Constitution Day Requirements to Remain Title IV Eligible
Higher education institutions must offer educational programs about the Constitution on Thursday, Sept. 17 (Constitution Day) in order to remain eligible for Title IV funding, thanks to a provision by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that was slipped into a 2004 spending bill.
Fortunately, the law and accompanying regulations are incredibly flexible, allowing institutions to do just about anything to commemorate the Constitution's birthday and remain Title IV eligible. This includes speeches arguing that forcing colleges to honor Constitution Day is unconstitutional, as a Vanderbilt University law professor did when the law first went into effect. Institutions have taken full advantage of the flexibility given in the law and regulations resulting in a diversity of educational events at campuses that is matched only by the diversity of institutions in the U.S.
Some examples of events held by institutions in the past include:
Holding Constitution Day parties with cakes resembling the Preamble to the Constitution and the 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.
Showings of the "Schoolhouse Rock" video on the Constitution and Bill of Rights
Schoolhouse Rock Constitution Preamble
The following is list of university Web pages describing how they have commemorated Constitution Day to remain in compliance with the law.
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.
The National Constitution Center has online resources to help you celebrate Constitution Day featuring over 200 activities, lessons, books, DVDs and more from over 30 different providers.
Northwestern U. 2006 Constitution Day Lecture
Northwestern University Political Science Professor Kenneth Janda presents his lecture, "The U.S. Constitution Tried to Decentralize Power. Did It Succeed?" Janda discusses the founding fathers' initial intentions of the constitution and how the separation of powers has evolved. He also compares the size, structure, and text of the U.S. Constitution to constitutions of other nations and of U.S. state constitutions.
By Haley Chitty NASFAA Director for Communications
Posted 09/08/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.
Higher education institutions must offer educational programs about the Constitution on Thursday, Sept. 17 (Constitution Day) in order to remain eligible for Title IV funding, thanks to a provision by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that was slipped into a 2004 spending bill.