Latest news with #UMass
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
20 NIH grants restored to UMass system after judge rules against Trump admin
Twenty grants from the National Institutes of Health previously awarded to the University of Massachusetts system will be restored after a Monday court order from a federal judge. U.S. District Court Judge William Young ordered the Trump administration to restore more than 360 NIH grants nationwide that were the subject of two lawsuits — one filed by affected individuals and industry organizations, the other by 16 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts. The restored grants are only a sliver of the NIH grant cancellations — 2,282 grants amounting to nearly $3.8 billion of lost funding as of June 4, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Young declared the cancellations 'illegal,' saying he had 'never seen government racial discrimination like this' in his 40 years on the bench. Many canceled grants were related to LGBTQ communities, racial minorities and other topics considered 'diversity, equity and inclusion' (or DEI) by the Trump administration. Read more: Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants The federal government now has the opportunity to appeal Young's initial order in the cases. As part of the Monday order, 20 grants are slated to be restored to the UMass system. Listed by grant awardee, they are: UMass Chan Medical School — 'Pathway to graduate study post-baccalaureate training program' UMass Lowell — 'Longitudinal Mechanisms of Food and Nutrition Security and Cardiometabolic Health in PROSPECT' UMass Chan Medical School — 'Structural Racism and Engagement of Family Caregivers in Serious Illness Care' UMass Boston — 'U54 Comprehensive Partnership for Cancer Disparities Research' University of Massachusetts — 'Optimizing an mHealth intervention to improve uptake and adherence of the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in vulnerable adolescents and emerging adults' University of Massachusetts — 'Applying Deep Learning for Predicting Retention in PrEP Care and Effective PrEP Use among Key Populations at Risk for HIV in Thailand' University of Massachusetts — 'Effect of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations on Behavioral Health Care Quality and Outcomes for Children' University of Massachusetts — 'Adapting Effective mHealth Interventions to Improve Uptake and Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Thai Young MSM' University of Massachusetts — 'Faithful Response II: COVID-19 Rapid Test-to-Treat with African American Churches' University of Massachusetts — 'Training the Long-Term Services and Supports Dementia Care Workforce in Provision of Care to Sexual and Gender Minority Residents' University of Massachusetts — 'Pathway to graduate study post-baccalaureate training program' University of Massachusetts — 'Improving COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups with Rheumatic Diseases' University of Massachusetts — 'Regulated Proteolysis in Bacteria Development and Stress Response' University of Massachusetts — 'IRACDA at Tufts University' (postdoctoral training) University of Massachusetts — 'Deciphering the Molecular Features Underlying LRP1-Mediated Tau Spread (Diversity Supplement)' University of Massachusetts — 'Bacterial and Molecular Determinants of Mycobacterial Impermeability' University of Massachusetts — 'Initiative for Maximizing Student Development at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School' University of Massachusetts — 'Improving the Part C Early Intervention Service Delivery System for Children with ASD: A Randomized Clinical Trial (Diversity Supplement)' University of Massachusetts — 'ASHA Bangladesh — An Integrated Intervention to Address Depression in Low Income Rural Women' University of Massachusetts — 'Outlining Shadows of Structural Racism Using Publicly Available Social Determinants of Health Data' In a statement Monday night, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell called the court ruling 'a win for us all and a rebuke of the discriminatory actions carried out by this Administration. 'We won't let this Administration play politics with our public health or violate the law,' Campbell said. 'I look forward to seeing these federal funds restored to life-saving and critical health care and research.' A Harvard Medical School associate professor is also slated to see her canceled grants restored. Brittany Charlton, founding director of the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, is one of the individual plaintiffs suing. Her NIH funding to study the mental health of young LGBTQ people was cut in March, affecting a team of 18 researchers and causing students to fear for their safety. As federal funding cuts hit Harvard, a private investment firm and other donors step up Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants Federal judge delays decision over Trump admin barring Harvard foreign students Harvard's Monday court date will be important for international students. Here's why Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
a day ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
UMass Amherst prepares for possible budget reductions in wake of changes in federal funding and policies
