News
Shutdown; Visa Proposal; R&D Priorities
BU IN DC
Leslie Dietiker of Wheelock College of Education & Human Development participated in the American Educational Research Association Consortium of University and Research Institutions Fall Policy Conference from September 28th to 30th.
Karen Jacobs, Emily Rothman, and doctoral students from Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences met with multiple Congressional offices during the American Occupational Therapy Association's Hill Day on September 19th.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN
Federal agencies suspended most operations and furloughed employees on Wednesday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a short-term spending bill to keep the government operational. During the lapse in appropriations, the Department of Education will continue to disburse student aid and Grants.gov will remain open to accept electronic applications. Although federal agency officials will be unavailable to answer questions or conduct peer review activities, both the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation advise investigators to continue following posted grant submission deadlines. The White House and lawmakers from both parties remain far apart in their negotiating posture, making a quick resolution to the shutdown unlikely.
BU SUBMITS COMMENTS ON VISA PROPOSAL
The University submitted a comment letter last week urging the Trump Administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would establish a fixed length of stay of no more than four years for international students and scholars studying in the United States. The proposal would require F-1 and J-1 visa holders to apply for an extension to stay in the U.S. beyond a specific end date, replacing the current rule that allow them to remain for the duration of their academic program. BU's letter details the vital role that international students and scholars play and how the proposed rule would create uncertainty, restrict academic mobility, and harm the country’s global competitiveness. The Trump Administration is expected to issue a final rule after reviewing the nearly 22,000 comments it received.
BUZZ BITS...
- Last week, the White House released the annual memorandum on the Administration's research priorities. In fiscal year 2027, federal science agencies will prioritize supporting research that aligns with the themes identified in the document, including artificial intelligence, quantum science, biotechnology, and energy independence.
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced several leadership changes. Dr. Anthony Letai is the new director of the National Cancer Institute; he previously served as an oncologist with Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. John Lorsch has been appointed NIH deputy director for extramural research, a position he has held in an acting capacity since April 2025. Lorsch previously led the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) at NIH. Dr. Erica Brown will serve as acting director of NIGMS. Dr. Helene Langevin will retire as the director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in November 2025. Dr. David Shurtleff, the current deputy director of NCCIH, will serve as acting director.
- Republicans on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party released a new report asserting that students with links to Chinese defense universities are working on federally-funded science. The "From Ph.D. to PLA" report states that "China’s military-civil fusion system actively exploits open-source science, turning even basic [research] into weapons advancements."
Veterans More Likely than General Population to Use All Types of Tobacco Products, Including the Most Harmful
A new study is the first since 2015 to examine differences in tobacco use by product type among military veterans compared to civilians, finding that veterans disproportionately use all commercial tobacco product types, including cigars and cigarettes, which pose a range of serious health risks.
BU Launches “You Are Why” Campaign, Highlighting Impact of Research and Discovery
President Melissa Gilliam says effort is designed to engage supporters, elected officials, and new partners to align behind research that solves problems of our time.
BU Board of Trustees Welcomes New Members
Rod F. Hochman (CAMED’79, CAS’79) and Kamal Bahamdan (ENG’94) join the board this semester.
Marsh Chapel, the Soul of Boston University, Kicks Off Its 75th Anniversary Celebration
Highlights include a sermon by Rev. Raphael Warnock in November.
NASA Space Weather Mission Blasts Off—with Device Created by BU Students Onboard
The observatory is on a mission to understand Earth’s most distant layer of atmosphere, a project led by a BU alum.
Why Do We Remember Some Life Moments—but Not Others?
BU study finds memories of mundane incidents can be strengthened when they get attached to a memory of an emotionally charged event.
College Pricing; Energy Science; PCORI
BU IN DC
Megan Bair-Merritt of the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine participated in the Rally for Medical Research and discussed investments in the National Institutes of Health with Congressional offices on September 18th.
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON COLLEGE PRICING
The House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing titled "No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families" on Tuesday. Lawmakers and witnesses expressed support for increasing the transparency of higher education costs for students and families by standardizing financial aid offer letters. Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens (R-UT) criticized tuition discounting, stating that it makes "the system even more opaque" and argued that unexpected costs are a leading cause of students dropping out of college. The leading Democrat on the Subcommittee, Representative Alma Adams (D-NC), pointed out that understanding the true cost of attendance is a "complex and confusing system of fees, tuition rates, and financial aid options."
BUZZ BITS...
- Yesterday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dario Gil to be undersecretary for science at the U.S. Department of Energy and Conner Prochaska as director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Gil previously was the Senior Vice President of IBM Research. Proschaska has served in multiple roles within the Department of Energy and ARPA-E.
- Last week, Republicans on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party released a report that raises concerns about "joint institutes and other problematic partnerships” between U.S. universities and China. The Committee released a related report about American universities' interactions with Chinese entities earlier in September.
- On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate confirmed alumnus Stephen Miran (CAS '05) to serve on the Federal Reserve board for a term that ends in January 2026. He will be taking a leave of absence from his current role as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.
EVENT NEWS YOU CAN USE
Foundation Relations and Boston Medical Center Strategic Research Growth are hosting a Meet the Funder webinar with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) on Wednesday, October 1st at 12:00 pm. PCORI supports patient-centered comparative effectiveness research, awarding up to $12 million plus 40% indirect costs. Learn about funding opportunities, priorities, the application process, and expectations for stakeholder engagement. Interested faculty are also invited to attend “PCORI 101,” a one-hour follow-up discussion on October 21st.
Note to Our Readers: Due to the Congressional District Work Period, Beltway BUzz will temporarily pause publication. Be sure to visit our website, follow us on LinkedIn, or check the University's Federal Actions page for updates.