Upcoming events including NIH and grant funding and immigration issues in higher ed

2/11/2025

Dear Member,

We are committed to keeping you informed of FSU, MTA and NEA activities related to federal government policy changes impacting our work, our students, our campus life and the UMB community. 

Please consider attending one or all.

What to do if ICE comes to campus? Wednesday, February 12th 12:00-1:30PM, CC 3540 

Join this community conversation led by Professor Andrew Leong.   Please join us for the conversation and stop by the UDC at 11:30 to grab a slice of pizza.  Details on the attached flyer. Sponsored by FSU and CIT.

Senator Ed Markey webinar on NIH funding cuts, Weds., Feb 12th 4:00-5:00PM 

In light of the NIH cuts announced by the Trump administration on Friday, February 7, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) will be hosting a virtual webinar on Wednesday, February 12 from 4- 5 PM to provide updates, share information, and hear about how your work will be impacted.  This will be a closed-door meeting, and our office is looking to learn from your organizations about the impact of this policy and discuss how our office can be most helpful in our response. We welcome participation from researchers and other individuals who may be impacted by these cuts, so please feel free to forward this email to them and your member organizations. 

For additional information on Senator Markey’s perspective on these cuts, you can find the Senator’s statement on the announcement here.  

Please find the registration link here: https://senate.webex.com/weblink/register/ra9e8421f2c91366a852dee36ea146864. We also invite you to submit questions in advance of the webinar through the registration link. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Tara_Wilson@markey.senate.govand Karina_Bravo@markey.senate.gov.  

MTA Higher Ed Meeting on Federal Funding Response, Thursday, Feb 13th 8:30-9:30AM

In Monday’s Nuts & Bolt, we asked faculty with grants to reach out to us so that we can keep you updated on campus activities related to the funding freeze. We also invited faculty to attend a Feb 20th meeting with individuals from across all of Massachusetts public higher education campuses.  Due to recent federal changes, this meeting is being moved to this Thursday, February 13th.   Please share with your colleagues. Details below.

Last Thursday, MTA Higher Ed held an important meeting with Massachusetts Higher Ed members and leaders about the federal funding crisis that was incredibly powerful, as we gathered more than 90 union members to discuss the impacts of the attacks on federal funding. In this moment, it is clear that these attacks are felt deeply across our collective memberships. 

Unfortunately, the attacks aren't slowing down, and last Friday, this administration announced another attack on research funding, specifically targeting NIH indirect costs. Any and all of these attempts to cut federal funding are threats to our research, our universities, and our livelihoods. Originally, we had proposed re-convening the group on 2/20, but it's clear that at this moment, speed is of the essence. We will be re-convening on Zoom the Federal Funding Response Meeting this Thursday, February 13th, 2025, from 8:30-9:30 AM (contact FSU or Caroline Coscia for Zoom information).. 

This meeting will be a working meeting where we will identify targets, draft demands (campus, system, state, federal), and make a plan for the National Day of Action for federal funding being called by HELU (Higher Education Labor United) to be held on Wednesday, February 19th, 2025. 

NEA Webinar: Immigration Issues in Higher Education Thursday, Feb 13th 6:00-7:00PM 

Our parent union, the NEA (National Education Association) is holding a webinar tailored specifically for colleges and universities, providing critical guidance on navigating immigration issues unique to higher education settings. Register at secure.ngpvan.com/ngFLMWWOTUSj4xtPVpJROg2?ms=hels       

NEA Guide to Immigration Issues in Higher Education

NEA has put together a comprehensive guide detailing immigration policies affecting higher education faculty, staff, and students. Please see the attached.

Sincerely,

Caroline Coscia                                 

FSU President                                   

Senior Lecturer II                               

Political Science Department