'Cuts of the magnitude outlined in the President's budget proposal and the federal tax legislation advancing through Congress will impact every academic and administrative department—including those not directly supported by federal grants,' said Chancellor Javier Reyes and Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Fouad Abd-El-Khalick in the letter. UMass Amherst's preparation for financial instability under the Trump administration reflects a shifting economic landscape for higher education institutions, both private and public, grappling with widespread federal funding cuts and other policy changes. Advertisement With $150-plus million in annual federal funding now uncertain at UMass, 'We reduced (not rescinded) our doctoral admission offers across the board in anticipation of continued reductions or interruptions in federal funding' from the Advertisement While the budget scenarios UMass Amherst administrators are requesting are only an exercise in financial planning at this point, professors are already thinking about what they may have to lose, following a faculty senate meeting on the subject last month. 'I am preparing to offer fewer courses, defer classroom technology and equipment upgrades, bring in fewer guest speakers, limit support for some student-led activities, and further restrict our research capacity,' said associate professor of journalism Rodrigo Zamith who chairs that department. Associate professor of history Kevin Young said he worries departments in humanities and fine arts 'will be especially harmed,' considering what he sees as the university administration's focus on STEM and business fields. Given the scale of the federal government's cuts, said Jennifer Lundquist, professor of sociology and a co-founder of 'Faculty and staff have been talking about this for a long time. How can we be our most resilient? How can we ensure that our public land grant university mission continues despite these threats?' she said. Reyes and Abd-El-Khalick said the university's They also said federal policies could also affect student enrollment since proposed cuts to Pell Grants 'could lead to across-the-board disruptions to every aspect of instruction,' noting the grants have helped nearly a quarter of the university's students. Advertisement Meanwhile, recent student visa woes could lead to a smaller cohort of international students and fewer tuition dollars. 'Research, international students, and changes in the Pell Grant — that is a triple hit for us,' Reyes said in a phone interview Thursday. 'That would be something we have to be ready for, if that's where things go, which is why we said, 'Let's plan.'' 'What we don't want is to be in a situation where we have to make a decision quickly,' he added. The Trump administration in May announced its Reyes said UMass Amherst relies on its reputation as 'a research university' to attract faculty and students. But now, he said, 'what we're seeing is international students second guessing whether they would like to come because they simply don't know what will happen' over the next few years. Kalpen Trivedi, vice provost for global affairs, said the US halting of visa interviews worldwide created further worry. Although The chancellor said he understands why students are nervous and can relate as a former international PhD student, himself, from Mexico. Advertisement 'You make a lifetime decision to leave your country and go study somewhere else,' he said Thursday. 'If that's derailed, it derails your future.' 'We're being careful,' he said. 'We want to have international students. They contribute to our university. We want to have the right support for them.' Brooke Hauser can be reached at
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Western Mass. man sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison for raping 3-year-old
A North Adams man found guilty of raping a 3-year-old child was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison on Wednesday, Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy Shugrue's office said. Austin Miller-Robinson, 29, was found guilty on June 4 of aggravated rape of a child with force and rape and abuse of a child aggravated by age difference. 'This is an important victory for the children and citizens of Berkshire County,' Shugrue said in a statement from his office. 'I will always advocate for the strongest possible penalties under the law for anyone who harms our children.' Shugrue had previously requested the maximum sentence, according to a statement from his office. 'While the sentence is less than my request, and the criminal penalties are to be served concurrently, the 18-to-20-year sentence is substantial,' Shugrue said in the statement. 'Today is a good day for the children in the Berkshires.' When he was 23, Miller-Robinson assaulted the child on July 4, 2019, Shugrue's office said previously. River Valley Co-op Strawberry Ice Cream Social to aid Center for New Americans 'I killed two people': Witness reports abrupt confession from woman who crashed into trooper, causing serious injuries A Juneteenth tribute to Afro-Caribbean traditions in art, dance in Holyoke; plus an events listing UMass, MIT team tune up WMass bridge with new 3D-printing tech Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
11-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
The NCAA's House settlement will change college sports forever. Here's how it could affect Massachusetts schools.
