News
White House R&D Priorities; Immigration Town Halls; Genesis Mission
WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES UPDATES ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released its annual memorandum detailing the Trump Administration's research priorities on Wednesday, alongside a new report titled "Science: A New Golden Age." The documents reaffirm the Administration's enthusiasm for AI-enabled science and recommend new funding mechanisms that emphasize individual scientists rather than institutions. Following the release of the report, OSTP Director Michael Kratsios testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, where he answered questions about the report, the Administration's proposed cuts to science budgets, and delays in spending Congressionally appropriated science funds. Federal agencies will have 90 days to submit an action plan detailing how they might implement the new recommendations.
ADMINISTRATION ISSUES NEW RULE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued new federal limits on the time international students may remain in the United States while enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The new rule, which takes effect on September 15th, replaces the current "duration of status" framework, where students are generally admitted for the duration of their academic program, with a fixed admission period of up to four years or the length of a student's academic program, whichever is shorter. Students who need additional time to complete a degree, begin a new program, or participate in post-completion Optional Practical Training will be required to either file fee-based Extension of Stay applications with DHS or depart and re-enter the United States. The International Students & Scholars Office is hosting a virtual town hall series to help the BU community understand the federal changes with sessions on July 29th, August 18th, and September 23rd.
BUZZ BITS...
- On Wednesday, several federal science agencies announced their plans to accelerate AI-enabled research as part of the Trump Administration's Genesis Mission. The National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and Department of Health and Human Services previewed future funding opportunities that align with the Genesis Mission, as the Department of Energy announced its first round of awards.
- On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced the Title IX Clarification Act, which would require a biological definition of sex to be used for nondiscrimination requirements tied to federal funding. The bill would face long odds in the Senate, making it unlikely to progress much further.
- The Department of Education recently issued a final rule creating new accountability standards for postsecondary programs, tying federal student aid eligibility to graduate earnings. Under the rule, to avoid losing access to the federal Direct Loan program, undergraduate programs must show that their graduates earn more than high school graduates. In addition, graduate programs must demonstrate that their graduates earn more than bachelor's degree holders.
NSF Awards Boston University $20 Million to Help Create National “Cloud Lab” Network
Automated, AI-driven labs can remotely run experiments for researchers across the country.
Scene at BU: BU Plays Host to BPS Students
Boston University hosted students from Boston Public Schools’ Young Men’s Summer Institute for three days of hands-on activities and opportunities to learn about educational and career pathways.
BU Schedules Informational Town Halls Regarding New Federal Cap on International Students’ Time in the US
University focused on supporting community as it navigates new policy.
What Motivates Black Women Voters?
In a new study, Boston University political scientist Christine Slaughter explores how Black women viewed Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign.
Cyclospora, Grants Rules, Antibiotics
FACULTY EXPERT
As Cyclospora Cases Rise, a BU Expert Explains the Parasite Outbreak
Boston University infectious diseases expert David Hamer on how cases started, how it spreads, and how to protect yourself.
BU IN DC
BU Leaders Ask Federal Government to Reconsider Changes to Research Grants’ Approval Process Rules
University’s letter says changes “would limit scientific discovery by injecting uncertainty.”
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT
Boston University-Led Biopharmaceutical Accelerator Boosts New Drugs’ Chances of Success, Study Finds
With support from BARDA, CARB-X-backed novel therapeutics to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are nearly five times more likely to reach clinical development.
THOUGHT LEADERS
In Case You Missed It...
Bayley Connors (CAS ’20, GRS ‘20) is BU's new Director of Federal Relations... Makarand Mody of the BU School of Hospitality Administration weighs in on how friends should split vacation rental costs in The Washington Post... BU College of Engineering Professor Brian Walsh talks to The Wall Street Journal about his plan to protect Earth from solar storms... BU legal scholar Jed Shugerman reflects on the Supreme Court's decisions and the balance of power with Axios... Emma Wiles of the BU Questrom School of Business reveals the pitfalls of AI in the workplace to The New York Times.
Grants Rule; Medical Schools and DEI; Research Security
BU IN DC
Robert (Bob) Vinci of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine addressed a Congressional briefing hosted by the Congressional Children's Health Care Caucus on July 15th.
Julie Wickstrom and Jonathan Brett of Enrollment & Student Administration attended the NASFAA Annual Conference between June 29th and July 2nd.
Yoonsook Ha and Kate Giapponi Schneider of the School of Social Work and Melissa Lucas of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development attended the National Research Conference on Early Childhood between June 22nd and 24th.
BU OPPOSES PROPOSED CHANGES TO FEDERAL GRANTS RULES
Boston University joined universities, scientific societies, patient organizations, state governments, and elected officials in submitting comments to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) opposing a proposed overhaul of the rules governing federal grant competitions and awards. The letter submitted by President Melissa Gilliam, Provost and Chief Academic Officer Colin Duckett, and Vice President and Associate Provost for Research Kenneth Lutchen shared concerns that the proposed changes would hinder scientific discovery and innovation by shifting grant award decisions to political appointees, allowing grants to be suspended or terminated without justification, and curtailing federal support for international collaborations. OMB is required to review nearly 500,000 public comments that were submitted prior to Monday's deadline before issuing a final regulation.
HOUSE COMMITTEE PRESSES MEDICAL SCHOOL DEANS ON DEI
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on Tuesday titled "Training Activists, Not Physicians: The Impact of DEI on Medical Schools." Committee Republicans pressed medical deans from the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, San Francisco; and the University of Illinois on curriculum and policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), gender-affirming care for transgender patients, and instances of antisemitism. The witnesses emphasized that their schools do not consider race as a factor in admissions decisions and defended the importance of training future physicians to understand health disparities and the social drivers that influence patient well-being.
BUZZ BITS...
- The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party held a hearing on research security on Wednesday, featuring witnesses from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Energy. Committee Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) pressed the science agencies to adopt policies prohibiting federal funding for research collaborations with foreign organizations on federal government entity lists.
- The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions advanced Michael McDonald's nomination to serve as Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities by a party-line vote of 12-11 on Wednesday. McDonald is currently the agency's Senior Deputy Chair; he was the agency's General Counsel for more than two decades and previously served as its Acting Director. His nomination now heads to the full Senate for a final vote.
- On Wednesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced a suite of bills to codify the Trump Administration's transfer of key Department of Education programs to other federal agencies on a mostly party-line vote. The package is unlikely to move forward in the Senate.
A Note To Our Readers: Bayley Connors (CAS '20, GRS '20) has joined the BU Federal Relations team as our Director of Federal Relations. We are pleased to welcome him back to BU!