Dear faculty colleagues,
The federal government has issued several executive orders and directives this week—and indeed, over the past 24 hours—that are relevant to the conduct of federally sponsored research and contracts. We know there is uncertainty in our community associated with these changes. Although we have limited information, we wanted to update you with what we do know, as well as the actions we are taking to support your work and advocate for Dartmouth and the important role we play in research, discovery, and societal impact.
Two important points:
First, we are not pausing research or grant spending on existing awards at this time. Faculty, staff, students, and post-docs supported by federal funding should continue their normal activities unless otherwise informed by Dartmouth’s Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP). Please share this information with your research team members who are not receiving this message directly.
Second, OSP has been and will continue to be in direct contact with PIs whose awards or contracts are impacted by new and emerging federal guidance. OSP has thus far received communications from USDA, NASA, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation with guidance related to active grants through those agencies. The National Institutes of Health clarified some elements of its communication freeze, while the NSF has joined NIH in canceling some review panel meetings.
We have also reviewed the Office of Management and Budget memo that directs federal agencies to temporarily pause new awards and grant disbursements to universities, state and local governments, nonprofits, and other entities until Feb. 10. Additional statements from the White House this afternoon suggest that only funding related to recent federal executive orders will be affected by this pause. Again, OSP will be in direct contact with PIs whose awards or contracts are impacted.
Dartmouth is carefully assessing all federal policy updates, as are many of our peer universities, and we are in close contact with the professional organizations we are involved in (such as the Association of American Universities) and the federal agencies themselves.
Please reach out to OSP Director Jill Mortali via sponsored.projects@dartmouth.edu with all questions regarding the impact of executive orders and agency announcements on your grant awards. The OSP staff is also available to consult with anyone in the process of preparing grant proposals, and they are compiling all available updates and incoming guidance on the OSP website.
We are working closely with your deans as this situation evolves. Our goal, as always, is to ensure the important research our faculty, staff, and students conduct is supported and that we are in compliance with applicable laws. We are navigating this process with you and will continue to send updates as we have them.
Sincerely,
Sian Leah Beilock
President
David Kotz ’86
Provost