Colleagues:
Yesterday afternoon, we learned of another federal directive sent to agencies outlining a temporary pause on all activities related to the disbursement of federal financial assistance and other activities connected to recent executive orders. According to current guidance from the Department of Education, this directive does not apply to federal assistance provided directly to individuals, such as financial aid.
The MSU Government Relations Office, Office of Research and Innovation, Office of the Provost and Office of General Counsel are carefully evaluating each of these executive orders and directives as they are released and will determine any legal or regulatory impacts or requirements on the university’s operations.
The university is also working with our Association of American Universities and Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities colleagues along with the state of Michigan, given the broad impacts on federal funding going to the state. Researchers should continue working on their projects within the available budgets unless you receive other instructions from your program officer, agency contact or MSU’s Office of Research and Innovation, including the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) or Contract and Grant Administration (CGA). Caution should be exercised in making new commitments or starting new experiments as the situation is evolving.
OSP/CGA will share information received with principal investigators and/or project directors on specific projects and request that PIs/PDs share with OSP or CGA if a change in terms is received from an agency or program officer directly. If you have questions on a specific project(s), please email the appropriate OSP/CGA contact.
Sponsored Programs has also developed a web page to post updates and pertinent information related to financial and administrative impacts to federally sponsored programs. Please visit Federal Updates Resulting From Administration Transition.
We realize information regarding these orders and directives is traveling quickly, and yet the information may not be immediately clear. Our teams are working quickly to understand the impacts and necessary actions. Our ability to conduct research is a top priority and is essential to our mission at Michigan State University.
Thank you for your ongoing efforts.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
President
Thomas D. Jeitschko, Ph.D.
Interim Provost
Douglas A. Gage, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Innovation