A Message from the Vice President for Research
Dear University Community Members,
We are continuing to assess the impacts of recent Presidential Executive Orders affecting federal agency funding and operations.
This is a complex and dynamic situation, and we recognize the concerns it is causing for our faculty, staff, and students. We understand that prolonged uncertainty or permanent shifts in agency funding priorities could have significant implications, particularly for graduate assistantships, funding for specific areas of research and scholarship, and budgeting. While the situation continues to be in flux, please know that we are exploring all options. University leadership is working diligently to gain clarity, communicate with you, and ensure we can continue our essential work together at UGA.
As of today, federal agency actions to implement the Executive Orders continue to be constrained by one or more Temporary Restraining Orders issued by federal district courts.
While the resolution of these matters is uncertain, we want to share some key takeaways that reflect the current status.
- If you receive any of the following communications, please immediately forward them to Jill Tincher (jill.tincher@uga.edu) and Cathy Cuppett (cathy15@uga.edu) in Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA), who will review and provide guidance:
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- A suspension order, stop work order, or termination notice related to a sponsored project;
- project-specific instructions from your Grants/Contract Officer or Program Officer based on DEI, DEIA, environmental justice, or other activities addressed by the Executive Orders; or
- a request to certify that your project does not include DEI, DEIA, environmental justice, or other activities addressed by the Executive Orders.
- Investigators are also receiving general agency notices that broadly address the Executive Orders, agency guidance, and the TROs. We understand federal agencies are continuing to pay properly incurred costs on active awards while the TROs are in effect. Unless notified to the contrary, you should continue to operate your awards as normal. If you have any questions about a notice you have received or its impact (if any) on your sponsored projects, please contact Jill Tincher or Cathy Cuppett.
Additional resources are available on the Office of Research Federal Funding Updates webpage.
We appreciate your patience and support as we work through this period of uncertainty.
Christopher King, DVM, DACLAM
Interim Vice President
Office of Research | University of Georgia
https://research.uga.edu | vpr@uga.edu
Enabling discovery to build a better world