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.
Federal Landscape
Indirect costs addressed in National Defense Authorization Act
The conference committee version of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was released this week and includes a number of provisions of interest to higher education.
The conference committee reconciles different versions of a bill passed in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate to create a final version. The final version goes to the House and Senate for passage and then to the president to sign into law.
The final version of the NDAA includes a section that would prohibit the Defense Department from modifying indirect cost rates to higher education or nonprofit organizations without prior consultation by those groups. If indirect costs are modified, the section also requires an implementation plan with adequate transition time to change budgeting and accounting processes.
Notably, the final version of the NDAA did not contain the SAFE Research Act, which was in the U.S. House’s version of the NDAA. The SAFE Research Act would have prohibited all federal research agencies from supporting researchers who collaborate with “foreign adversaries,” such as graduate students who are from certain countries or are associated with certain institutions.
Learn more about the NDAA on the UW Federal Relations website.
Request for information on accelerating scientific enterprise
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise seeking input “regarding priorities for strengthening the science and technology (S&T) ecosystem to support both the expansion of scientific knowledge and the mechanisms to transition these discoveries into the marketplace.” The UW plans to respond to the request for information, and UW researchers are welcome to provide feedback for consideration in that response. Please submit your ideas to Sarah Castro, assistant vice president for UW Federal Relations, smcastro@uw.edu, by Dec. 16.
If individual researchers wish to submit a response directly to the RFI, they are welcome to do so in their individual and expert capacity. Individual responses should take care that their comments do not directly or indirectly purport to be the views of the UW. Individual submission should state: “These comments represent my personal expert views and not the views of the University of Washington, its colleges, schools, or units.” If in doubt, please report your effort to the UW Federal Relations lobbying disclosure.
More on the federal landscape
Check UW Federal Relations for information on the reopening and federal budget negotiations. The Office of Research continues to post federal administration updates, as well as guidance and possible impacts to researchers and research award administrators who are directly affected by federal policies and processes. UW Finance, Planning and Budgeting, as well as the UW Federal Relations team, are keeping leadership apprised of developments.
Resources for Researchers & Instructors
AI@UW offers SEED-AI grants for faculty, teaching staff
Faculty and teaching staff can apply for grants ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 to fund projects that explore how artificial intelligence can enhance teaching and learning. The grants are offered through AI@UW, the University’s AI initiative announced last monthand led by Vice Provost for AI Noah Smith. Applications are due Feb. 1, 2026, with awards announced on or around March 1, 2026. Learn more at AI@UW’s newly launched website.
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
NIH changes some application requirements
The National Institutes of Health now requires the use of common forms for biographical sketch, current and pending (other) support and NIH biographical sketch supplement for application due dates and all just in time, research performance progress report, and prior approval submissions on or after Jan. 25, 2026.
The NIH also has discontinued the need to obtain prior approval for unsolicited applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs per year. In addition, the NIH will no longer accept non-binding letters of intent (LOI) for funding opportunities. This refers to expressions of interest LOIs in advance of the application process. Subrecipient LOIs continue to be required.
Global Innovation Fund accepting applications now
The UW Global Innovation Fund is accepting applications for support for interdisciplinary research collaboration and global teaching and learning opportunities. UW faculty and staff may submit applications until the Jan. 31, 2026, deadline. Learn more from the UW Office of Global Affairs.
REMINDER: Open private funding opportunities for faculty, researchers
Faculty and researchers may search current open funding opportunities from private sources for their research and programs through a dashboard developed by the UW Corporate & Foundation Relations team.
International
Hold on immigration benefit requests announced
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a hold on immigration benefits requests for nationals of countries listed in the June 2025 entry ban. This hold affects asylum, green card, and naturalization applications, and may apply to other benefits requests as well. The UW’s International Scholars Operations has reached out to those with affected H visa requests. J visa requests should not be affected. Scholars may contact ISO at acadvisa@uw.edu with questions.
Community
Most Americans say college isn’t worth the cost
In a significant decline since the last time NBC News asked the question, only a third of Americans now say that a college degree is “worth the cost because people have a better chance to get a good job and earn more money over their lifetime,” while 63% say that it is “not worth the cost because people often graduate without specific job skills and with a large amount of debt to pay off.”
In 2017, the numbers were 49%-47%, which even then were a drop from a 53% majority in 2013 saying a college degree was worth the cost compared to 40% who did not. Public Opinion Strategies conducted the nationwide survey, which showed declines across-the-board, including among both those with and without degrees and among people with differing political views.
To demonstrate the value of a college degree — and the impact of our teaching, research and service — faculty and staff are engaging with the public a variety of ways. The UW College of Education’s long-running series EduTalks brings together educators, researchers and community leaders to share bold ideas shaping the future of education through five-minute presentations. Similarly, the Graduate School’s Three-Minute Thesis competition each spring highlights the work of graduate students across the University. To help faculty build their skills to connect with the public, the Office of Research’s inaugural Research Impact Advocates cohort begins meeting this month. And the Research Makes America campaign continues to highlight how the UW research is making Americans healthier and more prosperous.
Are you, a colleague, your unit or program engaging with the public about your work? Tell us about it by emailing provost@uw.edu.