National Policy Seminar

COE Policy Seminar Website

COE’s Policy Seminar is an annual event connecting advocates for low-income, first-generation students served by the TRIO programs to Capitol Hill. The event also includes professional development, leadership training, and alumni engagement events designed to enhance the work of college access and success professionals with their students and institutions. While grant funding may cover some portions of the Policy Seminar, it does not cover other portions—namely, the lobbying activities in preparation for meetings on Capitol Hill. Yet, such work is critical to ensuring the survival and growth of TRIO. During this webinar, you will hear from Policy Seminar veterans about what happens and how you can work with your institution to fund your participation!

Registration for the 2022 Policy Seminar is Now Open!

This year, the Council for Opportunity (COE)’s annual Policy Seminar returns to Washington, DC with an option for virtual participation! The Policy Seminar includes three events:

• • Leadership Summit, the cornerstone event occurring each year prior to Policy Seminar, gathers state and regional leadership, emerging leaders, alumni and experienced professionals to develop leadership skills and form quality professional connections on Sunday, March 20.
  • Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, or “ED Seminar,” will include remarks from grant agency officials and programmatic roundtables on Monday, March 21.
  • The newly titled Legislative Conference, a two-day advocacy session, features remarks by key Members of Congress and panels of legislative experts, advocacy training, and virtual visits to Capitol Hill on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22 and 23.

Leadership Summit — Sunday, March 20, 2022

Throughout the history of COE, it has taken different types of leaders to help TRIO become what it is today. COE’s annual Leadership Summit provides high-quality professional development for all levels of leaders in TRIO. Whether you are new to TRIO or a seasoned professional, this day-long convening will heighten your expertise at the local, state, regional, and national levels of leadership. For questions about the Leadership Summit, please contact Jennifer Rudolph at (jennifer.rudolph@coenet.org).

Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education — Monday, March 21, 2022

This seminar for college access and success professionals in post-secondary institutions and community agencies provides information about:

• • U.S. Department of Education policies
  • U.S. Department of Educational fiscal and programmatic regulations and reporting requirements
  • The latest information on TRIO regulations and
  • The outlook for upcoming TRIO grant competitions.

Tentative Agenda

• • 10:00–11:00 a.m. Remarks from the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona (Invited)
  • 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions with U.S. Department of Education Program Officers
  • 12:45–2:00 p.m. Luncheon featuring Remarks from the U.S. Department of Education Acting Secretary of Postsecondary Education, Michelle Asha Cooper (Invited)
  • 2:15–3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions with U.S. Department of Education Program Officers
  • 3:45–5:00 p.m. Professional Development Sessions with COE (Topics TBD)

For questions about the Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, please contact Angelica Vialpando at (angelica.vialpando@coenet.org).

Important Note — Neither the Leadership Summit nor the Seminar on Relations with the Department of Education will involve any lobbying activities; however, certain aspects of the Legislative Conference will involve such activity. Therefore, federal grantees must allocate costs for these separate activities appropriately and in a manner consistent with their institutional policies.

Legislative Conference — Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22-23, 2022

The Power of Persistence — Each year during COE’s Policy Seminar, the TRIO community can educate Members of Congress, congressional staff, and others about the history and the success of federal college access and success programs. This year’s event, re-branded as the “Legislative Conference,” gives participants a chance to represent the interests of low-income and first- generation students and veterans, adult learners, and students with disabilities in the policy arena.

Important Note — All congressional meetings will be held in-person on Capitol Hill unless no one from a Congressional District is physically present at the Legislative Conference. For questions, please contact Jonathan Elkin at (jonathan.elkin@coenet.org).

Tentative Agenda

Monday, March 21

• • 2:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Registration
  • 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. Opening Session
  • 7:45 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Orientation for Hill Team Leaders

Tuesday, March 22

• • 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Registration
  • 9:00–11:00 a.m. State Team Meetings (Fully Virtual)
  • 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Funding the Future – TRIO Appropriations in FY ‘23
  • 12:00–1:00 p.m. Lunch on Your Own
  • 1:00–2:00 p.m. HEA Update
  • 2:00–3:00 p.m. Congressional Staffer Panel
  • 3:00–3:45 p.m. Advocacy Storytelling
  • 3:45–4:15 p.m. Capitol Hill Talking Points Recap
  • 4:15–4:45 p.m. Snack Break
  • 4:45–6:45 p.m. State Team Meetings (Fully Virtual)

Wednesday, March 23

• • 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Congressional Visits
  • 6:30 p.m.–7:15 p.m. Debriefing and Rally

Bring your TRIO alumni to the Legislative Conference! — Alumni participation at this event will give graduates the skills they need to be TRIO advocates at the local, state, and national levels. COE staff are delighted to help TRIO directors provide fulfilling policy experiences in Washington for their students when they are on school breaks. Students should not miss school to attend the Legislative Conference.

Important Note — Neither the Leadership Summit nor the Seminar on Relations with the Department of Education will involve any lobbying activities; however, certain aspects of the Legislative Conference will involve such activity. Therefore, federal grantees must allocate costs for these separate activities appropriately and in a manner consistent with their institutional policies.

Hotel Information

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
400 New Jersey Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, Phone: (202) 737-1234, Fax: (202) 737-5773

Hotel Reservations can be made here or by calling 1-877-803-7534 and using the group code COEE. Single/Double is $364 + taxes and fees. The cut-off date is Friday, February 25, or when the room block is full—whichever comes first.

Registration Instructions and Deadlines

For individuals participating in the Policy Seminar and/or Department of Education Seminar, online registration at coenet.org is strongly encouraged. Online registrants will receive an immediate receipt. Click here to register online.

All registrations not completed online must include a credit card payment, check, or purchase order to be accepted.

Special Discount — If you attended last year’s Policy Seminar and bring a newcomer to Policy with you, the newcomer can register for half off of his/her regular registration rate (Member or Non-Member). These registration forms must be submitted by fax at the same time. There is no online registration for this special offer.

Important Note — This half-price discount only applies if you register for Legislative Conference only. If you register for both the Legislative Conference and the Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, then the half-price discount will only be applied to the Legislative Conference portion. If you bring a member of your institution’s Government Relations staff or campus/institutional leadership, their registration for Legislative Conference only is also half off their regular registration price. This does not include the Seminar with the Department of Education. Registration for this special discount must be submitted by fax — there is no online registration for this special offer.

Important Note — This half-price discount only applies if you register for Legislative Conference only. If you register for both the Legislative Conference and the Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education, then the half-price discount will only be applied to the Legislative Conference portion.

Refund Policy — Registration fees paid in advance are refundable (less processing fee of $250) if written notice of cancellation is received/faxed on or before February 28, 2022. No refund requests will be accepted after this date. All refunds will be made after the seminars. Return by mail or fax to: Council for Opportunity in Education; P.O. Box 742282; Atlanta, GA 30374; Fax — (202) 628-3726.

Important Dates

Deadline for Early Bird Discount — January 31, 2022
Deadline for Hotel Room Block — February 25, 2022 (or at capacity)
Deadline to Convert Attendance Type (Virtual/In-Person) — February 25, 2022

Leadership Summit — Sunday, March 20, 2022
Seminar on Relations with the U.S. Department of Education — Monday, March 21, 2022
Legislative Conference — Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22-23, 2022