Latest news with #AssociationofAmericanUniversities
Boston Globe
06-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Brown, MIT sue NSF over massive research fund cuts
The suit was also filed alongside the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education, and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. Advertisement In their filing, the plaintiffs said the cuts were unlawful and, if they were to occur, would 'badly undermine scientific research at America's universities and erode our nation's enviable status as a global leader in scientific research and innovation.' Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Mike England, a spokesman for the NSF, declined to comment for this story On Friday, the NSF announced it would cap reimbursement for indirect research costs at 15 percent for all new grants awarded to colleges — a move that mirrors new policies at the NSF provides funding to higher education institutions, and allocated $7.2 billion in 2024 for research and other related activities. During that fiscal year, the agency funded projects at 1,850 colleges and universities. Advertisement Since the Trump administration announced it would make a third attempt to cap the reimbursement rate at another major scientific agency, higher education groups have called the direction 'misguided,' and said these cuts would harm the nation's research enterprise. 'The third time is not a charm; rather, it is disaster in the making for American science [and] technology and our nation's continuing competitiveness,' said Matt Owens, president of COGR, an organization for research universities and medical centers, in Owens said NSF-sponsored research has 'propelled' scientific discoveries that are 'vital to American innovation [and] competitiveness,' including semiconductors, the internet, and 3-D printing. Kara D. Freeman, the president and CEO of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, said the cuts were 'short-sighted and ultimately against the nation's interests.' 'This retrenchment is not a good deal for taxpayers,' Freeman said in a In Providence, Brown is already facing a Advertisement Brown has had about three dozen grants for scientific research cut by the Trump administration in the last couple of months, many of them related to gender, race, or diversity, equity and inclusion, said Clark. 'There are a significant number of uncertainties,' Clark told the Globe. He said the university is planning for all possible scenarios, and asking researchers to pause discretionary funding temporarily. Widespread cuts could mean layoffs and the end of high-impact research, Clark noted. Clark and a spokesperson for MIT did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the impact of the NSF cuts. Alexa Gagosz can be reached at
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump-era deportations rattle US campuses as over 4,000 foreign students face removal
Trump-era deportations rattle US campuses, foreign talent at risk, over 4,000 foreign students face deportation As a wave of deportation threats sweeps across US campuses, over 4,000 foreign students—many of them from India—are facing potential removal under the Trump administration's renewed immigration crackdown. University officials, legal experts, and students themselves are scrambling to respond, with many fearing not only for their education but also their safety and future. With a record 1.1 million international students currently studying in the US, the stakes are high. According to the Association of American Universities, these students contributed $44 billion to the US economy last year. Now, that investment—and the global talent pipeline behind it—appears increasingly at risk. Students warned, lawyers called in In recent weeks, immigration agents have arrested students connected to pro-Palestinian protests, while thousands more have been targeted for deportation over minor offences or past arrests. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deleted over 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), with nearly half of them being Indian nationals. Many of these students were participating in post-graduate work experience under Optional Practical Training. As reported by Reuters, Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, stated, 'If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return.' In response, US universities have begun advising international students to stay enrolled, seek legal representation, and avoid international travel. An official from a major university, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said, 'Those who contest being deleted from SEVIS would be allowed to continue studying.' Legal battles and university support grow At least 200 students who were removed from SEVIS have secured court orders preventing immediate deportation, according to Reuters. Immigration attorney Clay Greenberg told Reuters, 'For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes.' Institutions including George Mason University and the University of California are exploring ways for affected students to complete their studies. Rachel Zaentz, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President, confirmed this approach to Reuters. Indian students at the centre of the storm Over half of the international student population in the US hails from India and China. Indian students, in particular, appear to be disproportionately impacted. In one case reported by Reuters, an Indian undergraduate in Georgia said his visa status was revoked after being linked to a DUI charge that was ultimately dismissed. 'My college is letting me continue,' he said, adding that he now avoids anyone in uniform. Self-deportation and rising fear Some students have already chosen to leave the country voluntarily. As reported by Reuters, Momadou Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia and a protest leader at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. 'I'll be able to finish up remotely,' he said. Duke University recently warned its international students not to leave the US during summer break, fearing they may not be allowed back in. According to Reuters, one Indian graduate student said students now fear deportation for minor infractions like speeding or simply being fingerprinted. A threat to American academic identity MIT President Sally Kornbluth, quoted by Reuters, underscored the gravity of the situation, saying her institution 'would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations.' As universities brace for the summer break, the Trump-era deportation surge is testing the resilience of international education in the US—and the country's ability to remain a beacon for global talent. For real-time updates, follow our AP SSC 10th Result 2025 Live Blog.
