Ongoing Guidance: CHS Research

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).

OVPRI Updates

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation has issued the following information:

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)
Department of Energy indirect costs rate announcement- reduced to 15% (4/14/25)
VCU is involved in bipartisan conversations at the state and federal level about how White House executive orders, federal agency directives and court decisions may impact VCU.
VCU has more than 850 active federal grants for this fiscal year. As of Feb. 14, the university has received stop-work or termination guidance for very few of them.
If a proposed 15% cap on indirect costs were to go into effect for current and future NIH grants, the financial impact to VCU would be approximately $26 million. Update: On March 5, 2025, a federal judge issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of the proposed 15% cap on NIH indirect research funds.
Researchers should continue to work on existing grants and submit proposals for new ones.

Federal Agency Updates

The U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice announced the Title IX Special Investigations Team. See the press release. (4/4/25)
The NSF has added a limited number of updates to its FAQ webpage. Please see the NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders. (4/4/25)
The NEH updated their Implementation of Recent Executive Orders webpage. (3/20/25)

Other Groups and Organizations

The 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)
The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities provided the following information on indirect costs: Research Facilities & Administrative Costs.

Guidance from Global Education Office

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.: https://global.vcu.edu/students/immigration/alien-registration-requirement/
General guidance about responding to law enforcement (including immigration law enforcement) and locating legal and mental health resources can be found here: https://global.vcu.edu/students/immigration/law-enforcement-resources/

For Researchers

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

If you receive direct communication from your funding agency, please report it to Angela Reynolds, associate dean for research, at areynolds2@vcu.edu.