Students, faculty and staff,
New presidential and congressional leadership in Washington D.C. has begun issuing memos, regulations and executive orders, including some with the potential to impact not only our work and community at the University of Michigan but all of higher education. The implications of many of these measures are unclear and will likely depend on how they are interpreted and applied, both by agencies and, ultimately, the courts.
The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) and the American Council on Education (ACE) are at the forefront of this quickly evolving situation and are providing critical guidance as we and other universities across the nation work to understand and assess possible changes.
We recognize the uncertainty and questions that these possible changes have brought and we assure you that we will remain steadfast in our support of our community and the work each one of you do to advance the research and educational efforts that are so vital to our state and nation. We ask for your patience as we take the necessary time to complete a thorough analysis. Together, we will determine our next steps by drawing on our collective strengths and our commitment to excellence.
To share information over the near and far term, the university has launched a page about federal orders, policies and regulations. Updates related to HHS/NIH, diversity programs, and international students have been posted to the page, and we will be adding topics regularly.
In addition, the Office of the Vice President for Research is tracking changes to federal research funding, Student Life provides robust support and resources to our students and the Provost’s office offers support to faculty who encounter threats or harassment.
Thank you for your continuing commitment to our university. As always, we will navigate future changes and challenges by staying true to our values and our mission.
Sincerely,
Chris Kolb
Vice President for Government Relations