It's essential that your alumni understand the current legislative landscape and the challenges it poses to higher education. Below are the key issues you’ll want to share with your alumni to help them understand why their advocacy matters:  

1. Funding Critical and Life-saving Research  
   The long-standing partnership between the federal government and research universities has been invaluable to the United States. Federal investment in university research has generated a significant return for the federal government and improved the lives of all Americans. Significant funding cuts and freezes to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation, and other essential federal research programs could drastically affect medical and scientific progress. These cuts also impact student research opportunities.  
2. Taxing Endowments Diverts Vital Resources from Students and Research  
   Generous donors make charitable contributions to college and university endowments to support student scholarships, research, faculty, staff, and academic programs. As colleges and universities grapple with federal funding cuts and freezes, taxing endowments will exacerbate the problem by diverting critical resources away from supporting students and ground-breaking research at a time when those funds are desperately needed. Instead of taxing charitable endowments, lawmakers should be looking for ways to encourage philanthropy to higher education.  
3. Preparing America’s Workforce  
   Higher education is a critical driver of workforce development, producing skilled individuals who contribute to the economy. College-educated workers make up about 37% of the U.S. workforce but account for nearly 60% of total earnings. Each new college graduate contributes an estimated $1 million in lifetime earnings to the economy, fueling innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Policies that support and expand these contributions are essential for a thriving workforce.  
4. Promoting Academic Freedom and Autonomy  
   While there is a clear role for government in regulating colleges and universities, efforts to influence university curricula, admissions policies, and the core values that ensure higher education is a safe, inclusive space for people of all backgrounds are threatening the autonomy and academic freedom that are essential to what our institutions stand for. These actions disrupt the commitment to providing an environment where all students can learn and thrive, regardless of their background.