"CNR teaches students that their voices are important in the political process, and that throughout their lives they should be advocates for themselves and others in their communities." Terri Eberle Director of Government Relations The College of New Rochelle

Terri, how did you get interested in government relations?

What do you do at The College of New Rochelle?

From 1998-2003 I was CNR’s Director of Grants, working on building relationships with and seeking funding from the government, corporations and foundations. In 2003, CNR named me the Director of Government Relations to focus on building relationships with and seeking funding from government sources. The goals of my office are: to maintain relationships with legislators and their staff members for all six CNR campuses; to monitor and give input on legislation and policy that affects CNR; to link government officials’ interests with CNR’s interests and strengths, drawing on our resources which include our President, Schools, programs, faculty and students; to position CNR to be aware of available government funding and to make requests for funding; and to raise student awareness of the role of government, including recruiting students to be involved in CNR advocacy and promoting public service careers.

We have to constantly work together as a College community, in conjunction with other colleges and with higher education advocacy organizations, to remind elected officials that investment in higher education is a long-term priority that not only benefits individuals and their communities but also will keep our country competitive and strong.

Why is the role of Director of Government Relations so important to the College community?

In recent years the government has become more involved in regulation of higher education, for example, expectations that colleges demonstrate good management practices and promote health and safety on campus. Additionally, colleges have found that it is beneficial to their students and the neighboring community if they work with government officials and civic leaders in a positive, proactive manner regarding tuition and financial aid, health care, workforce development and other issues of concern. Increasingly, institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations are hiring not only attorneys to deal with pressing legal issues but also professional government affairs personnel (who are sometimes but not always lawyers) to handle the myriad interactions the institution has with all levels of government. It is important that CNR has an office that coordinates the interaction that the President, Vice Presidents, Deans, faculty, staff and students have with the government and with higher education advocacy organizations in Albany and Washington. 

What are the major issues that students and colleges face in the next few years at the federal and state levels?

In recent years, both the state and federal government have flat funded or decreased financial aid to students and operating aid to colleges. There are so many competing priorities in the budgets, such as health care, homeland security and, on the federal level, military spending. We have to constantly work together as a College community, in conjunction with other colleges and with higher education advocacy organizations, to remind elected officials that investment in higher education is a long-term priority that not only benefits individuals and their communities but also will keep our country competitive and strong. Other upcoming issues facing colleges include accountability and reporting requirements regarding management practices and student data, privacy issues, and health and safety issues.  

Students are encouraged and supported by faculty and staff to enter careers in public service, which is not the case at all institutions.  Women are encouraged to think of themselves as leaders who can serve in government or advocacy organizations.

What are some of the ways you work with the CNR community?

I monitor legislative issues and public policy leaders in the news, and use this information to help prepare our President and the Executive Vice President for meetings with government officials and agencies.  The financial aid office always keeps me abreast of how government decisions impact the aid we give our students.  I work with the Vice Presidents, Deans, campus directors, faculty and staff on developing proposals for funding for our schools and our campuses.  Of course the Wellness Center has been a major funding focus in the last few years.  Communications and External Affairs staff help to make sure that CNR promotes its government affairs activities in the community, in publications and in the media.  Students are also involved in government relations work in many ways.

Why does your office involve students with government relations?

CNR teaches students that their voices are important in the political process, and that throughout their lives they should be advocates for themselves and others in their communities. Students are encouraged and supported by faculty and staff to enter careers in public service, which is not the case at all institutions.  Women are encouraged to think of themselves as leaders who can serve in government or advocacy organizations.  Students do not all need to be government affairs wonks like me - we need nurses, teachers and business owners who provide services - but they should all think about the role the government plays in their chosen field and the ways they can use advocacy tools to advance education, health care and other quality of life issues in their communities.

What are some of the ways students can be involved?

I have helped students identify government offices, political campaigns, and nonprofit organizations for internship, volunteer and job opportunities.  Professors in nursing, social work and other disciplines have invited me to their classes to speak with students about advocacy.  Some students have volunteered to work with the League of Women Voters on voter registration drives or to sit at a table and encourage other students to send e-mails to their elected officials about student aid.  Every year, a group of students travels to Albany with me to talk to their state legislators about why student aid is important to them.  I am open to other ideas from my co-workers in the CNR community and from students about ways we can work together!

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Terri at work: Pictured here at this year's L0bby Day in Albany with Assemblyman George Latimer, who represents CNR’s New Rochelle Campus. Teri and CNR students met with various state legislators to discuss issues such as funding for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) that affect their pursuit of a college degree.