|
Faculty and Staff,
Yesterday UA General Counsel (GC) sent an email systemwide. The guidance included
implications of the recent Executive Orders and the federal Office of Management and
Budget order M-25-13 that froze federal funding, the latter of which was stayed by
the courts and has since been rescinded by order M-25-14. UA GC鈥檚 guidance memo included
the following language: 鈥淲e recommend that you continue work as planned unless you
receive specific guidance or instructions from your federal agency sponsor.鈥�
Many of you have received such guidance from your sponsors that has ranged in its
specificity. As an example of agency guidance, the National Science Foundation released
the following:
鈥淎ll NSF grantees must comply with these Executive Orders, and any other relevant
Executive Orders issued, by ceasing all non-compliant grant and award activities.
Executive Orders are posted at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/. In
particular, this may include, but is not limited to conferences, trainings, workshops,
considerations for staffing and participant selection, and any other grant activity
that uses or promotes the use of DEIA principles and frameworks or violates Federal
anti-discrimination laws.鈥�
Because most of our researchers are subject-matter experts and not attorneys, this
guidance may appear vague or confusing. As we navigate the changing landscape, however:
-
Please don鈥檛 ignore agency guidance, even if it is vague or not specific.
-
The Executive Orders specifically warn against merely changing the acronym of activities
that are non-compliant without either stopping or changing any activity which is or
is likely to remain noncompliant with the Executive Orders. Please follow your agency
guidance to avoid this risk.
-
If you cannot get answers from agency communications, or need additional assistance,
please work with your vice chancellor or provost to get a legal opinion from UA General
Counsel.
As more questions are asked and answered, our public relations team, in cooperation
with the vice chancellor for research鈥檚 office, will prepare an FAQ sheet to help
answer common questions.
听Thank you.
鈥� Dan White, UAF chancellor
|