AsiaOne
26-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
US universities help foreign students weather Trump purge, World News
From warnings not to leave the country to guidance on how to complete degrees, US universities are advising foreign students how to withstand President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. First immigration agents arrested students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Then thousands of foreign students were targeted for deportation over minor offences and arrests. Meanwhile, university advisors quietly told students from abroad to hire a lawyer and keep attending classes while legal appeals played out, according to over two dozen students, immigration attorneys and university officials Reuters spoke to. For now, the strategy appeared to be working as the Trump administration on Friday (April 25) said it was restoring the visa registrations of foreign students whose legal statuses were terminated since late March. The move followed dozens of legal wins by students who challenged the terminations. With a record 1.1 million foreign students in the country, at stake is the US$44 billion (S$57.8 billion) they contributed to the US economy last year, according to the Association of American Universities, a higher education advocacy group. It's not just the money. MIT President Sally Kornbluth pointed to global talent, saying hers "is an American university, proudly so — but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations". Indians hit hard Over half of foreign students in the United States are from India and China, according to the Institute of International Education advocacy group. Since late March US Immigration and Customs Enforcement deleted more than 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database of visa holders, often citing criminal activity, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Of those, almost half were Indian students, many of them graduates in work experience known as Optional Practical Training, based on an AILA study of 327 cases. [[nid:716907]] Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin urged students whose SEVIS status had been revoked to leave. "If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return," McLaughlin said in a statement. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Friday's reversal on SEVIS terminations. Over 200 students removed from SEVIS have won court orders temporarily barring the administration from taking actions against them, according to a Reuters count. University officials told full-time students with SEVIS terminations to hire a lawyer. Those who contested being deleted from SEVIS were allowed to continue studying, said an official who advises foreign students at one major university, asking to remain anonymous in order to speak about the situation. "For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes," said New York immigration attorney Clay Greenberg, who is representing students with SEVIS terminations. George Mason University in Virginia told students to contact advisors to discuss ways to complete coursework. The University of California said it was finding ways for students to continue their education, said Rachel Zaentz, a spokesperson for the UC Office of the President. With summer break weeks away, Duke University recently warned international students not to leave the United States over fears they may not be let back in come fall. Students worry, self-deport After watching videos of pro-Palestinian students picked up by federal agents, foreign students fear deportation for speeding tickets or being fingerprinted, said an Indian computer science grad student at a Southwest US university, who asked not to be named. Some have self-deported. Momadou Taal, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. "I'll be able to finish up remotely," said Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia who planned to complete his studies in the United Kingdom. An Indian student in Georgia said his legal status was revoked after he was identified in criminal records showing he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge was dismissed, he said. "My college is letting me continue," said the computer science undergraduate, adding that he was being careful. "If I see anyone in a uniform, I turn around," he said, requesting anonymity. ALSO READ: In first 100 days, Trump tells migrants 'leave the United States'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US universities help foreign students weather Trump deportations
By Andrew Hay and Nate Raymond (Reuters) - From warnings not to leave the country to guidance on how to complete degrees, U.S. universities are advising foreign students how to withstand President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. First immigration agents arrested students involved in pro-Palestinian protests. Then thousands of foreign students were targeted for deportation over minor offenses and arrests. Now, some university advisors are quietly telling students from abroad to hire a lawyer and keep attending classes while legal appeals play out, according to over two dozen students, immigration attorneys and university officials Reuters spoke to. University faculty have gone to court to question the constitutionality of arrests. With a record 1.1 million foreign students in the country, at stake is the $44 billion they contributed to the U.S. economy last year, according to the Association of American Universities, a higher education advocacy group. It's not just the money. MIT President Sally Kornbluth pointed to global talent, saying hers "is an American university, proudly so – but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations." INDIANS HIT HARD Over half of foreign students in the United States are from India and China, according to the Institute of International Education advocacy group. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has deleted more than 4,700 names from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems database of visa holders, often citing criminal activity, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Of those, almost half are Indian students, many of them graduates in work experience known as Optional Practical Training, based on an AILA study of 327 cases. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin urged students whose SEVIS status had been revoked to leave. "If you are in our country illegally, we will arrest, we will deport you, and you will never return," McLaughlin said in a statement. University officials are telling full-time students to hire a lawyer. Those who contest being deleted from SEVIS would be allowed to continue studying, said an official who advises foreign students at one major university, asking to remain anonymous in order to speak about the situation. 'For the most part, the students I've spoken to, their schools are permitting them to keep attending classes,' said New York immigration attorney Clay Greenberg who is representing students with SEVIS terminations. Over 200 students removed from SEVIS have won court orders temporarily barring the administration from taking actions against them, according to a Reuters count. George Mason University in Virginia told students to contact advisors to discuss ways to complete coursework. The University of California is looking for ways for students to continue their education, said Rachel Zaentz, a spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President. With summer break weeks away, Duke University recently warned international students not to leave the United States over fears they may not be let back in come fall. STUDENTS WORRY, SELF-DEPORT After watching videos of pro-Palestinian students picked up by federal agents, foreign students fear deportation for speeding tickets or being fingerprinted, said an Indian computer science grad student at a Southwest U.S. university, who asked not to be named. Some have self-deported. Momadou Taal, who led pro-Palestinian protests at Cornell University, left in March after being told to surrender to immigration officials. "I'll be able to finish up remotely," said Taal, a dual citizen of the UK and Gambia who planned to complete his studies in the United Kingdom. An Indian student in Georgia said his legal status was revoked after he was identified in criminal records showing he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge was dismissed, he said. "My college is letting me continue," said the computer science undergraduate, adding that he was being careful. "If I see anyone in a uniform, I turn around," he said, requesting anonymity. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in New Mexico and Nate Raymond in Boston. Editing by Donna Bryson and Franklin Paul)
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers weighing options amid federal funding cut threats to universities
April 10 (UPI) -- The Trump administration's threats to hold up federal funding for major universities has researchers seeking alternative resources. The administration has singled out Columbia, Brown, Harvard, Princeton and others over allegations of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile universities across the country are losing grant funding due to President Donald Trump's executive order to cut costs at the National Institutes of Health. Toby Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy with the Association of American Universities, told UPI almost all research universities are having grants terminated. "We'll lose essentially what has been one of the most successful systems for funding and advancing scientific research in the world," Toby Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy with the Association of American Universities, told UPI. "By taking away from researchers on certain campuses, you're defunding the best researchers in areas like AIDS, vaccines, cancer research." Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, professor and chair of Columbia University's environmental health sciences department, told UPI her team is rethinking how it will move forward with research that is already underway. She is concerned about the effect the federal government's decision to withhold grant funding will have on future scientists. "We have a strong motivation to continue advancing this work," she said. "We are looking at all potential strategies, looking for additional funding through other philanthropic organizations and non-government organizations." The research Navas-Acien is involved in seeks to identify environmental factors -- such as water contamination or poor air quality -- that affect the health of people in certain communities and to solve those issues. Much of the research that benefits from federal grants impacts public health. The government on Wednesday reportedly stopped $1 billion in funding for Cornell and $790 million for Northwestern University. The funding was tied to grants from the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education and Health and Human Services. Last month, the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and U.S. General Services Administration canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University. The move caused some research projects to stop overnight, according to Navas-Acien. "It's shocking in the sense that I've never experienced anything like this," Navas-Acien, who has been a professional scientist for more than 20 years, said. "We need to adapt quickly to this new situation." Research projects are often planned to last at least two years and as many as five