The football powerhouses in the Big Ten and SEC — and their massive television deals — have prompted much of the seismic shift in college athletics that resulted in this settlement. But the changes are felt throughout the NCAA, including in Massachusetts. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up It's particularly significant for Boston College and UMass, the state's two institutions that compete in FBS, the highest level of college football, each of which has spent several months preparing for sweeping change after the deal was initially approved in October before a lengthy hold-up. Advertisement 'It's been a little bit of what we would call, 'Hurry up and wait,' ' said UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford. 'I think it's in some ways relief that it's here, that we can move forward, that we can meet this moment.' While athletes will still be able to earn money through the NIL deals that have taken over collegiate athletics, the Advertisement How universities will handle payments is the first question on the agenda, particularly at the state's flagship university, which has to contend with the added wrinkle of public funding and the scrutiny that comes with it. 'You're building the systems, the policies, the procedures, working with campus infrastructure,' Bamford said. 'Our student-athletes aren't employees, so they don't fit into the HR model. You can't pay through financial aid, because — you can pay scholarships and room and board and tuition and fees and things like that — but anything that's rev share is above and beyond. So you've got to get the tax people, the Treasury people, the general counsel, to look at your agreement.' While college football's powerhouses are certain to max out the $20.5 million they can dole out to athletes, that likely won't be the case at UMass — that number would represent close to 40 percent of the total operating budget of an athletic department such as UMass's. Boston College athletic director Blake James wouldn't get into specifics on how much the school expects to be paying athletes for the 2025-26 academic year, saying 'it's too early to really know,' while confirming BC's participation in revenue sharing. UMass, meanwhile, will be looking to spend between $6 million and $8 million in the first year and in the $10 million-$12 million range in the second, with the long-term goal to be spending around 60 percent of the cap. 'If we're at 60 percent of whatever [the cap] continues to grow to, we're probably in a really good, healthy Group of Five position,' Bamford said. 'The MAC is not going to spend a ton of money, but we want to be where maybe some of the lower Big East, lower Power Fours are in basketball, and then in football. Advertisement 'We want to be competitive with the Group of Five. I think we can be in the top, probably, 20 percent of the Group of Five in football with our number. So, you know, that's certainly a goal.' Another question is how schools will divide the money within their own department, with a lion's share of the cash at FBS schools likely heading into football pockets. That's an especially unique challenge at BC, which has to compete against some of college football's best in the ACC, while its greatest success has come not on the field but on the ice. The men's hockey team boasts five national championships and reached the national title game again in 2024, while the women have made six Frozen Fours since 2010. 'We're the only team in the ACC that has ice hockey,' James said. 'So we're going to continue to evolve under this new college athletics approach consistent with who we are as an institution, and part of that is recognizing the importance that ice hockey means to us at Boston College and as part of our athletic program.' It's possible the new rules could provide an opportunity to BC's city rivals on the ice at Boston University and Northeastern — neither of which has a football team to fund — to gain some ground. The fourth member of the Beanpot quartet, Harvard, could be looking at a further slip among its rivals, as the Ivy League has opted out of revenue sharing, which Harvard confirmed to the Globe this week. Advertisement UMass, another Hockey East competitor, with its most recent national relevance coming through men's hockey (a Frozen Four in 2019 and a national championship in 2021), will also skew more of its money toward hockey and what arguably remains the Minutemen's biggest brand, men's basketball. The most common formula thrown around in recent months has been that schools will look to use around 75 percent of the money on football, 15 percent on men's basketball, 5 percent on women's basketball, and the remaining 5 percent elsewhere. UMass, Bamford said, won't be that high in football, with greater slices of the pie given to men's and women's basketball, as well as hockey. 'Over time, it'll sort itself out,' Bamford said. 'When you make the jump, the formula and the ratios and the percentages are a little bit skewed. But for instance, we're going to fund, probably $2.5 million on our women's sports just in scholarships alone. 'We've kind of let each coach determine how they want to do it and based on the budget. And I think our coaches are feeling like in talking to their peers, especially in the Group of Five, that we're in a really strong spot." There are plenty of concerns to go around, from For James, whose place as a Power Four AD means competing with the nation's true powers, the primary concern is how schools are going to toe the line. Advertisement 'I think my concerns would be … the enforcement,' he said. 'I think if everyone follows the rules of the settlement, I think it will put college athletics into a better place than it's been in some time. With that said, I think there's always opportunities for people to work around the intent of what has been put in place, whether it's through the letter of the rule, or just something that they feel that they have to do in their best interest. 'And I would say that's my biggest concern: How do we get everyone to support and embrace this and give college athletics a chance to grow in this whole new world?' Amin Touri can be reached at
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Healey testifies on UMass funding bill
BOSTON (WWLP) – Governor Healey testified on behalf of her higher education bill on Tuesday, seeking to invest up to $2.5 billion in the UMass system, state universities, and community colleges. The governor's bill, dubbed the BRIGHT Act, is meant to address deferred maintenance projects, modernize and decarbonize buildings, and construct major projects. Governor Healey said the funding will also provide a boost to the economy. Life sciences sector growth slows in Mass. 'They're also economic engines, job creators, workforce pipelines for our state,' Healey said. 'They train nurses, engineers, technicians that drive our industries forward.' While the Bay State is a leader in education, top lawmakers say our facilities do not reflect that. Massachusetts' education secretary says many of the state's top higher education buildings have not been updated for the better part of half a century. 'Spaces that students, staff, and faculty spend time in can either facilitate or inhibit learning,' said Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. 'Our students deserve to learn in safe, green, high-quality environments.' The bill also includes some policies that would strengthen the college building authority's ability to borrow money and contribute additional resources to supplement state funding. As with many governor-led projects, Team Healey says they want to get this work underway as soon as possible, but they do not have a timeline for funding implementation. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
