Senator Hassan Holds Virtual Roundtable with Higher Education Leaders as Many Colleges and Universities Welcome Students Back to Campus

NEW HAMPSHIRE – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan held a virtual roundtable this week with higher education leaders across New Hampshire as many college and universities begin to welcome their students back to campus.

Senator Hassan is working to support students and teachers during this public health emergency and joined in introducing legislation to provide $430 billion to support child care facilities, K-12 schools, and higher education institutions during the pandemic. Senator Hassan previously joined the rest of the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in announcing $82 million in March to support New Hampshire schools, colleges, and universities as part of the bipartisan CARES Act. The Senator also led a bipartisan group of her colleagues in pushing the Department of Education to make important changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and website to account for disruptions in a student’s financial situation, such as a lost job or income, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

See below for coverage highlights:

WMUR: NH college presidents say flexible aid needed as campuses reopen

By Kristen Carosa

U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, is hearing about the financial challenges New Hampshire's university and college systems are facing as they welcome back students and staff.

Officials with colleges and universities in the Granite State said they have been preparing to reopen for months, and for many, it has come at a cost.

"We are, I hope, going to negotiate our next relief package for COVID relief and make sure we are addressing your needs in that package," Hassan said told college presidents in a roundtable discussion Monday.

[…] Kim Mooney, president of Franklin Pierce University, said federal funds could also help with the role higher education could play when a vaccine is developed.

"So many of our students won't be able to go home either because they are international students or because they are safer here in New Hampshire on our campuses," Mooney said.

School leaders said they need federal funding to be flexible as additional challenges come up.

Union Leader: UNH hopes to have in-house COVID-19 testing lab ready within weeks

By Paul Feely

A coronavirus testing lab that produces results in 12 hours is expected to open at the University of New Hampshire in a few weeks, a school official said Monday.

USNH Chancellor Todd Leach made the announcement during a Zoom discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan. The online discussion included presidents and heads from the community college system and private colleges in New Hampshire.

[…] “We are, I hope, going to negotiate our next relief package for COVID relief and make sure we are addressing your needs in that package,” Hassan told college presidents in a roundtable discussion Monday.

“Personal protective equipment, masks, thermometers and kiosks, testing, tracing and the staff to do all of this,” said Perkins. “We have put in place more digital and online components.”

Kim Mooney, president of Franklin Pierce University, said she wonders what role higher education will play when a vaccine is developed.

“So many of our students won’t be able to go home either because they are international students or because they are safer here in New Hampshire on our campuses,” said Mooney.

Hassan told university and college officials she’s concerned Congress hasn’t reached an agreement on a second round of coronavirus relief aid.

Caledonian Record: Community Colleges Seeking Aid For Critical Programs

By Paul Hayes

Unemployment. Layoffs. Closures.

COVID-19 has done a number on the North Country economy. That will prompt some in the region’s hard-hit tourism, hospitality and retail fields to consider new career paths.

The Community College System of New Hampshire is poised to help — as long as they are sufficiently funded.

CCSNH Interim Chancellor Susan Huard on Monday called for additional federal aid during a roundtable talk between higher education leaders and Sen. Maggie Hassan.

“We’ve got people in the retail industry, in the hospitality industry. While I hope all of those wonderful places come back, I don’t know that they will,” Huard said. “We want to be well positioned, so that we can help in terms of short-term training, which can be folded into credentials, certificates, degrees and so on.”

Hassan shared those concerns.

She noted some industries will shed jobs while others like healthcare and manufacturing already faced worker shortfalls before the pandemic.

“The workforce development piece is critical,” Hassan said.

[...] Hassan supports a new round of federal COVID relief that includes $132 billion for higher education across the country.

AP: UNH expects in-house virus testing lab within weeks

By Holly Ramer

UNH in-house testing lab: The University of New Hampshire expects to open a coronavirus testing lab with a 12-hour turnaround time for results within a few weeks, the head of the state university system said Monday.

USNH Chancellor Todd Leach joined colleagues from private colleges and the community college system for a discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan. Students have begun returning to many campuses this week, and so far the process has gone smoothly, they said.

[…] Hassan said she is dismayed that Congress has yet to pass a second round of coronavirus relief aid. She supports allocating $132 billion for higher education across the country.

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