Thanks to a provision slipped into a 2004 spending bill, higher education institutions must offer educational programs about the Constitution on Constitution Day (Sept. 17) in order to remain eligible for Title IV funding.

The provision, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), and the subsequent regulations provided by the Department, give institutions extreme freedom to comply with the law.

In past years institutions have exercised this freedom to offer a wide variety of educational programs from holding a debate about why Byrd's provision is unconstitutional to Constitution Day parties complete with cakes resembling the Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Other programs held by institutions include:

• Showings of the "Schoolhouse Rock" video on the Constitution and Bill of Rights
• Public readings of the Constitution
• A "Constitutional Alley" where students are encouraged to write opinions about Constitutional issues
• Mounting large boards across campus for students to suggest additions and changes to the Constitution
• Student debates on the Constitution
• Holding "Constitutional Jeopardy" game show-type events
• Having drama students dress up in colonial-era costumes and perform patriotic songs.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The diversity of educational events at campuses across the country is matched only by the diversity of institutions in the U.S.

USA Funds has compiled the following list of universities that have created Web pages to describe what they do to comply with the law.

• Azusa Pacific University.
• George Washington University.
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
• Loyola University.
• Nova Southeastern University.
• University of Connecticut.
• University of Maryland.
• University of Notre Dame.
• University of South Carolina.  

USA Funds has set up a Constitution Day Resources Web page to give institutions ideas and materials so they can comply with the law.

The National Constitution Center, an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the Constitution, also has a Constitution Resource Web page for educators. The Web page provides a list of free educational material about the Constitution.

Justice Learning (justicelearning.org), a collaborative between NPR and The New York Times also provides a Web page providing links to a variety of multi-media Constitution Day educational materials.

By Haley Chitty
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications

Posted 08/31/07 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.