnant Employee Policy was revised on 9/30/2026 to incorporate revisions from the Office of Counsel.
- The Record/Data Retention and Destruction Policy was revised on 9/30/2026 to provide clarifying language.