VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences stands firmly dedicated to its core public mission of research, teaching and service, and we remain fully committed to supporting our faculty's research, students' achievement and the well-being of the entire CHS community — faculty, staff and students.

The recent actions by the federal government's executive branch have raised questions and concerns among many in our community, particularly in regards to research. Although the situation is very fluid, the goal of this page is to provide information and guidance for faculty and staff. We will update this page as new information comes forth.

This time of uncertainty can be unsettling. Please remember the university resources available to help you take care of your mental and emotional well-being such as RamStrong, TimelyCare and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

Research Updates

• NSF has announced their indirect rate moving forward will be 15% (5/2/25)
• Executive order issued ending federal funding for NPR and PBS (5/2/25)
• Nature reports that “Staff members at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) were told on 30 April to 'stop awarding all funding actions until further notice,' according to an email seen by Nature.”  (5/2/25)
• Modern Language Association webpage - Resources on Legislative Threats to Higher Education (5/1/25) 
• All internal funding – from both OVPRI and from CHS – has been paused until the fall semester (4/28/25)
• Multiple other libraries have signed up to be data rescue sites given data that is being removed from federal databases (4/25/25)
• NSF director resigns (04/24/25) 
• New guidance from the NIH "requires recipients of NIH funds to certify that they: 
  • do not, and will not…operate any programs that advance or promote DEI, DEIA, or discriminatory equity ideology in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws
  • do not engage in and will not…engage in, a discriminatory prohibited boycott.” (4/22/25)
• Updated guidance on NSF priorities (4/18/25) 
• Department of Energy indirect costs rate announcement- reduced to 15% (4/14/25) and implementation stopped via court order (4/18/25)
• The university is implementing a formal appeals process to support our faculty in examining when a federal appeal may be possible. More information regarding the appeals process can be found here. (4/14/25)
• GEO recently communicated with the international community about the Alien Registration Requirement and how to comply with it by carrying specific documents at all times while in the U.S. (4/8/25)
• General guidance about responding to law enforcement (including immigration law enforcement) and locating legal and mental health resources can be found here (4/8/25)
• National Humanities Alliance issued a memo to their members- NEH Update: Staff Placed on Administrative Leave on 4/5/25 with more information on the NEH on their Save the NEH webpage. (4/7/25)
• Information on indirect cost from The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (4/7/25)
• U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Announce Title IX Special Investigations Team Please see this press release. (4/4/25)
• Limited updates to the FAQs from the NSF - Please see the NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders webpage. (4/4/25)
• The NEH updated their  Implementation of Recent Executive Orders webpage. (3/20/25) 

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Please share your comments, concerns and suggestions with the Dean’s Office. All responses are anonymous.