to eight years. Navas-Acien explained the meticulous planning involved in carrying out her work and the agreements made between the university, government and communities at the center of these studies. "You can imagine when you don't know your research is going to be stopped from one day to another, many things are in the works," she said. "Samples have been collected from people that need to be analyzed. We had a commitment to return those results back to those individuals. Now there is no longer funding available for us to complete that work. So those agreements we had with people and communities, we are not able to maintain them any longer. "In some cases there could be a health risk for those individuals," she continued. The notification that projects were being stopped came abruptly. Navas-Acien said she received a notification when she returned home one evening that a project was being stopped at 10 p.m. that night. "Now we need to adapt ourselves to start thinking of how can we finalize those research activities in an orderly manner so that we don't impact the people, we don't impact the animals, we don't impact what is happening in the laboratory and we can see how we can do it in the best possible way," she said. "We need to protect our data, we need to protect the samples. Ending research one day to another makes all of that very difficult." There are rare cases that projects are stopped without being completed but this is usually due to an ethical problem or an issue with the research that needs to be investigated. Navas-Acien is concerned that the Trump administration's approach to university research will have a detrimental effect on the future of the scientific community. "I work very hard everyday to keep the motivation of my students high because they need to continue to see that there is hope in this work and this career," she said. "I believe we need science. The country and the world needs scientists who think hard about important questions. We need to keep investing in the training of these super smart, bright people." Smith shares Navas-Acien's concern. "There's such uncertainty in the system with all of these grants being frozen and terminated," he said." You have graduate students in the pipeline. They are working on their Ph.D. thesis on research on that grant. If the grant gets canceled, their life is upended. Meanwhile, you can't predict how many graduate students you can bring in." Several universities have announced they will scale back the number of graduate students they admit into their programs next year due to a reduction in NIH funding. In February, the University of Pennsylvania announced it will cut admissions, including for students who have already been accepted into graduate programs. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is also reducing the number of graduate students it will admit this year. "Many departments are reducing the number of graduate students they're admitting this year; for an institution grounded in research and education, having to turn away superb young talent is a striking loss," Sally Kornbluth, MIT president, said in a statement. "And it's clearly a loss for the nation too." Princeton University was notified last week that dozens of federal research grants are being stopped. Princeton president Chris Eisgruber confirmed this in a letter to students and faculty. Agencies that suspended research grants to Princeton include NASA, the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. "We have begun reaching out to affected faculty, academic researchers, and grants managers," Eisgruber wrote. "My colleagues or I will continue to be in touch as information becomes available." The federal government has given financial support to research projects since World War II. The purpose for the partnership between the government and universities has been to support government interests and address issues that affect the people of the United States and the world. In 1946, the National Institute of Health's National Cancer Institute established a grant program to fund cancer research. Congress has continually approved increases in funding for cancer research on campuses. Grant funding from the National Institutes of Health has resulted in a number of advancements in medicine. It contributed to helping Type 1 diabetics control their blood sugar with bioengineered human insulin. Many vaccines were made possible with research that was federally funded, such as mRNa vaccines. It played a role in the development of flu vaccines, the Alzheimer's treatment Donepezil and the breast cancer treatment Herceptin. Components of the smartphone, such as the touchscreen, GPS, battery and multi-core processors were developed on U.S. university campuses. Vannevar Bush, the engineer who advised President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the development of the atomic bomb, pushed for universities to be involved in government research. Universities were reluctant at the time, worried of losing independence and having their research become politically influenced. When deciding how federal grants would be dispersed, Bush argued that they should be awarded based on merit, judged by the scientific community. This effectively minimized political influence. It is not uncommon for research priorities to change with a change in the White House. Navas-Acien said researchers are used to the government changing its priorities when a new administration takes office. "We have lines of research we pursue through our own initiatives but we also adapt to the research priorities the company has," she said. "We're used to that. As scientists, we know different governments have different priorities. I am very respectful of any changing priorities while trying to advance the research we believe is needed."
