Update on University Response to Federal Measures
Dear members of the Northwestern community,
In recent weeks, you have read and heard a lot about various federal actions and how they impact Northwestern and higher education in general. We write today to update you on the challenges the University faces and how we are responding.
This is a critical moment for our institution, in which many of our foundational values are being tested. We know many of you are feeling this acutely, and we are too. We remain steadfast in our unwavering dedication to our research enterprise, to academic freedom and to creating an environment in which the best minds from across the globe can come to teach, learn and push the boundaries of discovery for the betterment of humanity.
Although we still have not received official notification or details from the federal government that our federal research funding has been frozen, nor the conditions that would restore funding, we already have seen significant impacts.
As of this writing, we have received 98 stop-work orders, mostly for Department of Defense-funded research projects, in addition to 51 grant terminations that were mostly received prior to the news of the funding freeze. In addition, we have not received payments for National Institutes of Health grants since March. These now appear to be frozen.
This is deeply troubling, and we are working in many ways to advocate on behalf of the University and to resolve the situation.
As we announced earlier this month, in support of our faculty, students and staff during this period of uncertainty, the University, after consultation with the Board of Trustees, will support research that is subject to stop-work orders or the federal funding freeze. This support is intended to keep these projects going until we have a better understanding of the funding landscape. We expect and hope to recoup the costs of this research once federal funding is restored. However, this commitment places significant financial stress on the University and is not a permanent solution. New guidance for this interim support will be shared with faculty soon.
In addition, the University is exploring ways to help researchers whose grants have been terminated by the federal government.
This is just one part of our multi-pronged approach. We are working hard to understand what we can do to “unfreeze” our grant funding. This means meetings with key legislative leaders, collaboration with peer universities, coordination with organizations like the American Association of Universities and seeking legal representation to learn about our options to find a sustainable path forward that enables us to continue doing the life-changing research, teaching and scholarship we are here for. The Board of Trustees remains deeply involved in supporting these efforts.
We hear frequently from many of you asking what you can do to help. First and foremost, we must continue to do the incredible teaching, research and scholarship we do every day. Despite the many pressures we are under, the work you do has never been more vital, and our mission has not changed: to produce world-changing research, to create new knowledge and to push creative expression and practical application.
We also encourage you to advocate on behalf of Northwestern and higher education. We recently launched a new webpage dedicated to our research and the impact it has on society. Share it with friends, colleagues — anyone who you think should know why federally funded research is important.
We expect additional challenges ahead. As we have written about previously, the University already is facing financial pressures, and there are proposals in Washington to reduce the Facilities and Administration rates (F&A) on all federal grants, as well as legislation that could increase the tax on our endowment and other issues.
There is a lot of work to be done, and our goal is to keep you informed and engaged. We will only get through this if we work together. We understand that many members of our community are justifiably concerned about the future.
To help faculty, students and staff better understand the issues as well as institutional guidance and resources, we have enhanced and retitled the Responding to Federal Policies webpage, which now includes more information about research funding, travel, immigration and other issues.
We encourage you to bookmark this site and check it regularly. We cannot communicate about every development in this complicated landscape, but we will continue to update this website as events dictate to provide as much clarity as we are able.
There is no greater test for a community than how it responds in the face of adversity. We are grateful for your partnership, your hard work and your care for our institution. In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to working with you as we continue our path as one of the world’s leading academic institutions.