A regular digest for UW faculty with updates on federal and national issues of relevance to their teaching, research and service; actions the University is taking; and ways for faculty to be involved.
Dear colleagues:
Each day, through your contributions to the University’s research, teaching, clinical care and service, we are continuing to make a collective impact now and for the future.
Key links
- Office of the Provost’s Federal Policy Updates
- UW Medicine’s Federal Policy Updates (UW NetID required)
- Office of Research’s Federal Policy Guidance
- UW Research Makes America
Tell us what you think
Our highest priority is to support you in this work. Doing so in such a volatile landscape requires us to adapt our engagement and communication strategies. As the University’s academic officer, I have the honor and privilege of advocating for robust public investment for research and innovation, as I did on a recent trip to Washington, D.C.
To keep UW faculty updated and engaged, I am launching a regular digest with pertinent information on federal and national issues affecting universities, as a supplement to our federal policy updates page. The digest also will relay actions and guidance from UW leadership and share opportunities for faculty to be involved.
I welcome your ideas and feedback so that this communication is most useful to your work. Please submit your thoughts. If you know of staff and others in research-related areas, feel free to forward this message. There is a subscription option on the lower right side of the federal policy updates page where those who are not UW academic personnel and would like to receive these regular updates can sign up.
With gratitude,
Tricia R. Serio
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Impact
How to tell the UW story
UW research makes America healthier, stronger and more prosperous. But do the stakeholders and communities you work with know that? Use the Research Makes America toolkit to share messages about the importance of UW research — and the risks it now faces.
International
New H1B visa fee
On Sept. 19, the White House announced a major increase to the fee paid to apply for an H-1B visa, raising it to $100,000 per application. The Office of Academic Personnel & Faculty is tracking this situation, including a clarification that the Presidential Executive Order only affects H-1B petitions that have not yet been filed. Additionally, we are confirming that university-sponsored H-1B applications are subject to the fee and not exempted in the same way that universities are exempt from the national cap on the number of H-1B visas issued annually.
Filing of new H-1B petitions for employment at the UW are being held until at least Oct. 8 as the University seeks additional clarity.
Duration of stay limitations proposed for international students
The Department of Homeland Security is proposing the elimination of the current “duration of status” (D/S) policy for international students (F status) and exchange visitors (J status). The proposed changes would set fixed expiration dates for terms of studies, and enforce other changes, such as requiring government approval of changes in major or level of study. Proposed changes are open for comments, and the UW is submitting a comment letter opposing these changes.
F-1 and J-1 visa delays minimal
Even though several U.S. federal agency policy shifts have impacted F-1 and J-1 international students, the number of visa denials reported by UW F-1 and J-1 students has remained consistent with previous years and the visa delays minimal. As of last week, nearly 80% of the Seattle campus F-1 undergraduate and graduate incoming students and 95% of the Seattle campus J-1 incoming students have secured their visas for autumn quarter.
Funding Submissions and Opportunities
New UW process for funding submissions
Because foundations and federal agencies are limiting the number of submissions allowed from any one university, the UW has developed its limited submissions opportunities process. To explain the process and help PIs be more competitive, the Office of Research is offering an information session via Zoom on Oct. 1. Register by Sept 26.
Guidelines and Requirements
New NIH structure for international collaborations
NIH has provided preliminary information on the new application structure for international collaborations. Details about the new activity codes (PF5/UF5) are still pending. The Office of Sponsored Programs has updated information on its NIH FAQs page and will provide additional guidance to PIs after NIH releases this information.
White House prohibits use of federal funds to lobby federal entities
The recent presidential memo “Use of Appropriated Funds for Illegal Lobbying and Partisan Activity by Federal Grantees” reinforces that federal funds should not be used to lobby federal entities, including those on Capitol Hill and federal agencies. If you are paid by grant funding, you should use personal or vacation time and no federal resources should be used in connection with lobbying. All activities should be reported to UW Federal Relations. For guidance on what constitutes lobbying, please see the Federal Relations site.
Additional agencies requiring research security training
Several agencies require covered individuals to take research security training. Now, NSF will require the training starting Oct. 10, and NIH will require it beginning in January 2026. We expect more agencies to require it in the coming year. Learn more from the Office of Research.